Brain Computer Interface
From Future
Brain-computer interface (BCI) is a direct connection between computer(s) and the human brain. It is the ultimate in development of human-computer interfaces or HCI. Recently advances have been made with Brain-Machine Interfaces (BMI).
Currently research is being conducted the fields of neuroscience and neuroengineering regarding BCI and BMI. Using chips implanted against the brain that have hundreds of pins less than the width of a human hair protruding from them and penetrating the cerebral cortex, scientists are able to read the firings of hundreds of neurons in the brain. The language of the neural firings is then sent to a computer translator that uses special algoriths to decode the neural language into computer language. This is then sent to another computer that receives the translated information and tells the machine what to do. Applications of this technology range from protheses to control of robotic UAVs to non-verbal human communication.
As far as real-world testing of this technology, the majority has been conducted using rats and monkeys in laboratories. Using the rewards / punishment system researchers train animals to do a certain task with their bodies, and then, using the chip, the animal eventually figures out it doesn’t actually have to do the task, it just has to think the task, and the reward will be received.
There are other means of reading brain activity than direct neural contact via pins. The first and most common is electroencephalography (EEG) where electrodes are placed against the scalp are used to pick up brain signals. However, this approach is not nearly as accurate as direct neural contact and can only pickup blurry, weak readings. The other, much newer, and much more accurate non-invasive technology is magnetoencephalography (MEG) but is also more equipment intensive. Using MEG requires a room filled with super-conducting magnets and giant super-cooling helium tanks surrounded by shielded walls. This technology, while providing the speed and accuracy needed for a successful non-invasive BMI, will require significant improvement of technology in order to be realistic for everday use.
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[edit] State of the art
Previously popular approach has been to use external (non-invasive) electrodes on the skull, like here [1] more info on the projects:
The shortcoming is the extremely low resolution of the resulting brain scan.
An alternative approach with brain implants is being developed too. A computer chip developed by a team of European scientists in 2006 is capable of receiving signals from more than 16,000 mammalian brain cells, and sending messages back to several hundred cells. Each transistor on the chip picks up the miniscule change in electric charge prompted when a neuron fires. The change occurs due to the transfer of charged sodium ions, which move in and out of the cells through special pores. Conversely, applying a charge to each capacitor alters the movement of sodium ions, causing a neuron to react. [2]
- Example of a boy playing Space Invaders using BCI (with video)
Remote control was achieved in rats and pigeons [3] using microelectrodes where the direction of movement is directly controlled via a computer.
[edit] Applications
Besides just providing an alternative interface (for the disabled), BCI have some innovative uses. A system is being developed [4] that augments the human brain in image searches. A person is shown images very quickly, while the BCI device (EEG cap) records which images elicit a strong signal. This is done 10 times faster than a human can recognize an image consciously. Later the user reviews all images tagged by EEG at a normal speed.
- A possible application is in Counter terrorism where a customs official can scan photos of many hundreds of faces.
- One pitfall of such an approach is Wikipedia:Attentional Blink, but it is relatively easy to work around by presenting photos around the 'blink-zone' a second time, but in a different random order.
OCZ plans to bring a 300$ device called Neural Impulse Actuator to market by the end of 2007 targeted at gamers. [5] Not clear how much it recognizes.
[edit] Games
[edit] Cost
- Current EEG equipment is expensive. An Open source initiative to reduce the cost of EEG equipment, OpenEEG promises to dramatically reduce the cost, and therefore increase the number of people experimenting with this technology.
- [OpenStim] aims to create a community that designs the core technology for a safe, highly functional, inexpensive, efficacious noninvasive transcranial magnetic stimulator (TMS) device for stimulating the central nervous system.
[edit] Medical use
Non invasive brain stimulation
[edit] Future developments
Early BCI/BMI: signal splicing into human sensory nerve pathways, most importantly the visual nerve.
Mid-term BCI/BMI: more direct links into the brain with the ability to read certain thoughts and copy a wide range of data and information into various parts of the brain.
Final BCI/BMI: direct control over the activities of all individual neurons by means of nanorobots. Arbitrary read/write access to the whole brain. The line between the mind and the computer is blurred. Partial or full uploading is possible and inevitable.
[edit] See also
[edit] Links
- Bidirectional Neurobionic System by Victhom
- Brain reengineering [6]
