Imagine being able to control a device just by thinking about it. For Zhou Jian, this is not science fiction but a reality that has transformed his life. At 12 years old, Zhou lost his right hand in an accident. Today, with the help of an intelligent bionic hand, he can write and play the piano again.
Zhou works for BrainCo, a leading company in brain-computer interface (BCI) technology based in Hangzhou, east China’s Zhejiang Province. His bionic hand uses sensors in the prosthetic socket to detect brain signals, allowing him to control it with his mind. Zhou hopes that people with disabilities can believe in the power of technology to help them.
What Is BCI Technology?
Brain-computer interfaces enable people to use their brain signals to control external devices. By capturing and analyzing these signals, BCI systems translate them into commands that devices can understand, making things happen with just a thought.
There are three types of BCI devices: invasive, partially invasive, and non-invasive. Invasive devices are implanted directly into the brain, while non-invasive devices, like those developed by BrainCo, read brain signals externally using advanced sensors.
Advancements in China
Chinese companies are making significant strides in BCI technology. Neuracle’s BCI products have helped paralyzed patients regain some daily functions. NeuroXess developed a 256-channel, flexible BCI device that enables patients to control software, pick up objects, and communicate through a digital avatar using their minds. Shanghai StairMed Technology initiated China’s first long-term implantation clinical trial for an invasive BCI, allowing an amputee to operate a computer by thought.
“Clinical application is crucial for BCI’s transition from lab to industry,” says Huang Wenhong, deputy director of the Institute of Informatization and Software Industry at the China Center for Information Industry Development. “In the next five years, BCI is expected to play a significant role in treating major brain diseases.”
A Growing Market
China is actively supporting BCI research and development. In February, the National Medical Products Administration approved a standard-setting project for brain-related medical device data quality. In March, the National Healthcare Security Administration established pricing items for BCI-related services. Multiple cities and provinces have introduced BCI-specific policies, and ethical guidelines for BCI research are being developed.
Data shows that China’s BCI market reached 3.2 billion yuan (roughly $444 million) in 2024 and is projected to surpass 3.8 billion yuan by 2025.
A Hopeful Future
Han Bicheng, the founder and CEO of BrainCo, has been pioneering non-invasive BCI devices for over a decade. In 2016, BrainCo unveiled a prototype of their intelligent bionic hand at the Consumer Electronics Show, capturing global attention. By 2020, the product entered mass production.
Han has an ambitious goal: to help one million people with disabilities regain daily living abilities and assist ten million individuals with autism, Alzheimer’s disease, and insomnia within the next five to ten years.
As BCI technology continues to advance, the possibilities for improving the lives of people with disabilities are expanding. For individuals like Zhou Jian, these innovations offer not just new abilities but new hope.
