An Australian Patient Became the First Person to Tweet Using a Brain-Computer Interface

A paralyzed man in Australia, who was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), shared a post on social media using an implantable brain-computer interface (BCI) that enabled the first direct-thought tweet.

Philip O’Keefe who was implanted with the interface in April 2020 tweeted what he thought, without the need for keys and voice assistance, according to BusinessWire.

The 62-year-old messaged “No need for keystrokes or voices. I created this tweet just by thinking it” thanks to the interface dubbed Stentrode in his brain. This message was posted on the Twitter account of Thomas Oxley, the CEO of Synchron.

no need for keystrokes or voices. I created this tweet just by thinking it. #helloworldbci

— Thomas Oxley (@tomoxl) December 23, 2021

Why O’Keefe shared this message is that he aimed to inspire those who suffer from ALS. Undoubtedly, he blazed a trail to encourage others, who are in the same situation as him, to tweet through thoughts.

The company designed the implant to allow patients to share their thoughts with others as O’Keefe did. He can now wirelessly control digital services via the thought that was inserted through a technique, in which a jugular vein is used in order to avoid perforating the skull.

A breakthrough technology using a brain-computer interface

Most importantly, this system doesn’t require any muscle activity. “When I first heard about this technology, I knew how much independence it could give back to me. The system is astonishing, it’s like learning to ride a bike – it takes practice, but once you’re rolling, it becomes natural,” said O’Keefe. “Now, I just think about where on the computer I want to click, and I can email, bank, shop, and now message the world via Twitter.”

Starting from last year, O’Keefe, meanwhile, has been using the BCI technology to contact his family as well as continuing to be a part of business-related projects.

Synchron, which is expected to focus on finding ways to treat Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, depression, and hypertension in the future, is currently working on the first endovascular implantable neuromodulation therapy. To note, neuromodulation is a technology that delivers electrical agents to a target area to alter nerve activity.

Elon Musk said earlier this month regarding his company Neuralink that it hopes to begin implanting its brain chips in humans next year.

Technological progress has no limits, and such breakthroughs demonstrate what challenges human beings can overcome in the future.