What is a brain-computer interface (BCI)?
How do BCIs work?
What is an invasive versus a non-invasive BCI?
What are some medical uses?
What are some non-medical uses?
How much research is being done on BCIs?
Which countries are leading the BCI research efforts?
What are the first non-medical BCI products on the market?
What is a brain-computer interface (BCI)?
It establishes one or more communication pathways between the brain and external devices. In some respects, it's like a computer keyboard or mouse in that it gives the user a way to control a computer or other device. That device could be a wheelchair, an avatar, or someday perhaps even everyday household objects.
How do BCIs work?
BCI systems use technologies such as electroencephalography (EEG) or electrocorticography to detect electrical activity in the brain. This information is then translated into commands given to an external device. It is a difficult technical challenge to accurately translate such signals into precise commands.
What is an invasive versus a non-invasive BCI?
With an invasive BCI, electrodes are inserted directly into the cortex. In other words, wires go into your head. With a non-invasive BCI, the system interacts with the brain indirectly, through transmissions through the skull. Electrodes are placed on the scalp. In other words, you put something on your head, and you get to take it off when done.
What are some medical uses?
Much of the current focus is on replacing lost functions due to age, injury or disease. In addition, work is underway on detecting changes in cognition so that they can be diagnosed earlier. In the case of progressive diseases, researchers seek to train individuals to replace skills before they lose them.
What are some non-medical uses?
Some examples include playing a video game, moving through a virtual world, participating in a training program that senses when you are bored (too easy) or confused (too hard), and conducting more accurate marketing research. In the automotive and transportation industries, interesting research is being done on detecting driver fatigue and measuring driver cognition load.
How much research is being done on BCIs?
The magnitude of BCI research and development is growing significantly, because advances are coming at a blistering pace in neuroscience, biomedical engineering, computer science and microelectronics -- all are areas that enable BCI R&D.
Which countries are leading the BCI research efforts?
Countries versus research: The vast majority of invasive BCI research is being done in the United States. Most of the BCI research being done in Europe, China and Japan is non-invasive.
What are the first non-medical BCI products on the market?
Emotiv is "months away" from introducing a $299 BCI headset for videogame play; Brainfingers sells a $2,100 system for controlling any PC; the Brainwaves headgear allows users to choose music with their thoughts and to have that music change based on the listener's state of mind.
SOURCE: WTEC Panel Report on International Assessment of Research and Development in Brain-Computer Interfaces, plus independent research
