It's a silent night in Delhi, 2018, with only the distant sound of car horns and city voices mingling in the air. Arnav Kapur, sitting at his work table, stares a small device. It looks like a normal headset, but it hides a secret. While the world sleeps, Arnav is about to change the way we communicate. With a satisfied smile, the Indian student thinks about the name to give to the device: and in that precise moment, the future of communication is rewritten.
AlterEgo: a step forward in electronic telepathy
In summary, this device uses artificial intelligence to “read” the user's thoughts. It allows you to communicate with machines, AI assistants and even other people simply by articulating words internally. Thinking of speaking, yes sir.
And to think that until 4 years ago it just seemed more than just theory. Imagine being able to order your favorite pizza or ask for directions without ever opening your mouth. Communication occurs in a completely private and internal way, thanks to the use of bone conduction.
In a video that has been doing the rounds on the web, Arnav uses AlterEgo to answer questions without saying a single word. The interviewer, visibly surprised, tells him: “You have the entire internet in your head.” And in a sense he is right.
An innovation with a heart
Don't think that AlterEgo is just a gadget for the lazy or for those who want to impress their friends at the next party. Beyond its seemingly futuristic functionality, the real goal of this project is noble. It was created to help those who have difficulty communicating, especially people with diseases such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Multiple Sclerosis.
This device could really make a difference in the lives of many people, giving them a new way to express themselves and connect with the world.
The man behind the magic
But who is really Arnav Kapur? According to MIT, Arnav has always had a passion for science, mathematics and art. He sees these disciplines not as separate entities, but as complements in the search for solutions to the world's problems. He is currently completing his doctorate at MIT, where he studies Media Arts and Sciences at the WITH Media Lab.
And if you think that AlterEgo is Kapur's only invention, you are very wrong. This young Indian genius has an impressive list of accomplishments.
He invented a 3D printable drone, a platform for measuring gene expression on a large scale, and a device called Drishti which helps in the rehabilitation of the blind. And he doesn't stop there: he has also worked on a lunar rover intended to land on the moon and send images to Earth. Not surprisingly, he was named to TIME magazine's 100 Greatest Inventors of 2020 list.
Thoughts and words
inventions like AlterEgo show us that the future is something we can actively shape. Every day, brilliant minds like Arnav Kapur work to create solutions that can improve our lives in ways we never imagined.
But what will all this mean for us, in our daily life? How will it change the way we interact with the world and with each other? Let's reflect on these questions, and as we do so, let's remember that every big change begins with a single step.
Even if that step was simply thinking of something to say.
