Brain/Computer Interfacing

James Wilson

COMP4640

11/28/07

Brain/Computer Interfacing

We are moving into a new era of technology

where the age of keyboards and mice will soon

be extinct. The gap between the human mind

and technology will soon be bridged.

Topics covered:

Artificial Vision

Neuroprosthetics

Gaming

Artificial Vision (BCI)

See with your ears !

The ”vOICe” system

Future uses of vOICe

Neuroprosthetics

artificial devices to replace or improve

the function of an impaired nervous

system or limb.

The most common neuroprosthetic is

the, cochlear implant with

approximately 100,000 in use

worldwide as of 2006

cochlear implant (CI) is a surgically

implanted electronic device that

provides a sense of sound to a person

who is profoundly deaf or severely hard

of hearing. The cochlear implant is

often referred to as a bionic ear.

Cognitive prosthetics

An exciting new field for neuroprsthetics is the

addition of cognitive prosthetics aimed at restoring

cognitive function by replacing circuits within the

brain damaged by stroke, trauma or disease.

Work has begun on a proof-of-concept device - a

hippocampal prosthesis which can mimic the

function of a region of the hippocampus - a part of

the brain responsible for the formation of

memories

Gaming (BCI)

Brain Computer interface system that

lets the user walk an avatar through

the streets of Second Life while relying

solely on the power of thought...

consists of a headpiece equipped with

electrodes that monitor activity in three

areas of the motor cortex (the region of

the brain involved in controlling the

movement of the arms and legs)

Second Life Video