Upward Arrow

Upward Arrow

We believe technology should be beautiful, natural and sustainable. Follow the growth of the world’s first sustainable technology company as we develop the next generation of human computer interfaces.Along the way, you’ll learn about the latest advances in technology, the environment and the arts.Hosted by the creator of Upward Arrow: Seth D BrownFollow us on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/upward-arrow/and Twitter:https://twitter.com/upwardarrowVisit our website:https://UpwardArrow.comLearn about our latest research:https://UpwardArrow.com/research

Episodes

  1. 09/03/2023

    Restoring Speech to a Paralyzed Woman and Sight to the Blind – Upward Arrow Podcast 6

    This episode features incredible neurotechnology news from around the world. A woman who is paralyzed is able to speak again, vision is restored to the blind, and scientists are able to decode music from people’s brains. Of course, we’ve got updates on the latest progress at Upward Arrow and positive environmental news. Our first story is about the team at UCSF and UC Berkeley that have restored speech to a woman who was paralyzed by a stroke. Led by neurosurgeon Edward Chang from UCSF and Gopala Anumanchipalli and Kaylo Littlejohn from UC Berkeley, they are using electrodes in her brain to capture signals and machine learning or AI to decode the signals as speech. In addition, they are also connecting these speech sounds and other facial movements to a 3D avatar that represents the woman as she speaks through the computer connected to the electrodes implanted in her brain. Read the interview with the Berkeley team here: https://engineering.berkeley.edu/news/2023/08/novel-brain-implant-helps-paralyzed-woman-speak-using-a-digital-avatar/ Over in Spain, electrical signals are going in the other direction, from a digital camera through a computer into the brain of a woman who has been blind for the past 16 years. Using 96 electrodes, the team was able to restore some vision for this woman – such as large blocks or shapes, but not enough to safely navigate a room. The scientists reckon they would need 1,000 – 2,000 electrodes to restore sufficient vision. This is still an incredible breakthrough and shows the neuroplasticity of the brain taking these incoming signals and turning them into vision. This was done by Eduardo Fernández and others. Full paper here: https://www.jci.org/articles/view/151331/pdf Back over in California, a neuroscientist was able to decode parts of the song ‘Another Brick in the Wall’ detected through neuroprosthetics in patients with epilepsy. These patients were undergoing surgery, and during this time, the song was played in the background. There was a total of 29 patients, and the electrical signals from their brand were deciphered using AI or machine learning. This is the work of Ludovic Bellier and his team at UC Berkeley. Read the article at Scientific American: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/neuroscientists-re-create-pink-floyd-song-from-listeners-brain-activity/ At Upward Arrow, we are continuing to develop our smart necklace which detects biosignals from the neck. We are currently crunching the data and finding that the biosignals detected here are highly individualized. On the positive note, we are still seeing over 80% accuracy when we pool the data together. We look forward to making an announcement showcasing our work soon. This episode’s positive environmental news is from the Allen Institute. They are using AI to improve the resolution of satellite imagery with their SATLAS program. This helps monitor human activity related to the environment including forest growth and renewable energy projects. By better tracking our impact on the environment we can ensure that overall impact is positive. Read more on their blog on Medium: https://blog.allenai.org/satlas-monitoring-the-planet-with-ai-and-satellite-imagery-f37b01b254e4?gi=2b6fced78898 Thanks for tuning in! If you enjoy our neurotechnology and positive environmental news, please consider subscribing, liking, and doing all the positive things on the platforms out there. If you know a friend or colleague who might enjoy our show, please share it with them, thank you!

    Restoring Speech to a Paralyzed Woman and Sight to the Blind – Upward Arrow Podcast 6
  2. 08/06/2023

    EEG in AirPods, BCI and VR, Biosensing Necklace Update – Upward Arrow Podcast 5

    Exciting brain computer interface news in this latest episode of Upward Arrow. Apple has filed a patent which shows they may use EEG sensors in their AirPod and VisionPro devices. A startup, uCat has announced a new connection between bci (brain computer interfaces) and vr (virtual reality) creating a new sort of digital freedom for people who are paralyzed or suffer from neurdegenerative disorders. We have news from down under, Monash University has received additional funding for their DishBrain project which combines 800,000 mice and human brain cells with a computer chip to create a hybrid computing platform. They’ve taught the platform to play Pong and see possible uses for AI. There are also updates on the latest progress at Upward Arrow on our biosensing necklace and; of course, some positive environmental news, this time from an effort to save monkeys in Sri Lanka. Buy organic clothing and support our effort: https://upwardarrow.myshopify.com/ Time stamps: 0:00 Introduction 1:06 Apple has filed a patent showing that they may use AirPods to sense biosignals including EEG for brainwaves, and may also integrate the technology their VisionPro device. 3:53 uCat, a startup working in brain computer interfaces has announced their platform which combines bci and vr to create a new sort of digital freedom. 6:17 DishBrain is a new hybrid platform combining human and mouse brain cells with a microchip created by scientists at Monash University. 8:24 Updates on progress at Upward Arrow. We’re testing our biosensing necklace prototype on multiple people. 10:34 Positive Environmental News: 100,000 Macaque monkeys will not be exported from Sri Lanka to China thanks to efforts of local and international wildfile conservation groups.

    EEG in AirPods, BCI and VR, Biosensing Necklace Update – Upward Arrow Podcast 5
  3. 05/26/2023

    Brain Computer Interface Operating System | Human-centric BCI | Upward Arrow Podcast 3

    Building a better brain computer interface. Upward Arrow Podcast 3, in this episode we talk about: 1) The honest truth: It’s been mostly an isolated effort of passion to get to this prototype. It would be exceptional to have more people join Upward Arrow and build a brain computer interface, a human-centric biosensing device that is beautiful, natural and sustainable. 2) A fork in the road: Should we continue to develop the BCI necklace, or shift our priority to a software approach? The world needs a brain computer interface operating system or a human-centric biosignal platform. 3) A paralyzed man walks again thanks to BCI. Researchers at EPFL led by Gregoire Courtine have enabled a paralyzed man to walk again through the use of BCI and a spinal implant. It’s an incredinle proof of concept. 4) Positive environmental news: a large snapping turtle was found in the Chicago River which shows that we can address our transgressions, learn from our mistakes, and leave a positive impact on the environment. We appreciate your interest in the break-through technology we are developing at Upward Arrow. Hosted by the creator of Upward Arrow: Seth D Brown Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/upward-arrow/ and Twitter: https://twitter.com/upwardarrow Learn about our latest research: https://UpwardArrow.com/research Full transcript here: https://upwardarrow.com/transcript-upward-arrow-podcast-3-brain-computer-interface-operating-system/

    Brain Computer Interface Operating System | Human-centric BCI | Upward Arrow Podcast 3

About

We believe technology should be beautiful, natural and sustainable. Follow the growth of the world’s first sustainable technology company as we develop the next generation of human computer interfaces.Along the way, you’ll learn about the latest advances in technology, the environment and the arts.Hosted by the creator of Upward Arrow: Seth D BrownFollow us on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/upward-arrow/and Twitter:https://twitter.com/upwardarrowVisit our website:https://UpwardArrow.comLearn about our latest research:https://UpwardArrow.com/research