Last week, we reported that Apple was exploring BCI (Brain-computer interfaces) and was hiring researchers in this area.
- Apple exploring pain management and associated health neurotechnology such as brain-computer interfaces
- Apple obtains 510(K) FDA clearance for its new IRNF app ( AFib Refinements) for Apple Watch
- Apple Watch could solve a big problem with monitoring of cryptogenic stroke patients
Apple’s interest in this area of emerging sciences is once again evident from new job postings released on the company’s career site yesterday.
Apple is hiring a ‘Neuroscience Cross-Functional Engineering Program Manager’ at its Cupertino headquarters.
According to the position description,
“This role will include frequent multi-disciplinary collaboration with teams like Neuroscience, UI/UX, Computer Vision/Machine Learning, Product Design, Health, System Engineering, and more to define software features, and validation plans that map from top-level features down to application, algorithm, research study and experimentation specifications.”
One could deduce that they already have a Neurosciences team in place exploring advanced technologies and Brain-Computer interfaces. The new resource/s being hired will add cross-functional expertise across different engineering teams.
The Neuroscience Cross-functional EPM is expected to partner with the Neuroscience research, Application, and Machine Learning software teams to define product specifications, create validation plans, and drive cross-functional reviews with peers and executive teams.
The new position requires a BS/MS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Human-Computer Interaction OR equivalent degree/experience.
Other resources being brought into the mix include Computational Neuroscientists.
“Our team is currently looking for a computational neuroscientist who is passionate about building advanced algorithms for performing inference on complex neural and physiological signals.” – March 9th, 2022.
Apple’s Biomechanics Research center also brings together experts across a range of disciplines to help get new design insights for the development of hardware products.
The division uses Sensory perception researchers to understand and apply advanced knowledge of human sensory perception, particularly haptic and thermal, to consumer product development.
We are unclear about how the ‘thermal’ sensory element plays out in consumer products. Apple has been a leader in utilizing Haptics in its consumer devices, notably the Apple Watch.
Some of these roles require an extensive background in human physiology and psychology, as evident in this job posting for the Biomechanics Research center at Apple.
Given the available rumors, it is unclear if this new hiring trend at Apple will drive new products in the near future or if we are going to see new features in existing products/software soon that take advantage of neuroscience and advanced algorithms.
