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The Brain-Computer Interface Project
Project Background The long-term objective of the brain interface project is to create a multi-position, brain-controlled switch that is activated by brain signals measured directly from the scalp of an individual. We believe that such a switch will allow an individual with a severe disability to have effective control of devices such as assistive appliances, computers, and neural prostheses, leading to a dramatically improved quality of life and reduce social costs. The Neil Squire Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) Technology The technology the Neil Squire Society (NSF) has developed to date is based on methods to detect user-generated patterns in the user's EEG (brain signals) related to imagined movements. This research is being pursued in five streams:
Dr. Gary Birch , Executive Director of the Neil Squire Society and Adjunct Professor at the Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering at UBC, has spent the last ten years working with a team of researchers to develop such a direct brain-to-machine interface. The team is currently evaluating the usability of their current BI design and continuing to improve their technology The Current Design Prior to Jan. 2002, the BI-Project research team had developed a single-position, brain-controlled switch that responds to specific patterns detected in spatiotemporal electroencephalograms (EEG) measured from the human scalp. The initial design is referred to as the Low-Frequency Asynchronous Switch Design (LF-ASD). The primary focus is the development for intermittent (or asynchronous) control in natural environments.That is, technologies that will work when the User intends control, but also remains in a stable off state when there is no intent to control.The initial evaluations of the LF-ASD had demonstrated that it was capable of detecting imagined motor movements in able-bodied individuals and in individuals with high-level spinal cord injuries. The usability of the LF-ASD was evaluated on a larger subject population, which included able-bodied and high-level spinal-cord injured subjects.This study has demonstrated classification accuracies of greater than 94% and verify previous findings.Off-line studies implementing a variation of components for energy normalization transform showed an increase of these results.One of the next steps is to evaluate these new designs in an on-line study.An exciting finding of this study, which confirms previous findings, was that spinal cord-injured subjects can operate these new designs to the same ability as able-bodied subjects. Both populations are achieving promising control accuracies with current technology. Improving the Technology In addition to the usability studies, the research team is working on various statistical signal-processing methods to improve the technology behind the brain switch. Parallel, we are investigating methods to extend the brain switch to recognize multiple brain states, developing methods to deal with eye and movement artifact contamination of the EEG signal, develop alternative electrode designs and develop common functional model and taxonomy for the field. The BCi Project Facilities Both the on-line usability studies and the off-line technology development and testing are performed in NSF's laboratory at the GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre in Vancouver , Canada . The NSF has recently completed a year-long project to integrate its previous recording and analysis systems into one platform based on Matlab/Simulink. The new system allows for extremely quick and easy implementation of new technology designs. It also facilitates evaluations of various "what if" scenarios Collaborative Efforts Two years ago the NSF began a collaborative project with a team of researchers at Georgia State University in Atlanta , U.S.A. This project explores and formalizes human-computer interaction (HCI) factors within a BI Systems design and during a BI System evaluation. This is pioneering work in this field. This work is funded by the National Science Society. Supportive Organizations This project has been made possible by support from:
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