Calgary startup Possibility Neurotechnologies today launched a first-of-its-kind appâone that allows users to control devices with their minds, Jedi-mind-tricks style.
Think2Switch allows users to control and interface with devices using their thoughts, eliminating the need for physical or even voice-controlled input. Designed to be used in everyday settings for devices in the home, classroom, or elsewhere, Possibility Neurotechnologies said the launch represents a major milestone in digital accessibility for those with physical or neurological disabilities.
âWhat matters most is what it enables: people can make choices, express themselves, and take part in everyday moments in ways that weren’t possible before.â
Dr. Dion Kelly, Possibility Neurotechnologies
Incorporated in 2022, Possibility Neurotechnologies grew out of the University of Calgaryâs (U of C) Calgary Pediatric Brain-Computer Interface program (BCI4Kids), an initiative connecting children âwith severe neurological disabilities” with brain-computer interface technologies. The commercial venture, which was also supported by the U of Câs SPARK Alberta program, which supports digital health innovation, aims to integrate those technologies into everyday life.
If this all sounds a little too science fiction, thatâs OK. The reality of how the tech works is actually fairly simple. Think2Switch uses consumer-grade EEG headbands (devices that use electrodes on the forehead to measure and record electrical brain activity) to detect brainwave signals, which the Think2Switch app then translates into simple device commands and inputs.
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Possibility Neurotechnologies said in a release issued on April 13 that Think2Switch will enable users to control everything from the apps on their mobile devices to a range of connected, internet-of-things-enabled environments. That includes in educational settings where some early-stage adopters of the software have used the tech to choose library books, design art projects, and engage with physical infrastructure like light switches.
âWeâve developed [Think2Switch] in partnership with children and individuals facing significant barriers to interaction, so that it works for everyone,â said Dr. Dion Kelly, the co-founder and CEO of Possibility Neurotechnologies. âWhat matters most is what it enables: people can make choices, express themselves, and take part in everyday moments in ways that weren’t possible before.â
Think2Switch is currently available on the Apple App Store and operates on a subscription model at $35 per month. To be used, it also requires a headset, which sells for between $255 and $488
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