The increasing sophistication of computer programs and communication systems requires the development of more efficient, intuitive and interactive human-computer input interfaces.
Similarly, computer hardware is miniaturizing; becoming less cumbersome and more portable at an incredible rate. What was on your desktop yesterday, is on your laptop or palmtop today and will be on your wrist watch or ring tomorrow…fully integrated with your home PC and the NET.
Imagine having to carry a ‘qwerty’ keyboard and mouse in your briefcase or pocketbook to use with your wrist watch computer and eyeglass monitor! Input devices will have to miniaturize as well and become more direct, intuitive and able to be used while your hands (and part of your attention) are engaged elsewhere.
The
Cyberlink Brainfingers Solution represents this next step in the evolution
of the human-computer input interface. The system is a Brain-Body actuated
control technology that combines eye-movement, facial muscle, and brain
wave bio-potentials detected at the user’s forehead to generate
computer inputs that can be used for a variety of tasks and recreations.
The forehead is a convenient, noninvasive measuring site rich in a variety of bio-potentials. Signals detected by three plastic sensors in a headband are sent to an interface box which contains a bio-amplifier and signal processor. The interface box connects to the PC computer’s serial port. The forehead signals are amplified, digitized and translated by a patented decoding algorithm into multiple command signals, creating an efficient, intuitive and easily learned hands-free control interface.
Three different types or channels of control signals are derived from the forehead signal in the interface box. The lowest frequency channel is called the ElectroOculoGraphic or EOG signal. This is a frequency region of the forehead bio-potential that is responsive primarily to eye movements. The EOG signal is typically used to detect left and right eye motion. This signal can be mapped to left and right cursor motion or on/off switch control.
The second type of control signal is called the ElectroEncephaloGraphic or EEG signal. The Brainfingers Software furhter subdivides this region into ten component frequency bands called ‘Brainfingers’. These frequencies reflect internal mental/brainwave activity as well as subtle facial muscle activity. A wide range of facial muscles affect these frequency bands. Users typically learn control of their Brainfingers first through subtle tensing and relaxing of various muscles including forehead, eye and jaw muscles. After a little experience with the Cyberlink System, most users begin to experiment with more efficient, internal brain-based control methods. Since this frequency region is sensitive to both mental and muscular signals it is called the ‘BrainBody’ signal.
Brainfinger control is continuous or analog and is typically used for such things as control of cursor vertical or horizontal movement. For example, one Brainfinger may be used to control vertical movement while a second Brainfinger (or other signal channel) is used to control horizontal movement.
The third channel is called the ElectroMyoGraphic or EMG signal. The EMG signal primarily reflects facial muscle activity. It is typically used in the Cyberlink System for discrete on/off control of program commands, switch closures, keyboard commands, the functions of the left and right mouse buttons, and up/down cursor motion.
In a Cyberlink discrete control study conducted by the United States Air Force at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, subjects’ reaction times to visual stimuli were found to be 15% faster with the Cyberlink EMG button than with a manual button.
Specific facial and eye movement gestures can be discriminated by the Cyberlink software and mapped to separate mouse, keyboard, and program functions.
The continuous and discrete control capabilities of your Brainfingers can be mapped to computer events in the Launch window of the Brainfingers software. This hands-free mouse enables the user to steer the cursor, change its speed and resolution, perform left and right mouse button functions, and send keyboard characters and character string commands.
In a recent study, users were able to use their Brainfingers to position and click the cursor over randomly appearing 32 x 32 pixel (icon-sized) targets in 4 seconds or less.
Mapping your Brainfingers to computer events makes hands-free two-axis control possible not only with Brainfingers specific games and applications, but also with third-party software; including popular interactive games, word processors, spread sheets, and Computer-Aided Design programs as well as special-needs software such as Words Plus EZ Keys, WiViK, Clicker, Reach, IntelliTools and Dynovox. Brainfinger control can be used for hands-free environmental control using an X-10 Home Controller relay for example to switch on and off an electric light, appliance, or communication device.
For individuals with limited control of their facial muscles, the Brainfingers software can be formatted to use BrainBody or EOG inputs (instead of EMG) to activate switch closures and mouse button clicks.
The Cyberlink Brainfingers Solution provides an intuitive, direct, easily learned, hands-free, language-independent universal control interface. It represents a cutting-edge technological achievement in the user-computer interface making possible new computer control methods to empower the disabled and all users of tomorrow’s technology.