Tan Li (Emotiv)
Emotive creates a product which is worn on the head, and which detects through the scalp brain waves using sensors. The device is like a strip of plastic worn on the head a bit like a crown. The device picks up brain waves and can be trained to understand specific patterns of waves, which can represent a particular type of thought. Then it can translate the pattern to a wireless command to some device, or just collect information for studying the function of the brain.
The system is an open platform that can be used for a variety of uses, such as a remote control to move objects or control input to a device. The system is trained by having the person repeat a particular type of thought like a command (such as “up”). Once the pattern is identified, it’s matched to an activity.
The device can be used for people with disabilities – example shown was a quadriplegic with no motor functions who was able to play a rudimentary video game using thoughts to control the motion on screen.
In addition, can be used for biofeedback – can be used to train our brains by identifying positive mental states and enhancing them. Identify a positive mental state, and have it trigger a visual queue which a person can try to repeat.
Additional applications include research. For example, do external factors improve or harm concentration? Another example is monitoring brain processes of amateur card players and compare them to the brain processes of an expert card player, to see what thought patterns experts use.
Many of these types of activities are possible with use of an EEG machine; but an EEG requires complex connection and the wires limit where this device can be tested. This device is wearable and is wireless, so it is portable and can be used in field research and situations where exertion or extreme mobility is required. It can also scale better.
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| Standard EEG |
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| Emotiv device |
In the following video, an audience member was brought up and fitted with the device, which was set to control a Sphero ball. First the device was “trained”: the volunteer was told to think about moving in a direction, and the device captured the patterns. After a couple of minutes, the training was completed. The hard part was getting the sphero to work, though; the wifi and Bluetooth kept failing and they couldn’t get it connected to the phone, and pair it with the wearable. Eventually the speaker gave up, gave the devices to an assistant to try and figure out, and continued with the presentation. Then, at some point, they were suddenly able to make it work:
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