'I can look and it goes where I want it to'_ Neuralink participant is using his brain chip to play C
By Dr. Eleanor Vance | Published on January 01, 0001
While we've heard much talk of the Elon Musk's might enable, it hits differently to see it working for yourself in a game. Musk's current chip-on-brain testing project ("PRIME") has had two participants so far, and it looks like the second one's wasted no time getting to gaming on PC.
Neuralink's "Link" is a brain-computer interface (BCI)—a device that gets surgically implanted into the brain and is intended to allow one to control digital devices by neural activity, ie, thought. According to the latest , Alex, the second participant, has not only been in CAD software Fusion 360, but he's also been using it to .
Alex is using the Link to literally think where to go in the game, and it takes him there.
This is more than an extravagant luxury, too, because Alex has a spinal cord injury that makes interfacing with digital devices difficult. The Neuralink update tells us that, for gaming, Alex previously used a mouth-operated device called the , but this only has one joystick.
Now, with the Link, he can "move and aim simultaneously, unlocking a more intuitive gameplay experience". Surely it also unlocks a whole world of FPS games, making them eminently playable.
It seems this is what it's all about for Musk, too. As , the goal is "to provide a high-performance interface that will enhance the control of digital devices for people with [[link]] quadriplegia, unlocking their personal and professional potential".
And the goal of [[link]] the PRIME study specifically is to "assess the initial functionality of our BCI for enabling people with quadriplegia to control external devices with their thoughts."
It worked well with the (some BCI-detaching issues aside), and it looks like it's working well with the second one, too.
Alex seems happy with it, stating he's "super impressed with how this works", and regarding gaming specifically, he says, "Just running around is so enjoyable because I can look side to side, and not need to move Quadstick left and right… I can [think about where to] look and it goes where I want it to."
Now look, I'm the last person anyone needs to warn about the dangers of transhumanism and melding our brains with computers. Trust me, my alarm bells ring louder than ever.
But even I can't help but feel that BCIs, at [[link]] least for now, under this specific project, might actually be used for good—more than good, really, given that this is a seriously noble cause and is showing excellent, game-changing results.
Reader Comments
The bonuses are nice and offer great value, although they could be a bit more frequent. I love being part of the VIP program, which gives me extra rewards and makes me feel appreciated as a loyal player.
I absolutely love the game selection here, especially the slot games. The graphics are amazing and the animations are super smooth, making every spin feel exciting and immersive. I've spent hours playing without getting bored!
I enjoy the daily missions and rewards system. It gives me extra motivation to play regularly and allows me to earn more coins and bonus items, which enhances the overall gaming experience.