Now you can order pizza with your mind, Delhi man creates a device
Delhi-born MIT student, Arnav Kapur, invented 'AlterEgo' – a mind-reading headset enabling silent communication with AI, machines, and others. Empowering those with speech difficulties.
Arnav Kapur, a student pursuing his PhD at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), has created an incredible device called ‘AlterEgo.’ This AI-powered ‘mind-reading’ headset allows users to communicate with machines, AI assistants, and people without saying a word out loud. The magic lies in articulating words internally, and the communication happens privately through bone conduction.
Imagine ordering a pizza or booking a subway ride without even speaking – that’s what AlterEgo makes possible! The device, which had its prototype debut in 2018, is a wearable peripheral neural interface that facilitates natural language communication without any external movements or voice.
A recent video of Mr Kapur using AlterEgo has gone viral on social media. In the video, he effortlessly responds to questions from an interviewer without uttering a single word, leaving the interviewer amazed by his seamless interaction with the device.
The beauty of AlterEgo lies in its closed-loop feedback system that uses bone conduction to deliver audio feedback to the user. This means the user can interact with a computer, AI, or other services in a way that feels completely internal, almost like having a conversation with oneself.
MIT’s primary goal in developing this cutting-edge technology is to aid those with speech difficulties, especially people suffering from conditions like Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Multiple Sclerosis.
Beyond AlterEgo, Arnav Kapur has an impressive track record of accomplishments. He has previously invented a 3D printable drone, a platform to measure gene expressions on a large scale, and a device called Drishti to assist the visually impaired in their rehabilitation.
His passion for science, math, and arts shines through in his work, as he believes in integrating these disciplines to solve real-world problems. TIME Magazine recognized Arnav’s brilliance by featuring AlterEgo as one of the 100 Best Inventions of 2020.
