An ALS Patient Utilizes Brain-Computer Interface for Two Years, Articulating Millions of Words Through Thought
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Author:小编   

Little did he know, Casey Harrell, an ALS patient residing in the United States, has been living with an experimental brain-computer interface (BCI) implanted in his brain for more than two years. Leveraging his consciousness to command the device, he has successfully generated over 1.96 million words and engaged in more than 180,000 conversations. This feat positions him as the inaugural patient globally to employ a high-performance, invasive speech BCI for extended periods within a domestic setting. The system operates by capturing neural signals emanating from the brain's language centers, decoding these signals into text through artificial intelligence algorithms, and subsequently transforming the text into audible speech. The interface is user-friendly, negating the necessity for comprehensive support from researchers. Over the preceding two years, Harrell has utilized the BCI for communication purposes for over 3,800 hours in the comfort of his home, achieving an average speaking rate of 56 words per minute. Although this pace is merely one-third of the average individual's speaking speed, it signifies a substantial improvement in efficiency when compared to the facial recognition-assisted device employed by Stephen Hawking during his lifetime. Following the restoration of his communication capabilities, Harrell's life has witnessed a remarkable transformation. He is now able to engage in unrestricted conversations with his family, share jokes, make video calls, and persist with his philanthropic endeavors.