Apple Teams With Synchron On Brain-Device Connection

Apple has partnered with brain-interface startup Synchron on a new technology that allows immobilized or paralyzed people — an estimated 150,000 people in the US alone — to use iOS devices without their hands.

The Big Thought: Brain-computer interfaces have moved from the world of science fiction to reality. Apple is likely looking to get in early on the revolutionary tech — not just to expand iOS accessibility but also to advance its ambition to be at the forefront of biotech and health services.

Between the Gray Matter: For people with diseases like ALS or spinal-cord injuries due to car accidents, Apple’s sync-up with Synchron could be a game-changer.

• Synchron is best known for its stent-like device, called a “Stentrode,” which is implanted on the motor cortex of a patient’s brain and decodes brain waves into observable actions. Ten people have been implanted with the device since 2019.
• Apple has developed a new standard on its “switch control” feature that allows users with the Stentrode to navigate iOS screens and select icons — in other words, the ability to control a device with your thoughts.
• The feature works across Apple’s family of devices, including the iPhone, iPad, MacBook, and Vision Pro. The company plans to release a version for developers later this year, which could supercharge further accessibility-app creation.

The Future: While Apple has worked with Synchron on the new feature at this stage, the brain-tech startup is hardly the most cutting-edge startup in the market. Its device only has 16 electrodes that hook up to the brain, which doesn’t catch enough brain data to mimic proper key strokes or mouse movements. In comparison, Neuralink’s N1 device attaches 1,000 electrodes to a patient’s brain, which is why the company’s tests have been able to accomplish those movements.

Prediction: When Apple inevitably hooks up with Neuralink, things may really start cooking.  Expect Google to try to get Android in there first.