00:04Maybe the worst part of using a computer is getting your thoughts onto the digital page,
00:09aka typing. But now a collaboration of researchers from several universities and
00:13medical research centers have developed a microchip that can be inserted into your brain
00:18that lets you type hands-free. The chip is able to capture electrical signals in your brain that
00:22are often associated with handwriting. But rather than being transcribed onto paper,
00:26the signals are converted into letters on a screen instead. Dr. Frank Willett, one of the
00:31study's authors, had this to say about the technology. This new system uses both the rich
00:35neural activity recorded by intracortical electrodes and the power of language models that when applied
00:40to the neurally decoded letters can create rapid and accurate text. So just how fast? The researchers
00:45say about as fast as someone of equal age typing on a smartphone. That's leagues faster than previous
00:50accessibility options for the typing impaired, which were clocked at only around 40 characters a
00:55minute. But of course, this is a bit more invasive. The implant involves placing two tiny electrodes
00:59into part of the brain's motor cortex. The new tech is all part of the BrainGate collaboration
01:04and endeavor to advance brain-computer interfaces.
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