By this time, we can all conclude that Facebook is really ambitious when it comes to the production of high-end gadgets. This when you consider the Oculus line of devices, a VR wristband and RayBan AR glasses. And if that wasn’t enough, a new device is up for development.
The company has now revealed plans to build a mind-reading wristband letting people control devices without touching them. This is after the company finally acquired CTRL-Labs, a startup that is currently venturing into brain-computer interfaces. The deal has been reported to value at $1 billion.
The deal was then announced by Andrew Bosworth, Vice President of AR and VR at Facebook. “We spend a lot of time trying to get our technology to do what we want rather than enjoying the people around us,” he said.
CTRL-Labs, on the other hand, is reportedly working on with brain science and machine learning. This is so as to create interfaces for people to control and manipulate computers by thinking.
The wrist-worn device will then be created to use sensors to track gestures and act as an input device. And if this sounds familiar, it’s because you’ve heard it before with Elon Musk.
“You have neurons in your spinal cord that send electrical signals to your hand muscles telling them to move in specific ways such as to click a mouse or press a button,” Bosworth explained.
“The wristband will decode those signals and translate them into a digital signal your device can understand, empowering you with control over your digital life.”
Apparently though, this idea was birthed back in 2016 by Mark Zuckerberg who outlined his vision for a kind of “techno-telepathy” where people could capture and share thoughts straight from their heads.
However, the question remains, would you trust Facebook with your brain?
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