Pune scientist pioneers neuroprosthetic voice restoration
A global team led by Dr. Maitreyee Wairagkar from Pune has created a brain-computer interface (BCI) that lets a person with advanced ALS speak naturally—live and in their own voice.
The device reads brain signals using tiny electrodes and turns them into speech, capturing not just words but also tone, pitch, and even singing.
From robotic to real
Unlike older tech that sounded robotic and slow, this BCI lets users form words on the fly and express emotions through their voice.
In tests, speech clarity jumped from just 4% to nearly 60%, making conversations much more understandable.
Restoring identity and personality
This breakthrough could help millions who've lost their ability to speak—restoring not just communication but also personality and identity.
Ongoing trials aim to make this tech available for more people in the future.