The neurotechnology market is in the billions
The market for computer neural interfaces is rapidly
Solutions from this category use featurestransmission of signals between neurons in the brain. When the activity inside synapses is intense enough, the total impulse of action potentials can be recorded on the surface of the head. This technology is well known - it is called an electroencephalogram (EEG). Many underwent this procedure in the hospital and were afraid to move in a ball of wires.
The development of neurotechnology began with the adaptation of EEGto work with computer systems. With good sensitivity and noise immunity, such a device allows recording powerful impulses that arise during bright reactions and are accompanied by the activation of tens of thousands of neurons. For more subtle signals, engineers and scientists have to look for a connection between bursts of nervous activity and certain events in the surrounding world. The gradual study of the characteristics of a person's reaction makes it possible to more and more accurately determine the meaning of impulses, and therefore to expand the range and possibilities of using neurotechnologies.
If for medical purposes and scientific projectsan increase in the number of sensors increases the accuracy of studies, but in commercial projects this is not so important. After all, each new sensor means an increase in the cost of the device and a decrease in user comfort. Sitting in wet sensors with a lot of intertwined wires is not all that pleasant. Therefore, scientists have come to the conclusion that with the right choice of the number of sensors located in different areas of the head, a fairly good balance is achieved between the accuracy of reading activity and comfort.
Real application of neurotechnology
For neurotechnology to become a mass solution,we need convenient and affordable devices. Neiry, Nextmind, Neurable and other companies now have them. And if a couple of years ago an eight-channel encephalograph device with an acceptable signal cost from $ 4 thousand and more, now prices are falling to the level of $ 1,000 with a tendency to further decrease.
The availability of technology plays a key role in its diffusion. Therefore, neural interfaces are beginning to be tested and implemented in various industries.
Adaptive games and entertainment
The first sphere to be penetratedneurotechnology is a game. A headset or headphones equipped with sensors can provide a new level of interaction with the gaming reality. And given that the digital entertainment market is huge, neural interfaces will help companies differentiate themselves and offer a fundamentally new experience.
Depending on the reactions of the person, the developersgames can customize the behavior of characters who, for example, will feel that you hate them, fear, or, conversely, adore them. This allows you to modify the behavior of the game world so that people go through the same scenes over and over again, because the behavior of the heroes becomes more variable. Many developers have been conducting such experiments for several years.
New Input Device (HID)
Another possibility is deliberate useneurointerface. This, for example, is the transfer of some control functions to the neural interface. The BCI device can “sense” that the shooter player wants to reload the weapon, and this neural signal can be tied to the reload button. So the user improves the results in the game, becomes multitasking and makes some of the actions automated.
The same principle can be used in othersspheres. Some automakers want to control additional functions of cars with mental impulses. And for people with disabilities, the neurointerface can be a real breakthrough - after all, they can train and use the neurodevice instead of a mouse, keyboard or other manipulator. Experiments have already shown that the neurointerface allows paralyzed patients to type phrases "with the power of thought."
Industrial Incident Prevention
The neural interface allows you to read impulses onsurface of a person's head - which means it can be built into a helmet or helmet. Thanks to specially developed algorithms, today it is possible to recognize not only emotions, but also to assess the state of a person - the level of fatigue or alcohol intoxication.
For example, developers are already testing devices,who find psychological changes in the state of dispatchers and operators. The results of these experiments show that using a standard BCI device can detect signs of distraction and fatigue that employees may experience. Scientists are also experimenting with recognizing vivid emotions. Unlike regular medical examinations, the neural interface allows you to monitor dangerous deviations in real time - this way you can avoid many incidents.
Automotive industry
Transport companies are also interested inin the application of neurotechnology to assess the condition of drivers. This applies to freight, commercial transport and taxi services. Most accidents occur because drivers fall asleep while driving or are distracted by something, and the neural interface will allow managers to notify the employee's condition or warn the person himself if his brain activity shows signs of sleep and fatigue.
In the case of a taxi, the neural interface can be integratedwith an attachment. As neurotechnology becomes cheaper, devices specifically designed for drivers will appear on the market. After that, taxi companies will begin to encourage work with those drivers who wear a neural interface in any form - it can be neural headphones or even a neural cap. This means that sooner or later customers will be able to choose only a rested driver in the application, even if it will be more expensive with him.
Some automakers have already created the firstprototypes of cars with neurointerface. For example, in September 2021 Mercedes-Benz showed an improved version of its Vision AVTR concept electric car. Now complete with the electric car comes a special BCI module that recognizes the direction of the driver's gaze. This allows you to activate the zones of the virtual mind control panel.
Learning and personalization of education
Neurotechnology, undoubtedly, can provideincredible impact on education. Just like AR / VR technologies, neural interfaces will make the learning process more interesting and interactive. And given that glasses or a helmet can be immediately equipped with neurosensors, a single device will allow not only to demonstrate educational content in an interactive format, but also to assess the degree of its perception and interest of the student. This system will allow you to choose the most convenient training program.
Using headphones with neurosensorsopens up opportunities for assessing the assimilation of lectures and seminars, to offer students a rest, or, conversely, to give out as much information as possible at the moment of concentration. Given the growing popularity of distance learning systems, such an approach in the near future may change the very principle of education, making it truly individual and effective.
Neurotechnology is just at the beginning
Neurotechnologies are capturing new ones every dayspheres, their development depends on the end devices. As soon as the cost of a device with neurosensors becomes low, there will be new applications for neurotechnology. They will provoke the development of algorithms for the interpretation of brain signals and will become the starting point for the emergence of more accurate measuring devices. New methods of invasive connection with the implantation of sensors directly into the human body await great prospects. This approach will increase the reading accuracy and improve the quality of the neurointerface, primarily in the field of medicine.
But there are also constraints.For example, for any solutions using a neural interface, it is necessary to provide for increased cyber protection measures, think over the ethical aspects of their use. That is why many projects are still at the stage of experiments and test concepts. But as soon as all key issues are resolved and neurotechnologies (especially invasive ones) receive guarantees of safety, deferred demand will lead to an even more explosive development of the market.
Analysts are confident that the following directionsFor growth in the field of neurotechnology, new gaming platforms based on neurointerfaces will become, as well as a wide range of different software that is being developed today for a variety of purposes - up to remote control of robots and industrial equipment. The growth in the number of devices that can work with such software creates additional demand, and, according to analysts, this market segment will experience even more active growth. Due to the fact that today the same BCI helmets can be used both in games and for monitoring patients and in industrial conditions, we can count on the expansion of the scope of application of neurotechnology in the coming year.
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