Arnav Kapur, a student hailing from Delhi and currently studying at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), has created a groundbreaking device called ‘AlterEgo.’
This innovative, artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled headset allows users to communicate with machines, AI assistants, and other individuals through internal articulation of words. The communication occurs entirely in private using bone conduction technology.
MIT describes the ‘AlterEgo’ as a non-invasive, wearable peripheral neural interface that enables humans to engage in natural language conversations without uttering a word or making externally observable movements. The device uses bone conduction to provide users with audio feedback, ensuring a closed-loop interface that doesn’t interfere with their regular auditory experiences. This unique communication system allows individuals to connect with computers internally, resembling a conversation with oneself.
One of the primary objectives of the ‘AlterEgo’ project is to support those with speech difficulties. By offering an alternative means of communication, this device has the potential to significantly improve the lives of many people with speech impairments.
A video featuring Kapur using the ‘AlterEgo’ has gone viral on social media platforms. In the video, an interviewer asks him questions, and he responds instantly without speaking a word. Witnessing this seamless interaction, the interviewer marvels at the concept, remarking, ‘You have the entire internet in your head.’
Kapur is currently pursuing his PhD at MIT in Media Arts and Sciences, and his work spans various domains, showcasing his diverse talents.
In addition to the ‘AlterEgo,’ Arnav Kapur has also earlier created a 3D printable drone, a platform to measure gene expressions at a large scale, and a device named Drishti, designed to assist the visually impaired in rehabilitation. His involvement in developing a lunar rover intended to land on the moon and transmit images back to Earth further demonstrates his prowess as an innovator. Kapur’s accomplishments have earned him recognition on both national and international platforms, with TIME Magazine featuring him in their list of 100 Best Inventions of 2020.
Source: News9 Live
