Our brains are amazing things and we have all see movies where characters can use their minds to control objects or even people. While it might seem far-fetched, there is a grain of truth in such movies, especially when in real-life, we have seen scientists and researchers develop tools that can be controlled using our brain.
It looks like the work of researchers have advanced where a 30-year old man who has been paralyzed who goes by the name of Thibault, has agreed to be part of a study that involved two parts of his skull replaced by 5cm discs. These discs are essentially sensors outfitted with 64-electrodes that allow him to control an exoskeleton suit using his mind.
The placement of these discs are crucial because they are located near parts of his brain that become active when he thinks about walking or moving his arms. In the video above, it shows Thibault taking his first steps in the exoskeleton suit after practicing with a virtual avatar. However, as you can see, it is far from being perfect, but it certainly shows a lot of promise.
According to Thibault, “It was like [being the] first man on the Moon. I didn’t walk for two years. I forgot what it is to stand, I forgot I was taller than a lot of people in the room.” In the meantime, Intel is exploring alternative ways of helping paralyzed people walk again through the use of AI.