Synchron has completed the first demonstration of an iPad controlled entirely by thought, using Apple’s brain-computer interface (BCI) Human Interface Device protocol.
The move represents a significant advancement in assistive technology, highlighting the potential of BCIs in everyday life.
The demonstration featured Mark, a participant in Synchron’s COMMAND clinical study and a person living with ALS.
Using Synchron’s implantable BCI, Mark navigated the iPad, opened apps, and composed text without using his hands, voice, or eyes.
The demonstration was made possible by Apple’s accessibility feature, Switch Control, and Synchron’s Stentrode device.
Apple’s new BCI Human Interface Device protocol, announced in May, allows operating systems to use brain signals as a native input method.
The Stentrode device detects motor intentions from brain blood vessels, transmitting signals wirelessly to an external decoder.
The decoder interfaces with iPadOS, enabling precise control through neural signals.
Synchron’s approach, which avoids open brain surgery, positions the company for real-world scalability.
The company was the first to bring a permanently implantable BCI into clinical trials.
The demonstration represents a key step in integrating BCI technology into the global consumer ecosystem.
Synchron continues to roll out the BCI HID experience with clinical participants, with plans for broader availability.
The company aims to make BCI technology practical and scalable, moving beyond clinical trials into everyday applications.
Synchron founder and CEO Tom Oxley said: “This is the first time the world has seen native, thought-driven control of an Apple device in action.
“Mark’s experience is a technical breakthrough, and a glimpse into the future of human-computer interaction, where cognitive input becomes a mainstream mode of control.”
Mark said: “When I lost the use of my hands, I thought I had lost my independence. Now, with my iPad, I can message my loved ones, read the news, and stay connected with the world, just by thinking. It’s given me part of my life back.”
