BCI - The Emerging Communication Technology

Introduction

Have you ever wondered about the possibility of communicating with computers and machines directly from our brain without having physical contact with it?
I will tell you; this is what BCI (Brain Computer Interface) is about. BCI is an emerging technology that uses our thinking/mind just the way the brain works, biologically - before anything can be done (e.g moving our hands), the first thing to do is to think of the proposed action; then the hand would be moved in-line with our thoughts. In the same way; imagine controlling machines and computers without moving an inch. In this post, we will learn the basic concepts of BCI and trust me I will make it simple and fun.

What is Brain-Computer Interface (BCI)?

A brain-computer interface (BCI) system from Wikimedia License under CC0

BCI system is an emerging technology, and just like the name suggests; it interfaces/interconnects the human brain and a computer device - but for that to happen; there are some requirements to fulfill - which also include both the hardware and software communication systems that control external devices through brain’s activity. The user's intentions are determined from activity recorded by electrodes on the scalp, on the cortical surface, or within the brain.

for instance, imaging sitting at front of Computer in distance with the Desktop background opened, the Cursor is at the bottom and considering moving the Cursor to the top without having to touch the mouse or the keyboard. -- This can be done through BCI systems.

One of the importance of BCI systems is to provide help, give their users some communication and control capabilities that do not depend on muscles; which would be suitable for disabled humans like paralytic sufferers, paralyzed by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), brainstem stroke, or other disorders; enabling them to communicate and operate computer software like word-processing or machines like wheelchair etc just from their mind. However this is not limited to disabled people only as it can be generally adopted to leverage human communication with machines, one can use an EEG headgear connected to the brain to control computational devices.

BCI Usages

BCI is used in various ways, and is gaining high adoption from machine companies;
it is a medium of understanding extended qualities of the brain activities and the human neural networks, which also helps people with limited physical ability to communicate/interact with several computational devices. it is also the ability to interact socially and emotionally using social applications and to enable it practicality after capturing one's feelings, this is a very intelligent invention that aids addictive gamers who have discovered it to play games using their heads.

Types of BCI

BCI can be categorized into three techniques; It depends on how the electrodes get connected with the brain, in other to obtain signal from neuron cells in the human brain.

Fully Invasive BCI

BrainGate from Wikimedia License under CC0

This type of technique requires the head to be opened i.e critical surgery has to be done and a special device called Invasive BCI device is connected to the brain directly to capture the brain signals as electrocorticogram (ECoG); devices that are based on detecting from single area of brain cells is called single unit while the detection from multiple areas is called multi-units. This gives the best quality result of human brain signals but involves the risk of forming scar tissue and brain damages if something goes wrong.

Partly Invasive BCI

Brain surgery from Wikimedia License under CC0

This is the second technique out of three, this type of technology also requires critical surgery and a device called partly invasive BCI device is used, but instead of inserting it directly to the brain, it is inserted in the skull on the top of the brain. This gives less quality of human brain signals to invasive devices and also involves less risk of forming scar tissue.

Non Invasive BCI

Brain Current Measurement from pixabay License under CC0

This is the last technique involves in BCI technique, this type of technique doesn't require the head to be opened or to perform critical surgery; meaning it is the safest and it involves no risk. A device called non-invasive BCI device is used, it is a low-cost device, it is placed on the scalp to obtain signals and mostly are designed to record ElectroEncephaloGraphs (EEG) from the scalp. This gives weaker results to any other types of BCI devices.

Principle upon which BCI thrive

For the principles of the BCI to be effectively applied, there is a need for a proper understanding of how the human Central Nervous System (CNS) works. Just so that you may know, the CNS is made up of the brain and the spinal cord; of which some of the major functions are: generating, reception, and processing of signal through the interconnection of nerves and neurons.
Similarly, the BCI devices and/or electrodes can pick up these signals as they are generated, and can transmit them to the targeted system without you having to move a muscle.

Downside with using the BCI technology

The BCI technology is not restricted to people who are not able to communicate only, it's gaining more attention from healthy people as it provides easier communication between humans and machines with less stress, rehabilitation such as hands-free gaming, moving of cursor without physical contact with the machine etc. However, there are challenges faced using the BCI technology, no machine is 100% efficiency but will be improved as development evolve.

Some of the challenges faced using BCI in real-world tasks is as follows;

Low Signal strength
You would agree with me that it would probably not be so easy in getting the required signals from the brain without having some form of losses in signals (attenuation), but this can be compensated for by using a signal amplifier.

Data transfer
Also, the rate of transfer of data might be affected as signals pass through the thick skull to the receiving system. And these low data signals can affect the overall accuracy of the data.

High Error
The point above gives rise to this. When the accuracy of data is compromised by the lowering of the brain signals, it would be difficult for an effective brain-computer communication to be made.

Conclusion

Brain-Computer interface leverage communication between the brain and computer(s) without physical contact, BCI records signals from the brain with electrodes linked by the aid of the approach of any of the three kinds of devices (fully-inversive, partly-inversive and non-inversive devices) mentioned above to the human head and translate these signals into languages computer(s) apprehend. BCI is still having some challenges in prediction accuracy however, it'll keep enhancing as development evolve.

BCI was not created for the use of human only, it can also be a means of studying animal psychological thinking, and how their brain works.