Ann Johnson, who was once a vibrant speaker, suffered a debilitating stroke at the age of 30, leaving her paralyzed and unable to speak. Scientists have now made a significant breakthrough in helping her and others regain their ability to communicate.
Using implanted electrodes, they decoded Mrs. Johnson’s brain signals as she attempted to form sentences. These signals were then converted into written and vocalized language, allowing an avatar on a computer screen to speak the words and display facial expressions. This research, published in the journal Nature, marks the first time spoken words and facial expressions have been synthesized directly from brain signals.
Mrs. Johnson’s avatar can produce speech at a rate of 78 words per minute, and she has expressed profound emotional connection to hearing a voice similar to her own. The technology aims to assist those who have lost their speech due to conditions like strokes, cerebral palsy, and ALS.
While the system isn’t perfect and can sometimes misinterpret words, it represents a promising step forward in the field of neuroscience and artificial intelligence.
You can read the full story in the NYTimes.
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