A popular social challenge has significantly heightened awareness for the ALS community, acting as a catalyst for the development of accessible technology. The #HONORtheChallenger hashtag has recently garnered widespread attention on social media, honoring the daily struggles of ALS patients and celebrating their defiance of limitations.
Participants in this social challenge are required to hold a sports pose, share it along with the hashtag #HONORtheChallenger, and nominate others to join. Over 4000 people worldwide have participated, including British gymnast Nile Wilson, who expressed his support. The hashtag achieved over 85 million views and generated 11 million global engagements, significantly raising awareness for the cause.
HONOR, committed to human-centric innovation, has introduced intent-based eye-tracking technology through its MagicOS 8.0 system, making it the first smartphone brand to do so. This AI-powered technology enables users to interact with their phones using only their eyes, a feature that will be rolled out globally from August 27, 2024.
In addition to this, HONOR is also researching non-invasive brain-computer interface (BCI) technologies, allowing people to communicate with external devices using brain signals. This technology has already been experienced by Wei Zhang, a 34-year-old Chinese ALS patient, who can now interact with a computer through brain signals.
To further honor the ALS community, BBC StoryWorks Commercial Productions has created a short film featuring the story of artist and ALS challenger Bernard Muller. The film showcases how Muller uses eye-tracking technology to create art, highlighting the potential of AI to enhance the lives of those with disabilities.
Social media users are encouraged to participate in the #HONORtheChallenger challenge to raise awareness about ALS. For more information and to contribute to the cause, visit the International Alliance of ALS Associations.
