Facebook buys startup that is exploring ways to control computers with brain

Facebook said on Monday it bought New York-based CTRL-labs, a start-up that is exploring ways for people to communicate with computers using brain signals, in a deal that CNBC has valued at $1 billion. Facebook Vice President of AR/VR Andrew Bosworth announced the deal in a Facebook post . [caption id=“attachment_7359781” align=“alignnone” width=“1024”] Image: Reuters[/caption] CTRL-labs will join Facebook Reality Labs team, Bosworth said, without giving any financial details.

Media reports said CTRL-labs is working with brain science and machine learning to create interfaces for people to control and manipulate computers by thinking. Its development-stage wrist-worn device uses sensors to track gestures and would act as an input device. The deal is valued at about $1 billion, CNBC reported , citing a source familiar with the matter. Facebook was not immediately available for comment on the deal value.