It's Not Science Fiction: You Can Already Control a Smart Home With Your Thoughts

An experimental study has shown that it's already possible to control smart home with just thoughts. Here's everything we know so far.

Communicating and controlling devices with the power of thought is not a magic trick, but a reality of modern technology. Due to an illness, Mark is unable to use his hands and has difficulty speaking, and even the simplest tasks around the house, such as opening a door or turning on a light, are an incredibly difficult task for him. But now this problem is solved; he can control his house through his thoughts. 

Mark is participating in an experimental study by the neurotechnology company Synchron. A microscopic tube called a "Stentrode" was implanted in a blood vessel near his brain. This device contains electrodes that can "read" his thoughts. Synchron's technology then "translates" these thoughts into commands for Alexa, Amazon's virtual assistant that controls various smart devices in the home. Other companies are developing similar technologies, with the most famous project in this area being Elon Musk's company Neuralink. However, Neuralink's technology is more invasive, as a special device to read thoughts is placed inside a person's brain, while the Synchron chip is located in a vein next to the brain. However, Neuralink's technology is potentially more powerful: the implant has many more electrodes to receive brain signals.

The man has a special program on his tablet, with different buttons that are responsible for different devices and functions of the voice assistant. By thinking about a button, he can press it with his mind and thus control Alexa. Thus, Mark can now easily turn on the TV and computer, select programs, check who is at his front door and open it, turn on the lights, vacuum cleaner, and kitchen appliances. Mark can even control Apple Vision Pro, which he uses to type messages and play cards by moving his eyes and thinking.

Synchron has already tested the technology on a dozen people, but before it is widely available, there is still much research to be done to ensure this technology to assist people with disabilities becomes more widespread. Other companies are also developing similar technologies.