This is an audio-described version of the story. The original is available here:
https://youtu.be/fS4Hb8qjiOUTwo years after becoming the first participant in a groundbreaking UC Davis brain-computer interface (BCI) study, Casey Harrell is using the technology independently at home to communicate, work and connect with his family. Diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, Harrell lost the ability to speak as the disease progressed. Today, an implanted brain-computer interface uses artificial intelligence to decode the speech he is attempting to produce and convert it into words on a computer, helping restore his ability to communicate.
In this update, researchers from the UC Davis Neuroprosthetics Lab share how the technology has evolved from a research demonstration into a practical tool for daily life. The system has now been used for more than 3,800 hours, enabling Harrell to communicate more than 183,000 sentences with remarkable accuracy. Learn how advances in brain-computer interfaces, neuroprosthetics, artificial intelligence and ALS research are helping people with paralysis regain independence and opening the door to future treatments for individuals living with severe speech and motor impairments.
