Apple is working on a technology that could change everything for people with disabilities. An iPhone could be controlled by thought, without touching the screen. An ambitious project that combines brain implants and artificial intelligence.
For several years, major technology companies have been increasing the number of accessibility tools. Some people with neurodegenerative diseases can no longer use a phone or a computer in a traditional way. In this context, new ways of interacting with devices are being studied, at the interface between medicine, electronics, and artificial intelligence.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Apple plans to integrate a brain-machine interface into its systems. This experimental technology, developed with the Australian startup Synchron, would make it possible to control an iPhone, an iPad, or a Vision Pro headset hands-free, using only thought. It relies on a brain implant that captures the brain's electrical activity and translates it into digital actions. This principle is reminiscent of Neuralink, the project led by Elon Musk, but with a less invasive method.
Apple activates Switch Control for brain implants to interact with your iPhone through thought
Concretely, the implant is placed near the motor cortex. It detects the signals emitted by the brain when a person thinks about moving. This data is then interpreted by Apple's Switch Control software, already used for accessibility features. This allows you to navigate the interface, select an icon or interact with an element on the screen, all without physical contact. This method is primarily aimed at people suffering from paralysis or spinal cord injuries.
Apple is also considering combining this interface with its "Personal Voice" feature, already integrated into its devices. This feature allows users to record themselves before losing their speech, and then play it back synthetically. By combining this system with the implant, it would be possible to "think" a word and hear it pronounced by a voice that resembles their own. A person with ALS could thus both use their iPhone and speak again, without moving. This is still an experimental phase, but the company wants to make this technology accessible in the long term, to restore independence to those who are deprived of it.
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