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Disorders of communication can be particularly disabling and result in a very poor quality of life. Patients in a locked-in state are the most severely affected and have limited alternative means of communication. In such patients, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems are required. Currently available options range from partner-assisted alphabet boards to eye-gaze tracking systems. Brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) have great potential to significantly improve communication rates by directly decoding neural signals from the brain. BCIs using implantable electrodes have shown promise in allowing significantly greater rates of communication (e.g., 15–30 characters per minute; Sci Transl Med 2015; 7:313ra179 and Nat Med 2015…