Business of brainwaves begins
Brain-to-computer interface (BCI) - operating a computer through brainwaves - is gaining momentum as a next-generation technology for everyday needs.The term was coined in 1973 by computer scientist Jacques Vidal at UCLA, but the technology has remained at the R&D and pilot application level until recently. Today, headsets that decipher brainwaves are being commercialized on a modest scale.
In Korea, government-led brain science research is being promoted in what promises to be a long-term effort for commercialization on a wide scale. The United States, European countries and Japan also have selected brain science as a core technology.
What is evident so far is that BCI applications could benefit a wide range of users. For example, people who have impaired mobility or are unable to use voice controls could enjoy an improved quality of life using BCI-enabled devices. Drivers, cyclists, cooks, etc. could more easily handle multitasking. Electronic game players and movie viewers could have a sense of immersion in scenes. Soldiers and teachers could convey information and instructions with greater precision.
In rehabilitation and health care, BCI will allow patients who have lost the use of all or a part of their limbs to perform the functions of daily life, thus assisting in rehabilitation. A total of 5,694 U.S. soldiers lost the use of their arms or legs from 2001 to 2011, spurring the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to pursue research and development in BCI for their rehabilitation. Research is being performed on using brainwaves to control wheelchairs and robot arms. This technology could allow patients with spinal injuries to control devices through brain and nervous system activity. It could facilitate simple movements to operate equipment and to perform small tasks.
For portable and wearable devices, control through brainwave recognition could be more effective and convenient than touch or motion controls, particularly when performing activities like cycling or cooking, which require both hands.
Samsung Electronics is developing a technology that allows control of its Galaxy Note phablet through thought in conjunction with professor Roozbeh Jafari of the University of Texas. It can control the on/off switch, start apps, search contacts and choose songs with an accuracy of 80 percent to 95 percent. Intel is developing brainwave computer technology that can control computers or portable devices via a chip transplanted into the brain.
In entertainment, digital games are expected to be one of the biggest areas of BCI commercialization. Game developers are developing games that allow gamers to control characters through brainwaves, increasing concentration and immersion in the game. Mattel in the United States has released a game called Mindplex in which users use a headset to control a fan to move a ball through the air and vertically bypass obstacles in a course. Another game uses brainwave sensors to allow children with deficit hyperactivity disorder to guide an arrow to a target, increasing their ability to concentrate.
Research is also proceeding in brain-to-brain interfaces that convey thoughts and intentions from one person to another. The DARPA is pursuing its Silent Talk project that would allow soldiers to communicate via brainwaves. If it succeeds, they will be able to convey instructions on the battlefield more accurately than verbally. Similarly, emergency responders such as police and fire departments would find Silent Talk valuable in fast-changing situations.
Further research in brain science technology, including the BCI interface, will require huge budgets and a long-term commitment. Brain science research is linked with various academic sectors, including cognitive science, medical engineering, electric/electronics engineering and mechanical engineering. Interdisciplinary research is therefore crucial.
The use of brain science in businesses and industries is still at an embryonic stage. A competitive edge in products and services could be enhanced by understanding customers’ cognitive features while exploring new user experiences. Strategic alliances within specialized areas such as brainwave recognition and five-sense recognition should be promoted to secure core technology.
*The writer is research fellow at the Samsung Economic Research Institute. Visit www.seriworld.org for more SERI reports.
BY JEONG Dong-Young
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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