The idea of controlling an object with your mind has been a goal of both ordinary people and top tier scientists for decades. We have gotten one step closer to this goal with the Brain-Computer Interface. Its intended purpose is to create a connection with the brain and an external computer device to help those with disabilities. It allows us to control and communicate with objects in the outside world through the human brain. A special head cap, designed specifically for the advancement of this innovation, receives brain signals through the electrodes in the data form and translates this to empower control of the device.
Brain-Computer Interface utilizes Electroencephalography, or EEG, and its main purpose is to record brain signals and activity. The main input is the brain signals received through the cap, and the output is the control of the device the cap is connected to. The BCI receives EEG signals through the electrodes and translates them into commands. There are 3 main categories of brain signals that it receives: electrophysiological, magnetic, and metabolic. This system allows us to use the output to control foreign objects or devices.
One beneficial impact of Brain-Computer Interfaces is on the mentally ill or paralyzed, and society as a whole. By connecting the human brain to a device through a cap, those who have disabilities will be able to control and express their actions and thoughts through this system. BCI’s can introduce society to the ability to control foreign object through the brain neurons. This invention would allow people who have barriers caused by an illness to be removed entirely as they will be able to continue their life like a healthy person. Ultimately, this would positively impact society as a whole because all people will be able to use this innovation to their advantage.
However, a harmful effect of BCI’s is the risk of the surgery. The low-risk Brain-Computer Interfaces we currently utilize are placed outside the human skull. However, this is a basic connection that limits the signal the computer receives. However, some BCI’s require surgery to be placed under the skull or in some cases directly inserted into the brain. These are known as Invasive BCI’s. Invasive BCI’s create higher quality and more accurate signals but can do more harm than good. Installing this is a slow and dangerous procedure that can often have horrible side effects. For example, when the electrodes are placed into the gray matter under the skull in the brain, the signals the brain sends can become lost and can leave scars on the highly sensitive tissues in the brain.
This computational innovation, known as the Brain-Computer Interface, has set a stepping stone for scientists for the future of robotics and human control over foreign objects. Working with this innovation will help us in countless aspects of future computational artifacts and will help the overall advancement of human life for everyone.