Is neurotech the next growth frontier?
As a believer that our brain is the final frontier for research and productivity enhancements, I research human interfacing technologies such as neurotechnology.
The sector is set for significant growth over the next decade.
“Is neurotechnology the next growth frontier?”
The drivers?
🧠 Decoding brain signals.
It's been possible for a long time to sense brain signals, yet building a commercial product has been harder, as it’s tricky to identify common signals and patterns across different people’s brains. But advances in AI pattern detection, and greater availability of brain data, are changing this. Even though brain signal datasets are relatively rare, more institutions are sharing the data to build on each other's work. Synthetic data plays a major part: At Accenture Labs, researchers tested how AI can efficiently generate synthetic brain signals to train detection models, without needing to rely on people’s original brain signals. Similarly, NVIDIA and King's College London are running the 'Synthetic Brain' project.
🧠 Neuro-hardware and better, more portable devices.
This is critical to commercialization, and some companies are already building products that depend on it. EMOTIV, a bioinformatics startup, and X-trodes, which builds wireless wearable tech, are collaborating on a wearable at-home solution for brain measurement, like sticker electrodes for people’s skin. And Apple has submitted a patent application for measuring biosignals and electrical activity from a user’s brain through an AirPods Sensor System.
What's next?
These innovations will start closing the gap between people and technology.
Here are some ways companies are experimenting with it:
Amplifying the workforce, such as Lockheed Marting's CogC2 capability which claims to 'provide customized, real-time, neurophysiological workload assessment'.
Invention of new products and services, such as Yves Saint Laurent Beauty's Scent-sation that gives personalised fragrance based on how it makes you feel.
Safety measures, like smart caps trialled by logistics and marine companies to anticipate fatigue and avoid accidents.
Controlling technology, see Snap Inc.'s acquisition of NextMind, the maker of a mind-controlled headband that lets people interact with and command digital objects with their brain signals.
As with every technology we have created thus far, neurotechnology is neither a pure panacea 😇 nor Pandora’s box 👿. If you want to understand how this next wave of technological growth will affect your organization, get in touch with me.
