It’s only a matter of time before we’re able to control things with our minds using brain computer interfaces, even communicate to each other just using our minds. Think telepathy is just fiction? It’s not. Facebook is actually hiring neuroscientists to build brain computer interfaces so that all you people who spend half your waking time on Facebook telling us what interesting lives you have can now do it without having to type. Does your jaw get sore after speaking with your friends on the phone? This first world problem affects nearly everyone with friends, and help is now on the way. Soon, you can just speak with them telepathically.
Just recently we gave you a glimpse of brain interface technology that’s going to redefine our concept of a user interface with AR/VR, enable us with neuroprosthesis, and apparently allow us to control all our social media relationships with our minds. Whether brain interface technology will be part of our lives or not in the coming years will be determined by how much investment goes into this space. We bring you 10 companies who are deep diving into brain computer interface technologies that may someday allow us to livestream our minds on Facebook.
MindMaze
Founded in 2012, MindMaze is a Swiss company building a platform that combines VR, brain imaging, computer graphics, and neuroscience. The Company has taken in two rounds of funding totaling $108.5 million so far.
We discussed MindMaze before in an article on Virtual Reality and Healthcare. What they have developed is a user interface integrated into a wearable Head Mount Display (HMD) and 3D motion-capture cameras to create a VR and AR environment for patients with neurological disorders. It intends to provide multi-sensory feedback to patients with brain injuries to stimulate motor functions during rehabilitation. It is the first thought-powered VR/AR and motion-capture game system. It’s like being in a simulation and you controlling the outcome with your thoughts.
Kernel Co.
We’ve mention Kernel Co before in one of our posts related to AI and brain implants and even dedicated an entire article to this amazing company which has taken in $100 million in funding from technology pioneer Bryan Johnson who is investing in moonshot ideas like chips for your brain and space mining. While you can read more about the nitty gritty details in our article on Kernel, here’s a quick summary. Kernel is targeting the hippocampus which writes your long term memories. They are using AI to “read” what the hippocampus writes to a chip and they are at 80% accuracy. Isn’t that just mind blowing?
NeuroPace
Founded in 1997, Mountain View, California startup NeuroPace has taken in three rounds of funding totaling $67 million from investors that include Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and New Enterprise Associates. NeuroPace is developing a medical device that identifies unusual brain activity and then sends a pulse to counteract or disrupt the unusual signals marking the onset of an epileptic seizure.
Just like all neurological disorders, the onset of an epileptic seizure has a brainwave signature that can be isolated and identified. The NeuroPace device is known as the RNS System and it functions much like a pacemaker. The RNS System monitors and responds to specific brain activity to stop seizures. There are 65 million souls throughout the world who walk around every day not knowing if they’re going to suddenly have a seizure or not. NeuroPace may give these people a much needed permanent solution.
Cerêve
Founded in 2008, Pittsburgh based startup Cereve took in $38 million just this month from notorious investment firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. to develop a device that helps people with sleep disorders or insomnia.
Why is interest in sleep disorder significant? There are about 50 to 70 million Americans who suffer from chronic sleep disorders. Cerêve offers a technology addressing the root cause of sleep disorders which is our mind’s hyperarousal during sleep. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)…