Imagine the ability to control computers, machines, and robots without talking to them, touching them, or even looking at them.
As a Vancouver-based pioneer in the wearable technologies market achieves its vision, this idea is becoming reality.
Founded by Mark Godsy (CEO) and Dave Segal (chief of innovation), Naqi Logix is aiming to revolutionize humanity’s interaction with machines.
“Our hands-free, voice-free, and screen-free Human-Machine Interface represents a major paradigm shift, offering a powerful new command and control capability that no other earbud or wearable offers,” the company states online.
Electrical signals—made by clenching a jaw or lifting an eyebrow—convert to fully fledged commands. While still in development, founders posit the device could be used for everything from wheelchairs to professional gaming.
By removing the need for physical interaction, Naqi says its technology can provide access to computers and other digital devices for individuals who are unable to use traditional interfaces due to physical limitations or disabilities, among other use cases.
Former Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan, who is quadriplegic, is among those grateful for Naqi’s technological advances. Through Naqi’s earbuds, Sullivan can operate his Permobil wheelchair without need for a head array, sip-puff straw, or a joystick.
“I’ve been waiting for something like this my whole life,” said Sullivan. “As a quadriplegic, I can say the ability to control a chair just by looking at where I want to go or by blinking my eyes to control the smart devices in the world around me is an amazing thing for me and other people with accessibility issues.”
When something comes along that someone has been waiting for their whole life, it’s probably a decent invention. TIME agrees: the magazine this month recognized Naqi’s neural earbuds as one of the best inventions of 2023.
“We are honoured to be chosen by TIME as one of the world’s best inventions in 2023,” said Segal, head inventor at Naqi.
Segal’s stake in Naqi’s success is particularly personal. His friend broke his neck at 18 and became a quadriplegic, prompting Segal to think outside the box regarding solutions.
As success builds for Naqi, Segal says the company is seeking growth through collaboration.
“We are now bringing Naqi to partners who are finding exciting ways to integrate our hands-free, voice-free, screen-free and camera-free technology into earbuds, glasses and other wearables, to make impact in such sectors as accessibility, mobility, smart homes, gaming, emergency response and security, as well as other sectors,” he informed TIME, adding that the company already boasts two dozen patents globally.
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