New York startup Synchron is working on a direct brain interface that helps paralyzed people text, email, and shop online. The company is developing an implant that works without requiring brain surgery — it goes into the carotid artery.

Synchron raises $40M to trial neurotech that helps paralysis patients text, email and shop online

The technology is crude and expensive now, of course, but how long before regular people can control computers directly with our brains?

I’m intrigued by the possibility of brain-controlled telepresence robots, like in the John Scalzi novel “Lock-In,” as a way of remaining active in old age.