NEURAL INTERFACE

Neural Interface and Ubiquitous Computing



Neural Interface and Ubiquitous Computing

Introduction

Technological advancements in neural interfaces have been providing the disable, or elderly with the benefits of interacting with computing equipment in real time (Kipke, et.al, 2008). The technology of neural interface or the brain computer interface (BCI) begun with the idea of providing means of movement to completely paralyzed patients. The user becomes able to communicate their emotional stages to the computer or other peripheral devices via neural interface. The system can provide timely feedback according to the emotional conditions or brain signal of the user. This paper describes the working of neural interface, and the importance of integrating neural interface and the ubiquitous computing concepts.

Discussion

The neural interface bridges the gap between human and the advanced technological equipment, such as computer. The major motivation behind the design of invasive or non invasive neural interfaces or BCI devices is to improve the mobility of complete paralyzed patients (Hochberg, 2012). The neural interface is capable of automatically assessing the mental states, and emotional conditions of the human subject. The interface essentially captures the electrical activity of the brain and drives computers or any other attached device, according to the collected signals. The applications of neural interface range from brain hacking to controlling artificial limbs and wheelchair.

The neural interface is an invasive technique for monitoring the brain activities. The technique involves physically wiring the neural interface or the brain machine implant (BMI) inside the human brain, through a surgical process (Dice, 2012). The wires come out of a person's skulls that lead to the computer, and a person becomes able to input instructions into the computer, simply by thinking about.

In addition to the wired communication of the neural interface and the computers, research has been done for finding an alternative way of communication between the two (Derbyshire, 2009). The idea is to design the neural interface chip that could communicate wirelessly with the computer, electric wheel chair, robotic arm or leg.

Early neural interfaces allowed the users to control the motion of cursor on screed, play video games or control robots. The invasive neural interface is more popular, because of the ease of use as no extra equipment, such as helmets, electrodes or external wires are involved. However non invasive Brain Computer Interfaces have been proposed and developed for performing a variety of routine tasks.

Working of Neural Interface

The electrodes of neural interface collects the electrical signals generated in the brain, as a result of any though process. The major function of this interface is to provide a communication link between the brain and the outside world, either by simulating the signal or by activating other external equipment in response of the brain signal. Several types of neural interfaces are also capable of recording the brain activity signals.

When non invasive data acquisition techniques are used (the interface is not implanted physically inside the brain, but electrodes are mounted on the scalp of the patient around the motor cortex), the signal obtained from the ...