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Page 4


www.us- tech.com


Tech-Op-ed September, 2020 SOUNDING OFF


By Michael Skinner Editor


Pork Chips: Brain-Computer Interfaces


C


huckling into the microphone, Elon Musk quipped “Pig on a treadmill. Quite a funny concept, really.” His comment came moments after he un- veiled an apparently happy and healthy pig, Gertrude, who contentedly


snuffled her snout in the hay strewn around the floor of a small pen. The somewhat awkward introduction was made up for by the apparent


success of the technology at work. Implanted in Gertrude’s skull is a small de- vice, developed by Musk’s side venture, Neuralink. Above her, on a large television screen, electronic signals from her brain


were being displayed in real time, accompanied by video-game-esque musical tones. Pigs’ noses are very sensitive and take up a lot of the animals’ brain- power, which makes them excellent candidates for Musk’s prototype brain in- terface chip. His treadmill comment came before demonstrating that his new device is capable of reading signals in the pig’s brain while it walks and pre- dicting the right patterns of stimulation to replicate the movement. The chip itself, the Link V0.9, is a 0.9 x 0.3 in. (23 x 8 mm) chip with


1,024 channels capable of recording electrical impulses from and stimulating neurons, fanning out in the form of wisp-like electrodes. Each electrode is about 20 microns in diameter — roughly one-fifth the size of a human hair. The device is implanted by a surgical robot, a collaboration with indus-


trial design firm Woke Studio. The robot is designed to create a small incision, insert the Link and plunge the tiny electrodes directly into brain tissue. The chip then connects with a smartphone via Bluetooth, and the whole


thing is inductively charged. “It’s kind of like a Fitbit in your brain with tiny wires,” Musk explained. Neuralink is only one of several companies developing brain-computer


interfaces, though probably the most well-known. Others include Kernel and Paradromics, which also aim to implant devices into the skull. Of these three, applications are focused strongly toward medical rehabil-


itation at first, with more lofty goals of melding humans with artificial intel- ligence in the future. Each company has some form of mission to record brain activity and stimulate it to correct neurological problems, such as dementia, Alzheimer’s, and hopefully, even restore the use of paralyzed limbs. However, for less sci-fi sounding challenges, practical non-invasive


brain-computer interfaces are already here. In June 2019, Carnegie Mellon University researchers demonstrated an EEG-sensing cap that translates brainwaves into specific actions for a robotic end effector. The problem with noninvasive technology is that the signals are messy


and difficult to read accurately. The problem with invasive technology is that it is actually messy and requires physically changing the user’s skull. At any rate, the speed at which brain-computer interfaces are improving,


especially over the last 10 years, means that we will likely see commercialized versions fairly soon. With the obvious benefits of networked machines, remote control and monitoring, and the budding use of augmented reality devices, we may see simple EEG-sensing applications in industry in the coming years. This leaves a lot of opportunity for new companies to grow. Brain scan-


ning and analytics may turn from a highly specialized, strictly medical exer- cise, into a privatized and growing field for startups. This mass of brain data can be used to identify patterns, train neural nets, and will be critical for de- veloping general artificial intelligence. According to Musk, “The future is gonna be weird.” This comes from the


same man who used an experimental rocket to launch a convertible into out- er space, blasting David Bowie’s Space Oddity on repeat through the stereo, as it hurtles into the deep reaches of the solar system. r


PUBLISHER’S NOTE


By Jacob Fattal Publisher


Fall Back to Spring Forward


A


fter a few months of hunkering down and weathering the storm, signs are appearing that the world is slowly returning to normal. With social distancing measures in place and travel guidelines helping to reduce in-


person contact, businesses are beginning to reemerge. The fall is typically a very busy time of year for U.S. Tech, as it has many


of the year’s largest and most-attended trade shows and conferences. This year, while the majority of physical shows have been postponed until 2021 or cancelled, our industry overall appears to have handled the crisis well and is set for a timely return. This month, we are excited to be a part of SMTA International’s virtual


exhibition. Impressively, with little to no notice, show managers have pivoted from a scheduled event and a convention hall booking to a virtual environ- ment, demonstrating the versatility of the high-tech industry. Now, with a couple of these virtual trade shows under our belts from ear-


lier this year, the concept has demonstrated some real value. A flurry of new product introductions this year, including some substantial innovations in screen printing and pick-and-place equipment, as well as factory automation software, show that innovation was never in lockdown. In October, Messe München’s electronica will be the first major world-


wide show since the pandemic began to reintroduce a physical exhibition. The company plans to supplement the expo floor with a virtual exhibition for those not in attendance. According to the show’s guidelines, visitors will be required to maintain a 5 ft (1.5m) physical distance from each other, mask wearing is mandatory, and their entrance and exit to the convention will be tracked, pre- sumably via a barcode assigned at registration. Show management assures exhibitors and guests that surfaces will be kept clean and sanitized and that medical staff will be available for the duration. The electronics manufacturing industry is not brittle. This year, life-sav-


ing devices and innovative testing and treatment methods have come from our community, and the entire world has ben- efited. While more challenges are ahead, the electronics manufacturing industry has shown that it takes efficient, high- quality and reliable people to build like products. r


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