Brain-computer interfaces are slowly moving toward the mainstream. After a series of scientific successes, neurotechnology companies are beginning to commercialize their research.
Among them are Blackrock Neurotech, which focuses on restoring functions who have been impaired by disabilities or accidents.
The company is best known to develop a neural implant that enabled paralysis control a robot arm with his mind. In 2022, the Utah-based company plans to launch its first commercial device.
“From an engineering standpoint, all the components are there,” Florian Solzbacher, co-founder and president of Blackrock, tells TNW.
“What we’re going to launch initially is based on what a few dozen patients have used in the context of clinical trials – just a little bit smaller and sleeker. Soon after, we’ll also have a fully implantable wireless version with even more capacity.”
Another company that is planning implant brain chips in humans in 2022 is a Neuralink by Elon Musk.
Musk’s eye-catching demonstrations and bombastic predictions have attracted hyperbolic headlines, but many neuroscientists are skeptical of the work.
They show the company lack of co-reviewed articles, lack of innovation, and that of Musk history of overpromise.
Some fear that the tycoon’s impertinent proclamations about merging people with AI and giving everyone a brain implant will hinder progress in the field.
“There is concern about Neuralink that it will become a consumer product,” says Solzbacher. “Hypothetically, that could happen, and as a society we have to deal with that, but maybe society doesn’t want that? We need to have these discussions.
“Quite frankly, though, this scenario isn’t even realistic right now. And so those in positions of influence need to be careful not to create unnecessary fear.”
Musk’s involvement may, however, attract interest – and investment – in BCIs.
The sector has also benefited from a range of technological advances, regulatory progress, a growing focus on neurological diseases, and the growing experience of experts.
Solzbacher emphasizes the importance of moving step by step. Blackrock will initially focus on people with the most urgent needs – such as ALS and severe tetraplegia – before moving on to. depression and other conditions where pharmaceuticals do not work effectively:
If you are entering a medical device – especially an implant – you want to be careful and so you are slowly expanding so that you can make sure that you are not making mistakes, as the safety and ethical issues are much higher. deeper than for a regular consumer product.
While Blackrock and Neuralink are building implants for neurological disorders, other companies are developing non-invasive BCIs for mass-market consumers.
Neurable, for example, recently unveiled a pair of headphones that use brainwave sensors to measure focus levels throughout the day. The co-founder of the start-up, Ramses Alcaide, told TNW that the idea is to provide a daily BCI device:
That’s really our focus: how can we be like the Fitbit for the brain?
Analysts are waiting such non-invasive systems that record brain activity by electrodes on the scalp to govern the commercial BCI market in the short term. Over time, however, implants for able-bodied people can become a reality.
The possibilities are endless. In the distant future, BCIs could create transformative gaming experiences, improve the performance of first responders – or turbocharged surveillance.
These applications may not be coming anytime soon, though Solzbacher says it is essential for technical providers to deal things now:
We think a lot about the principles that govern how these things are liberated and how to deal with society. We owe that to the world. No one in the field of neuroscience wants to inadvertently hurt the people we want to help the most.
Although there are understandable concerns about BCIs, it would be a great pity if they limited the huge potential benefits.
Source
Thomas Macaulay