伯克哈特是俄亥俄州立大学（Ohio State University）的学生，因遭遇车祸四肢瘫痪。他以坚强的毅力，花费了大量的时间协助学校的维克纳医学中心（Wexner Medical Center） 和民营的巴特尔研究所（Battelle Memorial Institute）开发新技术，帮助脊髓损伤的患者克服恢复某些功能。目前他只能在实验室内通过连接头部和手臂的电极线移动一只手。

伯克哈特可以在神经旁支的帮助下从瓶子里倒水，搅拌饮料，还可以刷信用卡。新技术有助于扩大残疾人的能力，与此同时美国涉及民权的相关法律美国残疾人法（Americans with Disabilities Act） 要求保证残疾人接受教育和就业的机会，为他们提供了更多的机会。
正如伯克哈特所说的那样，“我的未来获得了更多的机会。”　　

For quadriplegic this brain chip’s not science fiction [video]
 

Millions of people love video games that let them pretend to play guitar like John Mayer or Gary Clark Jr. So does Ian Burkhart — but he’s a quadriplegic, playing chords thanks to a breakthrough experiment that lets him use brain waves to move his fingers.

Burkhart, an Ohio State University student, was paralyzed in a diving accident. Undaunted, he’s devoted countless hours to helping scientists from the university’s Wexner Medical Center and the private Battelle Memorial Institute develop ways to help patients with spinal-cord injuries recover some movement. For now he can only move his hand in the lab with electrodes running from head to arm.

With a neural bypass, Burkhart can pour from a bottle, stir a drink and swipe a credit card. Even as new technologies expand the capabilities of people with disabilities, U.S. laws — including a civil rights law called the Americans with Disabilities Act — expand their opportunities, by ensuring access to education and employment.

Or, as Burkhart puts it, “I have a lot more hope for the future.”