Imagine being able to control machines with the help of your thoughts alone, no button pressing, typing, screen tapping, or fumbling with remote controls, just brainpower. No need to get up from your sofa to switch on the TV or the AC just think about it and it will turn On. It is not something from a science fiction movie or a distinct future development. The technology to harness our brainwaves exists and scientists are working towards perfecting it.

Currently, we use human-computer interaction (HCI) to interact with machines and devices in our surroundings. Continuing the trend on improving these interactions we introduced speech and gestures inputs. The further new technology of brain-computer interaction (BCI) was developed. BCIs measure brain activity through an electroencephalogram (EEG); these are sophisticated instruments similar to those used in hospitals. The device picks up the tiny electrical signals produced when neurons in the brain communicate with each other. These signals include alpha, beta, delta, theta, and gamma waves, as well as various types of signals triggered by visual cues. Certain patterns of activity can be associated with particular thoughts, allowing the system to make predictions about the user's wishes.

This pattern recognition is further made easy with the help of new AI-powered algorithms which can predict the activities precisely and so that we can assign them to specific activities. Historically these technologies were mainly focused on helping people suffering from paralysis and other diseases which affected their movements. The applications were limited to the medical field. Recently due to the increase in the pace of technological development and machine learning we are seeing the use of these technologies in various fields across sectors.

A company named Neuralink is working towards building better tools for communicating with the brain. They have developed a neural implant that directly connects to our brains. This device then processes the signals and directly transmits commands to the device we intend to control. In a recent demonstration, the company showed a monkey controlling various computer programs just by thinking about the commands in this head. (Video Link: https://youtu.be/rsCul1sp4hQ)

The car manufacturer Nissan is developing brain to vehicle systems, this system monitors signals regenerated in the brain responsible for motion activities. The data collected from this is then correlated with the information gathered from the vehicles. The headset sensor allows the computer to interpret the brain activities and with the combination of AI, the vehicle can take action even before the driver. This can further help how the cars of the future drive around.

It is very interesting to see such developments happening in the field of brain waves interpretation and their application. When the technology is ready for public use, I would definitely be the first one in line to get these implants fitted so that I can go around amusing people with the power of my brain...