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Neural computer interfaces (NCI) open up a whole world of opportunities.
They help people with disabilities communicate, interact with their surroundings, and move in virtual reality. And gamers can use the power of their minds to control their avatars.
Technology is constantly evolving, and even more interesting developments are expected in the future. We talk about various types of available interfaces and give advice on how to choose an interface.
Stop, what?
We highly recommend reading the article as it offers captivating insights. By the end of it, you will find that all your questions have been satisfactorily answered
What devices can be controlled using a neural computer interface?
Brain-computer interface allows controlling a wide range of devices using only thoughts. Among them are smartphones. It is enough to think about the person user wants to call, and the smartphone interprets the thoughts and initiates the call. The same goes for messages and internet access.
- TVs. With the power of thought, you can switch channels, adjust the volume, and select content on streaming services.
- Home security systems. The interface allows you to lock and unlock doors, turn on and off lights, activate the alarm with the power of thought.
- Robots. The user can think of a specific task that he wants the robot to perform, and the robot interprets the thoughts and carries out the assignment.
- Virtual reality helmets. The technology allows you to fully immerse yourself in a virtual environment, move and interact with the surrounding world without using controllers.
- Cars. Technology allows you to start the car, accelerate or brake, regulate the air conditioner or switch music without using physical gestures or buttons.
- Medical devices. Cardiac pacemakers are tuned to change the frequency of heart contractions, while insulin pumps are programmed to deliver the required dose of insulin depending on the user’s blood sugar level.
What types of neurocomputer interfaces are there?
NCIs can be invasive and non-invasive. Invasive technology involves surgical implantation of sensors or electrodes directly into the brain. In non-invasive interventions, sensors are worn on the head, similar to a headset.
Non-invasive methods
The most common way to control technology with the power of thought. NCIs can be established through electrodes as well as other methods of brain stimulation, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) or transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS).
- TMS involves using magnetic fields to stimulate specific areas of the brain.
- TDCS involves the use of a weak electrical current to stimulate specific areas of the brain.
With sensors, you can control computers, smartphones, or robotic limbs. This method is less risky than implanting electrodes in the brain and does not require maintenance costs. However, the connection will be less accurate and may be interrupted.
Recently, wireless neural computer interfaces have appeared that do not require physical electrode connections. They use Bluetooth and other wireless technologies to communicate with external devices.
Invasive methods
This type of technology provides the most direct connection to the brain. Such interfaces are often used by people suffering from paralysis, Parkinson’s disease or other neurological disorders. NCI help interact with the world and restore lost sensory functions. For example, a blind person with the help of a visual prosthesis will be able to see again.
During the operation, a small incision is made in the skull and a device is carefully inserted into the brain. It is connected to electrodes located on the surface of the brain. The electrodes capture the electrical activity of the brain and transmit it to an interface, which processes the signals and sends them to a computer for interpretation.
After implantation, the user undergoes a period of rehabilitation. During this time, with the help of medical professionals, the patient learns to use the device. During this process, the brain is trained to generate specific patterns of electrical activity that the neural interface can interpret.
The invasive method is associated with significant risks: during surgical intervention, many things can go wrong. Complications and long-term side effects are possible. Additionally, the process of installing the neural interface and its maintenance are quite expensive.
The operation for implanting a single-function neural control interface can cost from $5000 to $10,000, and a more advanced one – up to $20,000. A complex procedure involving the implantation of several devices or working with delicate brain tissue can cost up to $50,000.
What to pay attention to when choosing a brain-computer interface
Before choosing a CCI, you need to pay attention to five factors.
Compatibility. It is important to make sure that the neuro-computer interface (NCI) you choose is compatible with the devices you constantly use. For example, a neuro-interface designed for use with a certain brand of smartphone may be incompatible with other models. This way, you will be able to easily integrate the NCI into your daily routine and use its capabilities.
Ease of use. As with any new technology, it may take time to get used to using the NKI. Make sure that the interface you choose is intuitive and easy to use. The device should also be comfortable to wear, have a lightweight and unobtrusive design.
Reliability. The device must be stable in operation, with minimal lag or errors in interpreting user thoughts.
Cost. The price should be reasonable and fit your budget. It is important to consider the cost of maintaining the device, including necessary software or replacement of parts.
Manufacturer’s reputation. Pay attention to the company that produced the software: read reviews. The level of support provided during the use of the interface is important.
What brands develop neurocomputer interfaces?
There are three main brands on the market that produce neurocomputer interfaces. Their models differ in price range and unique features. Here are the companies represented on the market:
Neuralink. One of the leading brands known for its high-quality and intuitive HCI. The latest model, Neuralink X3, is an ultra-modern interface that allows for the control of devices and machines through thoughts. Its advantages include an accessible interface and compatibility with a wide range of devices and machines. This makes it easy to integrate Neuralink X3 into everyday life.
BrainCo is a brand known for its affordable and reliable BCI. Their latest model, BrainCo H3, is an economical interface with a range of useful features. The advantage of BrainCo H3 lies in its affordable price and long battery life.
OpenBCI. The only company on the market that produces EEG devices with open source code. Their latest model, OpenBCI X1, is a customizable interface that allows users to adapt the device to their preferences. Thanks to the open source code, users can modify and improve the device. Another advantage is its compatibility with a huge number of applications and devices.
What problems can one face while using a neural computer interface?
Due to the widespread use of technology, errors or malfunctions may occur periodically. Here are three potential breakdowns that users may encounter.
Incorrect interpretation of thoughts. The inability to accurately interpret thoughts can lead to the device performing the wrong action or not performing any action at all. The problem can be caused by various factors, such as interference from external sources, lack of calibration, or mismatch between the user’s thoughts and the device’s capabilities.
Hardware defects. Another potential malfunction of the NKI is a failure of the device itself. This can be caused by equipment defects, errors in the software, or device damage. During a breakdown, the device may completely stop working or work imprecisely and unreliably.
Discomfort. Some users may experience discomfort or pain when using the HMD, especially if the device is not properly calibrated or does not match the user’s physiology.
Here’s what you can do if your interface isn’t working:
Check for any external interference. Electromagnetic fields or other electronic devices can interfere with the operation of the NCI. Try moving to another location or turning off nearby electronic devices.
Calibrate the device. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions. They may include performing certain actions or considering certain thoughts.
Update your device software. If the problem is caused by a software error, the user can try updating their device to the latest version.
Contact the manufacturer. If the problem persists after taking these steps, seek help from the manufacturer of your device. They will explain further steps to troubleshoot or suggest repair or replacement of the device.
What’s happening? This article was completely written by a neural network. And the pictures were also drawn by a neural network.
Recently, the company OpenAI presented the chatbot ChatGPT – a neural network that has already been called revolutionary. This is a powerful algorithm for working with text, capable of writing informational materials, artistic scenarios, and even code. ChatGPT reached the first million users in five days: for comparison, it took Netflix three and a half years, and Spotify took five months.
We decided to see if it was possible to generate text for us using a neural network. The results exceeded expectations: from a simple request “How to choose a phone,” we got almost ready-made material as if from a copywriter. But reading such text would be boring, and we didn’t want to mislead the readers, so we decided to go into futurism.
All we were asked for was an idea. Without an entry point, the neural network can’t do anything: it can’t come up with topics on its own. That’s why we first suggested that ChatGPT tell us about the ten useful technologies that already exist and are being used in the year 2222.
There is a nuance here. If you enter the query “What are the 10 useful technologies in 2222”, the neural network will refuse to write the text and will note that it does not know anything about the world after 2021. Therefore, it was necessary to resort to a trick: to ask to write the text as if the neural network itself is a journalist from 2222 and is writing about events relevant to it.
Out of ten proposed technologies – including teleportation and holographic displays – we chose neurocomputers. And we first asked to create a structure for the text “How to choose the right neural interface in 2222”. And then generated text based on the subtitle of each section.
I had to make several requests because ChatGPT cannot generate huge texts at once – it crashes and gives an error. Some sections were generated two or three times, if the result wasn’t satisfactory at first. But the entire text was generated by a neural network. It not only came up with types of relevant neurointerfaces and their usage scenarios, but also listed specific models from specific companies. The same goes for Neuralink – a real company by Elon Musk, which is preparing to release a neurocomputer onto the market.
The text turned out to be coherent, and its structure logical. The small edits from the human editor were also ‘fed’ to ChatGPT. In response to the comments, the neural network generated additional sections and corrected its own mistakes.
We chose English as ChatGPT is trained in it, although it can also respond in any language.
Illustrations for the article were created through the neural network Midjourney, which draws based on textual descriptions. The prompts were also created by ChatGPT. Only the names of the photographers were manually added to the prompts so that Midjourney would generate photos, not illustrations.
The result was a text styled similar to our portal, and the author and editor spent much less time on it than usual. A coherent and voluminous text can be generated in just a few minutes, with each illustration taking about a minute to generate.
In our opinion, ChatGPT can already be used for simple materials. However, what it lacks is expertise: only a human can delve deeper into a topic and convey their experience.
If you’re interested in the neural networks we used, you can read more about both ChatGPT and Midjourney.