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BCI-Enabled Alexa for ALS

Nov 6, 2025

Overview

  • Video showcases Mark, a person with ALS, using Synchron’s brain-computer interface (BCI) to control smart devices via Amazon Alexa without hands or voice.
  • Demonstrates daily functions: smart home control, camera viewing, video calls, and TV navigation using thought-driven input.

Mark’s Condition and BCI

  • Mark has ALS and cannot use hands to operate devices.
  • Synchron BCI is implanted in a brain blood vessel; senses brain activity and translates it into device commands.
  • Implantation did not require open brain surgery.

Alexa Ecosystem Integration

  • BCI enables hands- and voice-free interaction with Amazon Alexa ecosystem.
  • Tap to Alexa on Fire tablet allows non-voice users to access Alexa features via thought-based tapping.
  • Choices and controls appear visually on Mark’s Fire tablet interface.

Smart Home and Communication Use Cases

  • Controls smart home devices, including switching lights on and off.
  • Accesses Blink camera feed to see who is outside.
  • Makes and answers video calls using BCI-driven interface.

Entertainment and Navigation

  • Uses digital Fire TV remote on Fire tablet to control Fire TV by thought.
  • Navigates apps, browses content, and selects media through BCI signals.

Capabilities Summary

FunctionDevice/FeatureInteraction MethodOutcome
Smart lighting controlTap to Alexa on Fire tabletThought-based taps via BCILights on/off
Smart camera viewingBlink camera via AlexaBCI-driven selectionSee outside activity
CommunicationVideo callsBCI to initiate/answerHands- and voice-free calls
TV controlFire TV via digital remoteBCI navigation on tabletBrowse and play content

Decisions

  • Demonstrated approach: Integrate Synchron BCI with Amazon Alexa ecosystem to enable hands- and voice-free device control.

Full transcript