Summary - A mother diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis received a brain implant. As people with ALS loose the ability to control their body because of deteriorating control of the body because nerves not being able to communicate, she couldn't communicate with the outside world. The new brain implant allowed her to look at a screen and select a letter and spell out words. Previously people with ALS would communicate with eye tracking devices, but those only work if the lighting is just right, so not in the dark or outside. This device gives people more freedom to communicate in more places, and it is less limited than communication through blinking. While there are some problems with this method, such as that it is not very sophisticated and thus takes the patient very long to type out words, this implant is a big progression for people with ALS.
Analysis - There are so many great medical advancements made with this device. Many people are affected with diseases or accidents that cause them to loose communication with the outside world, even though they still have the same thoughts and feelings from before. This device brings more freedom to those affected. While there are still some problems with the device, I am looking forward to the improvements made on this which will help those with neurological diseases and their families get their dignity back.
http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/12/health/als-brain-implant-communication/index.html
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