Brain Implant Helps Paralysed Man Regain Independence

Researchers have developed a groundbreaking double neural bypass brain–computer interface that enabled a patient, who was paralysed from the chest down after a 2020 diving accident, to regain the ability to feed himself, drink from a cup, and perform everyday tasks independently. The system uses implanted brain electrodes to detect his intention to move, transmitting those signals directly to his arm and hand muscles while simultaneously sending sensory information back to the brain, allowing him to feel touch again. After 35 weeks of therapy, his arm strength improved dramatically, and he was able to handle delicate objects such as eggshells with remarkable precision.

Beyond restoring movement, the researchers found evidence that the technology may promote long-term healing of the nervous system rather than simply bypassing the spinal injury. By combining brain stimulation with sensory feedback and a technique called cortical mirroring, the patient regained sensation in areas that had been numb since his accident, with improvements persisting for more than two years after treatment. Although the results currently come from a single patient and larger clinical trials are still needed, the study represents a major advance in neuroprosthetics and offers new hope for millions of people living with paralysis.

More information:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/jul/16/neural-bypass-brain-implant-paralysed-man-feed-himself-drink-from-cup

Wearable Robotic Glove Restores Hand Function

Researchers from the Medical University of Vienna, working with collaborators from ETH Zurich, the Technical University of Munich, and the University of Belgrade, have developed a wearable neurorobotic system designed to restore hand function in people with severe neurological impairments. The system combines a lightweight robotic hand exoskeleton with functional electrical stimulation (FES), which activates weakened muscles through carefully timed electrical impulses. By synchronizing robotic assistance with the user's own muscle activity, the device enables more natural and coordinated grasping and finger movements than conventional rehabilitation approaches.

The researchers evaluated the system in individuals with spinal cord injuries and stroke-related hand paralysis, demonstrating significant improvements in performing everyday tasks such as grasping and manipulating objects. Unlike existing rehabilitation devices that often rely solely on robotics or electrical stimulation, the hybrid approach leverages the strengths of both technologies, promoting functional recovery while encouraging active patient participation. The team believes the wearable system could support both clinical rehabilitation and home-based therapy, offering a practical solution for improving independence and quality of life for people with impaired hand function.

More information:

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20260619/Scientists-develop-wearable-robotic-system-to-restore-hand-function.aspx

New Tool Detects AI Vision Hallucinations

Researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory have developed a new tool called the Prelim Attention Score (PAS) to detect hallucinations in vision-language AI models, systems that combine image analysis with large language models. These models can sometimes generate descriptions of objects or details that are not actually present in an image. PAS works by monitoring how much the AI relies on the visual input versus its own previously generated text while producing a response, helping identify when the model is beginning to make things up.

The method operates in real time and can be integrated into existing vision-language models. By analyzing internal attention patterns, PAS provides a score indicating the likelihood of hallucination, allowing developers and users to assess the reliability of AI-generated outputs. The approach achieves state-of-the-art accuracy in detecting hallucinations and could improve the safety and trustworthiness of AI systems used in applications such as autonomous vehicles, healthcare imaging, robotics, and security monitoring.

More information:

https://interestingengineering.com/ai-robotics/us-tool-hallucinations-machine-vision-model

AI Brain Implant Restores Communication and Employment for ALS Patient

Researchers at the University of California, Davis have demonstrated a major advance in brain–computer interface (BCI) technology that enabled a 47-year-old patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to communicate, control a computer, and maintain full-time employment despite losing the ability to speak. The implanted system uses AI-driven decoding algorithms to translate neural activity associated with intended speech into text and synthesized speech, while also providing cursor control for independent computer use. Over more than two years of daily use, the patient generated nearly two million words and over 183,000 sentences, achieving communication speeds of about 56 words per minute with high accuracy.

The study is considered a significant milestone because the system functioned reliably outside the laboratory and without constant researcher supervision. Researchers reported that the participant accumulated more than 3,800 hours of use, creating the largest known single-neuron-resolution brain recording dataset of its kind. Beyond restoring communication, the technology allowed the user to reconnect socially, preserve aspects of his natural voice, and continue professional work, highlighting how AI-enhanced BCIs are moving from experimental demonstrations toward practical tools that can meaningfully improve quality of life for people with severe paralysis.

More information:

https://www.theregister.com/science/2026/06/16/ai-and-brain-computer-interface-allow-speechless-als-patient-to-work-a-full-time-job/5256492

A Robot Companion Supporting Independent Aging

Researchers in New Hampshire are testing a socially assistive robot called Robbie to help older adults remain independent at home. The robot, based on Hello Robot’s Stretch 4 platform, assists elderly by providing exercise guidance, medication and meal reminders, hydration prompts, and personal hygiene cues. Developed through a collaboration between the University of New Hampshire and the National Institute on Aging, the project aims to address growing shortages of home-care workers while supporting aging populations who wish to remain in their own homes.

Unlike the humanoid robots often portrayed in science fiction, Robbie prioritizes functionality over appearance. Equipped with cameras, sensors, and a mobile platform, it can monitor routines, deliver reminders, and assist with everyday tasks, reducing the burden on family caregivers. Although the system currently costs nearly $30,000 and remains in an early adoption phase, researchers view it as a practical example of how robotics could complement human care in the coming decades as demand for elder-support services continues to rise.

More information:

https://apnews.com/article/robot-elder-care-companion-946ce0517281381950e72f088b0eda89

Monkeys Navigate VR with Thought

Researchers have unveiled a new intracortical brain–computer interface (BCI) that enables macaque monkeys to navigate complex 3D virtual reality environments using only their brain activity. Developed using neural signals from multiple brain regions, including the primary motor cortex and both dorsal and ventral premotor cortices, the system significantly improves the precision and flexibility of decoding real-time movement compared to earlier BCIs. The study demonstrates how combining signals from these areas allows for more natural and continuous control in immersive digital spaces.

In experimental trials, the monkeys successfully completed navigation tasks in VR without any physical movement, relying solely on neural input. They also showed the ability to learn and improve performance over time, with the system generalizing across different tasks without requiring retraining. Researchers highlight the potential of this technology for real-world applications, particularly in assisting people with paralysis to control wheelchairs, prosthetic devices, or explore virtual environments. The findings mark an important step toward more intuitive and adaptive brain-controlled interfaces.

More information:

https://www.rdworldonline.com/new-brain-computer-interface-allows-monkeys-to-navigate-3d-virtual-reality/

Dancer Returns to Stage Using Brain-Controlled Avatar

A groundbreaking performance has demonstrated how emerging brain–computer interface technology can restore artistic expression for people living with severe neurological conditions. A ballerina diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) has returned to the stage using a digital avatar controlled by her brainwaves. Wearing an EEG-based headset, the dancer was able to translate imagined movements into real-time digital choreography, allowing her avatar to perform alongside other dancers in a live production. The initiative highlights the growing potential of neurotechnology to bridge physical limitations and enable new forms of creative participation.

Developed through a collaboration between technology and creative teams, the system captures neural signals associated with movement intention and converts them into computer-generated motion. The project not only enabled the performer to reconnect with dance after losing muscular control, but also signals broader applications in rehabilitation, accessibility, and inclusive performance arts. Researchers and developers emphasize that such innovations could transform how individuals with mobility impairments engage with culture, offering scalable solutions that extend beyond the stage into healthcare and assistive technologies.

More information:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgqkz5lzvnwo

Digital Twin Hearts Improve Arrhythmia Care

A recent clinical study describes a novel approach to treating ventricular tachycardia, a life-threatening heart rhythm disorder responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths annually. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University created highly detailed “digital twins” of patients’ hearts using MRI scans and other personalized data. These virtual models allowed doctors to simulate different treatment strategies before performing the actual procedure, helping identify the most effective areas to target.

In a small trial of 10 patients, the results were promising: after more than a year, eight patients experienced no recurrence of arrhythmia, and most were able to stop medication. The approach may also reduce procedure time and improve safety by avoiding unnecessary damage to healthy tissue. However, researchers emphasize that this is an early-stage study, and larger trials are needed to confirm effectiveness and expand the method to other conditions such as atrial fibrillation or even cancer treatment.

More information:

https://apnews.com/article/heart-disease-arrhythmia-ventricular-tachycardia-73086c0c3df8758380bef539940fa826

China Approves World’s First Commercial Brain Implant

China has approved the world’s first brain implant for commercial use, marking a major milestone in the development of brain–computer interface (BCI) technology. The device is designed primarily for people with spinal cord injuries, enabling them to regain some lost motor function, such as hand movement, by translating brain signals into commands for external devices. Unlike earlier experimental systems, this implant has moved beyond clinical trials into the market, signaling a shift from research to real-world medical application.

The approval also reflects China’s broader ambition to lead in emerging technologies, including BCIs, where it is competing with efforts in the United States and elsewhere. While technology shows promise to restore mobility and improving quality of life, it also raises important ethical and safety considerations, such as long-term effects, data privacy, and the risks of invasive procedures. Overall, the development represents both a breakthrough in assistive medicine and a significant step toward more widespread use of BCIs in the coming years.

More information:

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/china-just-approved-its-first-brain-implant-for-commercial-use-a-world-first/

3D Printing Tiny Structures Inside Living Cells

Researchers have, for the first time, developed a method to 3D-print microscopic structures directly inside living human cells by injecting a biocompatible photoresin and using two-photon polymerization with a laser to solidify it into detailed shapes like barcodes, geometric forms, and even a tiny 10-micrometer elephant; many of the cells not only survived this process but continued to live and divide, passing the embedded structure to daughter cells.

This early proof-of-concept breakthrough could pave the way for entirely new intracellular bioengineering tools and applications, such as tracking cells with internal barcodes, probing cellular mechanics, creating microscopic machines or sensors inside cells, and eventually enabling advanced capabilities like targeted drug delivery or engineered biological functions beyond what is possible with current techniques.

More information:

https://www.discovermagazine.com/a-3d-printed-elephant-inside-a-living-cell-signals-a-bioengineering-breakthrough-48730

Blink-Powered Eye Tracker

Researchers at Qingdao University in China have developed an innovative self-powered eye-tracking system that could dramatically improve accessibility for people with severe mobility impairments, such as those with ALS. Traditional eye-tracking devices can help users type or steer wheelchairs using gaze alone, but they tend to be bulky, require external power, and struggle in low-light conditions. The new system uses triboelectric nanogenerators to harvest tiny electrical charges generated by the friction of eyelids blinking to both power the device and serve as a precise sensor.

It achieves around 99% tracking precision, detects subtle eye movements, works even in complete darkness, and is lightweight and comfortable, like wearing regular glasses. Because it doesn’t rely on batteries or heavy hardware, this blink-powered tracker could make gaze-based control more practical and empowering for daily use. Beyond helping paralyzed patients communicate or operate wheelchairs, the technology might find applications in fields like space exploration (where hands-free controls are valuable), driver monitoring in vehicles, and energy-efficient virtual-reality systems.

More information:

https://interestingengineering.com/science/blink-powered-eye-tracker-paralyzed-patients

Real-Time Speech-to-Text App for Deaf Users

A technology company in Nagoya has developed a new smartphone app designed to help people who are deaf or hard of hearing by converting spoken language into text in real time. The app uses advanced speech-recognition algorithms to transcribe what others are saying into readable captions instantly, filling a gap left by existing tools that often struggle with accuracy or lag.

This innovation is aimed at improving everyday communication for users, making conversations more accessible without needing a human interpreter or manual input. By leveraging recent advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning, the app can handle nuanced speech patterns and offer translations as well, supporting smoother interaction in various contexts such as social situations, work, or public services.

More information:

https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16206171

Virtual Reality Brings Connection and Joy to Senior Living

Virtual reality is being used in retirement communities to help older adults combat social isolation and enrich their daily lives. Residents at places in California use VR headsets to virtually explore new places, revisit meaningful memories, and take part in shared activities like underwater swims or concerts. These immersive experiences often spark conversation, improve cognitive engagement, and strengthen connections among peers who may otherwise struggle with loneliness.

Researchers and caregivers see VR as especially accessible for seniors compared with other technologies, and early evidence suggests it can support emotional well-being and social interaction without replacing traditional activities. They emphasize that while VR should complement rather than replace real-world engagement, it has shown potential benefits for those with memory challenges, including positive responses to virtual hikes and other simulations.

More information:

https://apnews.com/article/virtual-reality-senior-living-social-isolation-b20dc156f4aa0735d7f0cc7558de9bfc

AI Co-Pilot for More Natural Prosthetic Hands

Researchers at the University of Utah have developed an AI co-pilot system for prosthetic bionic hands that uses advanced sensors and machine learning to make gripping and manipulation more intuitive and natural for users. By equipping commercial prosthetic hands with pressure and proximity sensors and training an AI model to interpret that data, the system can autonomously adjust finger positions and grip force in real time, significantly improving success rates in tasks like picking up fragile objects.

The shared-control approach balances human intention with AI assistance, reducing cognitive burden and addressing a major reason many amputees abandon their prosthetics. Early studies show greater dexterity and precision compared with traditional myoelectric control, and the team is exploring future enhancements like tighter neural integration to further blur the line between artificial and natural limb control as the technology moves toward real-world use.

More information:

https://arstechnica.com/ai/2025/12/scientists-built-an-ai-co-pilot-for-prosthetic-bionic-hands/

Vine-Inspired Soft Robots That Lift Without Harm

MIT and Stanford engineers have created a soft, vine-like robotic gripper that uses inflatable tendrils to grow around, wrap, and gently lift objects from fragile items like glass vases to heavy loads like watermelons.

This bio-inspired design offers a gentler, more adaptable alternative to traditional rigid grippers and could be used in applications ranging from eldercare and patient transfers to agriculture, logistics, and industrial handling.

More information:

https://interestingengineering.com/ai-robotics/mit-stanford-robotic-vines-soft-gripper

ISMAR 2025 Article

Recently, a paper I co-authored with colleagues from CYENS was presented at 2025 IEEE International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality (ISMAR) in Daejeon, Korea. The paper is entitled "VR as a 'Drop-In' Well-Being Tool for Knowledge Workers" and explores how VR can meet the diverse physical and mental needs of knowledge workers. We developed Tranquil Loom, a VR app offering stretching, guided meditation, and open exploration across four environments. The app includes an AI assistant that suggests activities based on users’ emotional states.

We conducted a two-phase mixed-methods study: (1) interviews with 10 knowledge workers to guide the apps design, and (2) deployment with 35 participants gathering usage data, well-being measures, and interviews. Results showed increases in mindfulness and reductions in anxiety. Participants enjoyed both structured and open-ended activities, often using the app playfully. While AI suggestions were used infrequently, they prompted ideas for future personalization. Overall, participants viewed VR as a flexible, 'dropin' tool, highlighting its value for situational rather than prescriptive well-being support.

More information:

https://www.computer.org/csdl/proceedings-article/ismar/2025/876100b213/2byA7RS10ze

Man With Brain Implant Controls Another Person’s Hand

Researchers at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research and the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell have demonstrated a cutting-edge BCI that allows a person with paralysis to control another person’s hand and even feel what she feels. In the experiment, a man with a spinal cord injury used implanted sensors in his motor cortex, along with AI decoding and flexible electrode patches, to send signals to another volunteer’s arm, enabling her to perform tasks such as pouring water. 

 

This inter-human neural bypass opens new possibilities for cooperative rehabilitation, where users with different degrees of mobility can work together: the paralysed man helped a woman with partial paralysis improve her hand strength, while experiencing control and touch again himself. The trial suggests that by closing both movement and sensation loops, the technology could restore more natural sensorimotor function and perhaps motivate the body to repair itself. However, the study is still limited to a small group and long-term outcomes remain to be seen.

More information:

https://singularityhub.com/2025/10/23/one-mind-two-bodies-man-with-brain-implant-controls-another-persons-hand-and-feels-what-she-feels/

3D-printed tissue Mimics Real Organs

Surgeons and doctors often rely on artificial models to practice delicate procedures. Researchers at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities have developed a new 3D printing technique that creates lifelike human tissue structures. Their work could reshape surgical training by offering models that look, feel, and respond more like real human tissue.

The Minnesota team found a way to control the shape and size of microscopic patterns inside the printed material. Those patterns directly influence the strength and stretchiness of the tissues, giving them realistic mechanical properties. They also built a mathematical formula to predict how the tissues behave under stress.

More information:

https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/3d-printed-human-tissue-surgery-training

Replicating the Electrical System of the Heart

Researchers have succeeded in creating a digital twin that for the first time replicates the heart's electrical conduction system, which coordinates heartbeats. The breakthrough could pave the way for diagnosing and tailoring treatments for conditions such as arrhythmias and heart failure. Researchers developed a computer model that digitally reconstructs the Purkinje network using a standard electrocardiogram.

The goal with the heart's digital twin is for it to be used as a virtual patient, where treatments can be tested and optimized without any risk. This would allow for better planning of procedures, greater personalization and, therefore, more effective results. The team is now working on two challenges: increasing computing capacity so that each patient's digital twin can be generated almost in real time.

More information:

https://www.upi.com/Health_News/2025/09/25/chile-heart-digital-twin-chile-study/1501758817726/

Smartphone Audio Guide for Visual Impaired

Tactile paving for people with visual impairments in Japan has recently been enhanced with audio guidance, as the developers of the technology aim to improve the lives of people with partial sight and assist sighted tourists. The new braille blocks are marked with black stickers in special patterns. By scanning the coded blocks with a smartphone camera and app, users can listen to audio information about the location and its surroundings. The system was jointly developed by the laboratory of Kanazawa Institute of Technology and Tokyo-based W&M systems LLC.

Those behind the technology hope it can also be made available to tourists and foreigners as they walk the streets of Japan, whether they are sighted or not. The special braille blocks were first introduced in Kanazawa, central Japan, in 2019 and have since been installed in other areas, appearing at train stations, pedestrian streets and public offices in 10 prefectures, including Tokyo and Osaka, as of April. The developers plan to make the system available in multiple languages and are considering enabling it to answer questions by incorporating generative artificial intelligence capabilities.

More information:

https://japantoday.com/category/national/speaking-tactile-sidewalks-enrich-lives-of-visually-impaired