Direct Brain Interface Project


Department of Biomedical Engineering
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
 
 
 
 

Current Work Brain Computer Interfaces for the Operation of Commercial Assistive Technology

Brain Computer Interfaces for the Operation of Commercial Assistive Technology

  Abstract  
 

Brain computer interfaces (BCIs) are intended to control assistive technology (AT) without physical movement, offering great potential benefit to people with significant movement impairments. Regrettably, most current BCIs are dedicated devices that interface primarily with BCI-specific software, providing only limited functionality. While a significant investment of time and money could duplicate some functions of commercial AT in BCI-specific devices, a better approach is to augment BCIs with universal/plug-and-play outputs. BCIs could then substitute for physical input devices in the operation of commercial AT, linking BCIs with the full benefit of commercial AT at a minimum of cost and effort. At the same time, a plug-and-play BCI approach retains the benefits of product testing and technical support inherent in commercial AT products. Further, AT designed for people who type slowly and make inaccurate mouse movements may offset the limited capabilities of current BCIs, making plug-and-play BCIs more functional than BCI-specific devices alone. The proposed work will evaluate the capabilities of BCIs based on electroencephalogram (EEG) to interface with and control commercially available AT devices through the following specific aims:

  1. Develop functionality within the NIH-funded BCI2000 research platform to produce universal/plug-and-play outputs that can replace the standard types of physical input devices (switch, keyboard and mouse) used to operate commercial AT.
  2. Study the ability of these universal/plug-and-play BCIs to control commercial AT.
  3. Evaluate the effect on BCI performance produced by AT features designed to improve accuracy of interface operation by people with limited physical abilities.

The creation and evaluation of new universal/plug-and-play BCI functionality should make any commercial AT device into a potentially BCI-operated application. This will enable BCI2000 researchers worldwide to utilize commercially available AT instead of investing time and effort duplicating AT functionality and reveal to AT practitioners the potential of current BCIs for their clients with progressive or extremely significant disabilities. Simultaneously, universal/plug-and-play BCIs would expand the avenues for BCI research by increasing feedback options and streamlining comparison of results between BCI research groups through simpler standardization of applications both in the lab and in subjects’ homes. Ultimately, the proposed work will challenge the BCI community in regards to the clinical utility of current BCIs and the new BCI functionality will allow people with degenerative conditions to transition from physical interfaces to control AT to BCI operation of the same AT devices. By bridging the gap between developing BCIs and the established field of AT, the proposed research should speed the appearance of clinically practical BCIs for those with the most significant physical impairments and for others who may benefit from interfaces operable without physical movement.

The project described was supported by Grant Number R21HD054697 from the National Institute Of Child Health And Human Development. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute Of Child Health And Human Development or the National Institutes of Health.

 
     


 
 
   
Copyright (C) 2008 Direct Brain Interface Project | The University of Michigan - Ann Arbor br>