Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

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Caregivers want answers to mystery link between ALS, military service

Darrell Lee has lost almost all control over his body as he grapples with the relentless grip of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/09/22/caregivers-want-answers-to-mystery-link-between-als-military-service/?

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Neural Speech Milestone

A 47-year-old father with ALS has used a brain implant to communicate with roughly 92% accuracy for nearly two years, the longest-running demonstration of speech communication through a brain-computer interface. The at-home system, described in a study released yesterday, converts brain signals into near-instant speech, letting Casey Harrell communicate independently and conversationally. Four implants, each packed with 64 tiny electrodes, record activity from the brain's speech-control region. When Harrell tries to speak, AI decodes the signals into text and a synthetic voice modeled on recordings of his pre-ALS voice. The translation happens at about 56 words per minute.  Harrell had surgery in 2023; the study reports on the first 23 months following the procedure. Over time, the device has evolved into more than a speech tool, allowing Harrell to operate a computer, surf the web, send texts and emails, and enable a profanity filter when talking to his young daughter. See it in action (w/video).