What is a BCI Used For?
Brain-Computer Interface Research
BCI research (also called brain-machine interface research) represents a rapidly growing field and academic researchers have studied whether BCI users can directly interact with computer software through brain activity alone. One study tested a BCI system on its ability to detect and classify brain activity with its paired mental actions. Results found the system could perform BCI actions successfully with an acceptable level of accuracy which improves over time with additional training data.
Because of its ability to manipulate external devices through brain activity, a large portion of BCI research focuses on remote control. BCI researchers have been able to control humanoid robots using BCI devices to manipulate a remote environment. The human user receives feedback from the robot on a personal media viewer, which helps them feel total immersion in the remote environment. This could be useful in various BCI use cases, including military and medical operations, disaster management or search and rescue operations.
Researchers are also using BCI to understand what neural networks are doing in real-time. Most neural tissue systems are either understood at the level of the individual neuron or philosophized about at the cognitive level. BCI is being used to study how specific tissue systems respond to electrical stimulation and what that could mean at the cognitive level.
***Disclaimer — EMOTIV products are intended to be used for research applications and personal use only. Our products are not sold as medical devices — as defined in EU directive 93/42/EEC. Our products are not designed or intended to be used for diagnosis or treatment of disease.
Brain-Computer Interfaces in Neurological Rehabilitation
BCIs can help individuals who don’t have either the use of their limbs, require assistive devices, or are unable to speak. The use of BCIs in neurological rehabilitation (the doctor-aided process that aims to help individuals with nervous system disorders, injuries or diseases) can help improve an individual’s ability to navigate through day-to-day experiences. BCIs are also often used for rehabilitation after a stroke or injury. In the future, we may see BCI medical products being used in surgery or in other medical operations.
BCI enables subjects with motor disabilities to use their brain activity to communicate and control objects in their environment. BCIs using EEG (Electroencephalography) signals can help them control a prosthetic limb or computer interface.
Brain-Computer Interface Gaming
BCI software can “translate” mental commands from EEG data into commands in a video game. In brain-computer interface gaming, subjects wear an EEG headset while playing VR (Virtual Reality) games designed to control virtual objects. Instead of using a traditional game controller, the subject uses mental commands to enable movement-based actions in the game — such as “push,” “pull” or “jump.” The BCI processes mental commands from the EEG and triggers the corresponding action in the VR game (direct neural interface virtual reality).
How Can Brain-Computer Interfaces Change Our Lives?
BCIs represent life-changing possibilities for subjects with motor impairments, because they allow them to perform physical actions that they otherwise couldn’t. BCI translates brain signals into command outcomes using artificial intelligence algorithms. These commands can be used to control wheelchairs, prosthetic limbs or other assistive technologies.
BCI technology has the potential to make everyday tasks easier for individuals of all ability levels. For example, BCIs can eliminate the need to type or give voice commands — subjects could issue navigational and input commands to a computer through brain activity.
“Mysteries of the Brain” BCI Video
Does EMOTIV Offer Brain-Computer Interface Devices?
EMOTIV offers BCI devices that can be paired with its brain-computer interface software called EmotivBCI. EmotivBCI can be used directly to implement a BCI within a computer. It can also pair with the free open-source platform NodeRed, which interfaces BCI outputs to many compatible external hardware devices to implement direct mental control over real-world equipment. EmotivBCI and NodeRed allow developers to build BCI applications. EMOTIV’s brain-computer interface devices include the EMOTIV Insight and the EMOTIV EPOC X EEG headsets.
New Brain-Computer Interface Technology
EMOTIV is a recognized pioneer and market leader in the field of BCI enterprise solutions and EEG technology. Its award-winning EMOTIV EPOC+ headset and the 10-year anniversary edition EPOC X provide professional-grade BCI data for academic research and commercial use (EMOTIV EPOC X brain-computer interface).
Originally published at https://www.emotiv.com.
