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Communication through thoughts: A new invention that can help
09.11.2023 07:40
Updated: 13.05.2024 21:22
Some people lose their ability to talk - it usually happens after severe traumas and diseases.
In some cases, it's impossible to bring their talking abilities back, but science seems to find a new way to help them.
Let's find out more about a new discovery that can change everything.
A new device
A group of scientists and doctors has created a special device that helps people who can't talk due to brain-related conditions.
This device translates signals from the brain into words.
Imagine reading a book very slowly - that's how most current devices work, at around 78 words per minute.
But people usually speak at a faster pace, around 150 words per minute.
The reason for this delay is the limited number of sensors that can be placed on the brain's surface.
More sensors mean the device can understand the brain's signals better.
So, the scientists put 256 tiny sensors on a small, flexible piece of medical-grade plastic.
This was quite a challenge, and it required the help of neurosurgeons to test it.
They used the device during surgeries that were unrelated to the study.
How it was tested
During the tests, patients listened to nonsense words and then tried to say them.
The device recorded the signals from their brain that control speaking.
A computer program was then used to figure out which words the patients were trying to say.
The results were promising, with the computer program correctly recognizing some words about 84% of the time.
This is still a work in progress, and it's slower than regular speech, but it's a step forward.
The researchers are now working on a wireless version of the device, which would be even more convenient.
So, in the future, this technology might help people who have trouble speaking due to medical conditions.
