Lauren Cargill - Brain Implant Helps Woman With ALS Communicate

Summary: In 2008, Hanneke de Bruijne was diagnosed with ALS, a disease with no cure that causes a person to slowly become paralyzed. In the years to follow, de Bruijne began to lose control of her arms, legs, hands, and even face. She required a ventilator to breath and was virtually "trapped in her body" with her only form of communication eye trackers. These often didn't work because she was barely able to move her eyes and the trackers often couldn't detect her movement. However, in 2015 she received a brain implant that would change her life. The implant is called a brain-computer interface and allows her to independently type messages on to a tablet using only her mind. This is medical revolution, and will improve the lives of many ALS patients. The implant is easy to use and can work on anyone. Now that the implant has worked for a year, doctors plan to give it to other patients in need.

 Analysis: I think that this is a really amazing improvement. This will enable so many ALS patients to communicate with their friends and family. I think its wonderful to hear something good like this, especially with all the other things going on in the world right now. This could be related to the invention of the telegraph, because that also allowed many people to be able to communicate.

Article: http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/12/health/als-brain-implant-communication/index.html