Apple is collaborating with Synchron, a neurotechnology company, to enable users to control iPhones, iPads, and Apple Vision Pro devices using their thoughts. This integration marks a significant advancement in neurotechnology and accessibility, offering hands-free, voice-free device control for individuals with motor impairments.
Synchron's implantable Stentrode™ system pairs with Apple's new BCI Human Interface Device (HID) protocol, which recognizes brain signals as a native input. This allows users with conditions like ALS, stroke, or spinal cord injury to interact with their devices by simply thinking. The Stentrode device is implanted through the jugular vein and contains 16 electrodes that detect brain activity related to movement.
The BCI system seamlessly integrates with Apple's built-in accessibility features, such as Switch Control, translating neural activity into real-time interaction with screens and apps. Users can send messages, browse content, and create art just by thinking. Controlled rollouts with trial participants using BCI HID-compatible features are expected to begin later in 2025.