• Latest
  • All
  • How To
Facebook Wants To Make Journalism Better In Several Ways

Facebook Acquires CTRL-Labs to Increase Its Efforts on Building Brain-Computing Technology

September 24, 2019
YouTube AI slop is getting demonetized

YouTube Declares War on Low-Effort AI Videos via Demonetization

July 10, 2025
Why Can'y You Register a Safaricom SIM Card After 7 PM

Why You Cannot Register a Safaricom SIM Card After 7 PM

July 10, 2025
Former Safaricom Chief Enterprise Business Officer, Cynthia Karuri-Kropac

Frankline Okata Takes Over as Cynthia Karuri-Kropac Exits Safaricom PLC

July 10, 2025
AI

OpenAI and Perplexity Launch Browsers to Rival Google Chrome

July 10, 2025
DHgate Tablet Cases deals
Vivo-Y29-4G

Vivo Y29 Launches in Kenya at KES 23,999

July 10, 2025
galaxy z fold7-galaxy z flip7-samsung

Samsung Unveils Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 with Bigger Screens

July 10, 2025
GTA VI

Rockstar May Be Testing 96-Player Servers for GTA 6

July 10, 2025
Former X CEO, Linda Yaccarino

Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years

July 9, 2025
Apple-WWDC25-iOS-26

iPhone Users Are Not Too Happy With the iOS 26 Liquid Glass Design

July 9, 2025
Official document handover by Bernard Mwonyonyo and Habib Lukaya from Roam.

E-Mobility in Kenya Gets a Lift with New Bike Financing Program

July 9, 2025
Samsung

This Samsung Security Update Could Change How You Use Your Phone

July 9, 2025
tecno ultimate g fold concept

TECNO Joins Tri-Fold Race With Ultimate G Fold Concept Phone

July 10, 2025
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Editorial
No Result
View All Result
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Editorial
No Result
View All Result
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
No Result
View All Result

Facebook Acquires CTRL-Labs to Increase Its Efforts on Building Brain-Computing Technology

George Kamau by George Kamau
September 24, 2019
in News
Reading Time: 2 mins read
258
0

Facebook’s efforts on building brain computing tech are about to get into high gear following the reportedly $1 billion acquisition of CTRL-Labs, a startup based in New York that focuses on converting user movements into digital input signals and thus allows humans to control computers using their brains. This is something Facebook has had a keen interest in and hopes that in the future will make things like text entry possible just by thinking.

Take a break from the news cycle to check out this adorable robot you can control with your thoughts. Thx @CTRLlabsCo for sharing your tech with us! I scored with this #futurehu assignment, ba dum dum. https://t.co/ynz2PosFZc pic.twitter.com/yYN0JcrJnU

— Elise Hu (@elisewho) July 16, 2019

There’s a lot of neuroscience involved and CTRL-Labs makes for a perfect acquisition as both founders of the company(Thomas Reardon and Patrick Kaifosh) have PHDs in neuroscience from Columbia University. Thomas Reardon has also had experience working in tech as he has nine years under his belt working at Microsoft where he founded the team that built Internet Explorer and was also a technology chief at Openwave Systems.

Alphabet’s GV, Amazon Alexa Fund, Lux Capital, Spark Capital and Founders Fund are among its investors. The company recently raised $67 million.

Join us in welcoming, NYC Startup, CTRL-labs! @CTRLlabsCo has joined the OpenXR Working Group to influence open standards for AR & VR (XR), & seek to broaden the scope to include Electromyography (EMG)-based neural interface integration across all immersive media. Welcome!

— OpenXR (@OpenXR) June 27, 2019

CTRL-Labs has been working on a device that translates neural impulses to digital signals.

https://youtu.be/V7B3Z28LHB8

Speaking about the acquisition that is yet to be completed, Andrew Bosworth, Facebook VP in charge of AR/VR said in a Facebook post that his company wants to build more natural and intuitive ways to interact with devices and technology. CTRL-Labs will be joining Facebook’s Reality Labs to build this technology at scale and quickly ship products to consumers.

https://twitter.com/CTRLlabsCo/status/1176278211438764033

“The vision for this work is a wristband that lets people control their devices as a natural extension of movement. Here’s how it’ll work: You have neurons in your spinal cord that send electrical signals to your hand muscles telling them to move in specific ways such as to click a mouse or press a button. The wristband will decode those signals and translate them into a digital signal your device can understand, empowering you with control over your digital life. It captures your intention so you can share a photo with a friend using an imperceptible movement or just by, well, intending to. Technology like this has the potential to open up new creative possibilities and reimagine 19th-century inventions in a 21st-century world. This is how our interactions in VR and AR can one day look. It can change the way we connect,” the post continues.

Imagine if you could control robots using your intentions. @elisewho did it! 🤖🕷️⚽️

Check out what we do at @CTRLlabsCo. https://t.co/Im2gVBU12e

— Jesslyn 🇮🇩 (@jtannady) July 16, 2019

There’s a lot of potential with this tech: from hands-free AR glasses to VR gaming and give Facebook an upper hand as rivals like Apple and Microsoft catch up.

Truly LOVE, LOVE these founders—

what a thrill to get to sit on Board with Reardon + Patrick & entire @CTRLlabsCo team—

a front seat to INCREDIBLE science, incredible engineering making real a toally CREDIBLE future for us all 💻🧠🤯 https://t.co/hoXmk0RHrF

— Josh Wolfe (@wolfejosh) September 23, 2019

It expected that more updates about this acquisition among other AR/VR developments could be made during Facebook’s upcoming Oculus Connect 6 developer conference happening later this week.

This acquisition has been welcomed with mixed reactions

A lot of room for innovation in XR interactions. Both HW and SW. No one has cracked it yet and several excellent teams are working hard. https://t.co/qG7viBfVil

— Igor Spivak (@spivak) September 24, 2019

Facebook acquiring a company that specializes in “mind-reading tech” (brain-computer interfaces) is no surprise. Strong investments and research into neurotech for years now. https://t.co/YDstvY4mIn

— Tiffany C. Li (@tiffanycli) September 24, 2019

As someone with wrist pain from too much phone and mouse, I personally welcome Facebook to read my spinal cues and activate the device without moving my hand. https://t.co/zlTeQ9FMJ1

— Katie Notopoulos (@katienotopoulos) September 24, 2019

All of the replies to this post are very telling of the public opinion of Facebook. #neurotech #sicgrl https://t.co/q1aGNupOum

— Angelica Parente, PhD (@draparente) September 24, 2019

In case you’re wondering how people feel about Facebook dropping ~$1 billion on mind-reading technology – which, yes, is apparently happening – the replies to this post say it all https://t.co/JAV4kZyQoN

— Dave Smith (@redletterdave) September 24, 2019

https://twitter.com/AdtechElevator/status/1176338275025313792

Oh. Look at that. Facebook’s newest venture: harvesting thoughts https://t.co/3WOMRmIVT6

— Carole Cadwalladr (@carolecadwalla) September 24, 2019

Keep up with all things Facebook here.

Tags: Facebook
SendShare146Tweet92
George Kamau

George Kamau

I brunch on consumer tech | [email protected]

Related Posts

Facebook

New Facebook AI Tool Can Access Private Images on Your Phone

June 30, 2025
Counterfeit Products Infiltrate Kenya's Online Market

Counterfeit Goods Flood Kenyan Online Shops Like Jumia and Facebook

June 29, 2025
Togo Cracks Down on Social Media as Protests Demand Leader's Resignation

Togo Shuts Down Social Media Access

June 29, 2025
Kenya's Government Censors X for Global Image

Abductions and Arrests! Kenyan Government’s Fear and Hate of X Users Makes No Sense

June 25, 2025
University student fined for defamatory Facebook posts

University Student Fined KES 7.5 Million for Defamatory Facebook Posts

May 29, 2025
ID Checks May Soon Be Required for Social Media in Kenya

ID Checks May Soon Be Required for Social Media in Kenya

May 21, 2025

Latest

YouTube AI slop is getting demonetized

YouTube Declares War on Low-Effort AI Videos via Demonetization

July 10, 2025
Why Can'y You Register a Safaricom SIM Card After 7 PM

Why You Cannot Register a Safaricom SIM Card After 7 PM

July 10, 2025
Former Safaricom Chief Enterprise Business Officer, Cynthia Karuri-Kropac

Frankline Okata Takes Over as Cynthia Karuri-Kropac Exits Safaricom PLC

July 10, 2025
AI

OpenAI and Perplexity Launch Browsers to Rival Google Chrome

July 10, 2025
Vivo-Y29-4G

Vivo Y29 Launches in Kenya at KES 23,999

July 10, 2025
galaxy z fold7-galaxy z flip7-samsung

Samsung Unveils Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 with Bigger Screens

July 10, 2025

Best devices

budget smartwatches 2025

Best Budget Smartwatches To Buy in Kenya 2025

February 13, 2025

Best Infinix Smartphones To Buy in Kenya 2024

February 13, 2025

Best Laptops for Battery Life in 2024

August 21, 2024

Best “Battery Warrior” Smartphones To Buy in 2024

August 22, 2024

YouTube Declares War on Low-Effort AI Videos via Demonetization

July 10, 2025

Why You Cannot Register a Safaricom SIM Card After 7 PM

July 10, 2025

Techweez is a fast growing influential source of technology news, reviews and analysis by leading tech geeks in the industry.

Follow Us

Editorials

Abductions and Arrests! Kenyan Government’s Fear and Hate of X Users Makes No Sense

Actors and Film Crews Are Worried About Veo 3 Taking Their Jobs

Samsung QLED TVs Now Officially Certified for Real Quantum Dot Technology

Trump’s Tariffs Will Be the End of Affordable Tech

5 Ways to Prep Your Tech for Resale

The Weaponization of PDFs: How Cybercriminals Are Exploiting a Trusted Format

More News

Rockstar May Be Testing 96-Player Servers for GTA 6

Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years

iPhone Users Are Not Too Happy With the iOS 26 Liquid Glass Design

E-Mobility in Kenya Gets a Lift with New Bike Financing Program

This Samsung Security Update Could Change How You Use Your Phone

TECNO Joins Tri-Fold Race With Ultimate G Fold Concept Phone

  • Terms Of Use
  • Techweez Brand
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact Us

© 2024 Techweez - Palahala Media Group may earn a commission when you buy through links on our sites.
A Palahala Media Group Brand. All rights reserved.
.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
Crunchy Cookies 🍪 Ahead!

Hey there! Just a heads-up: we're big fans of cookies - both the digital and edible kind! 🍪 We use our cookies and some from third parties to ensure your browsing experience on our site is smooth sailing and secure.

 

But wait, there's more! We also use cookies to gather stats and insights on how you navigate our site. It's like getting a behind-the-scenes peek at your digital adventures!

 

Don't worry, you're in control. You can adjust your cookie settings anytime to suit your preferences. Feeling curious? Dive into our Privacy Policy for all the juicy details. Happy browsing! 🚀

Functional Always active
Listen, this legal stuff is about as exciting as watching paint dry. But it basically says we only use your stuff for what you asked us to do, and nobody else gets to peek!
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
It's those sneaky cookie crumbs websites leave behind to count visitors, like counting ants at a picnic! Totally harmless, just for fun facts. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
Hey there! Just letting you know we use some fancy gizmos to remember your preferences. This way, we can show you ads that are, well, not completely bananas.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
Make cookies
{title} {title} {title}
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
Crunchy Cookies 🍪 Ahead!
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
Listen, this legal stuff is about as exciting as watching paint dry. But it basically says we only use your stuff for what you asked us to do, and nobody else gets to peek!
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
It's those sneaky cookie crumbs websites leave behind to count visitors, like counting ants at a picnic! Totally harmless, just for fun facts. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
Hey there! Just letting you know we use some fancy gizmos to remember your preferences. This way, we can show you ads that are, well, not completely bananas.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
Make cookies
{title} {title} {title}
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Editorial
  • Automotive
  • Entertainment

© 2024 Techweez - Palahala Media Group may earn a commission when you buy through links on our sites.
A Palahala Media Group Brand. All rights reserved.
.