AI will help write texts to paralyzed people

Using the imagination of paralyzed patients, multiple sensors, and artificial intelligence (AI), researchers have found a way to teach them how to write texts. To do this, patients only need to “draw” letters with a look, while the speed of their typing was only three times slower than usual.

Electrodes implanted in parts of the brain involved in movement allowed paralyzed patients to move the cursor with their eyes and “draw” letters on the screen with the help of thoughts. During the tests, users could write up to 39 characters per minute.

During the experiments, a volunteer paralyzed to the neck several times "wrote" all the letters of the alphabet; at the same time, scientists downloaded several dozen handwriting options for writing these letters. Brain activity helped train the neural network in interpreting commands and tracking the intended trajectory of letters.

So the AI was able to read the volunteer's imaginary proposals with an accuracy of 95% and a speed of about 66 characters per minute, the researchers said at the annual meeting of the Society of Neurosciences.

Scientists expect that with increasing practice, the speed of reading text will increase. As technology advances, they will also use their data to improve their understanding of how the brain affects fine motor skills.

hightech.fm