Neurotechnology could help billions of people. Has its time come?

Electronic devices that tap into a human's nervous system have been around for decades, for example to help paralysed people move and deaf people hear. Now, a new generation of neurotechnology promises to revolutionise treatments for a range of conditions that afflict billions of people. We look at the benefits and assess the risks with Jen French, a campaigner for access to neurotechnlolgy who has been using a device for 25 years since a snowboarding accident made her quadriplegic. And Tom Oxley, the CEO of neurotech startup Synchron, explains how 'brain computer interfaces' are giving paralysed patients the ability to use computers and smart phones.  They also address concerns about things such as data privacy, unequal access to health tech, and device 'abandonment'. Episode page with transcript: http://wef.ch/46Tt4Rm Watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/KmIMQVUdHBc Links: Network of Global Future Councils: https://initiatives.weforum.org/global-future-council/ Related podcasts: 'We have the most to benefit, but also the most to lose': how AI could transform human health:  Check out all our podcasts on wef.ch/podcasts:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wef Radio Davos - subscribe: https://pod.link/1504682164 Meet the Leader - subscribe: https://pod.link/1534915560 Agenda Dialogues - subscribe: https://pod.link/1574956552