Assistive technologies using brain-computer interfaces: The problem of mental fatigue

Tran, Y; Nguyen, H; Craig, A

Assistive technologies using brain-computer interfaces: The problem of mental fatigue

Tran, Y

Nguyen, H

Craig, A

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Publication Type:: Chapter
Citation:: New Research on Assistive Technologies: Uses and Limitations, 2014, pp. 85 - 96
Issue Date:: 2014-10-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Tran, Y https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1741-4205	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Nguyen, H https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3373-8178	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Craig, A	en_US
dc.date.issued	2014-10-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	New Research on Assistive Technologies: Uses and Limitations, 2014, pp. 85 - 96	en_US
dc.identifier.isbn	9781633219793	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/40988
dc.description.abstract	© 2014 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Assistive technology has great potential for enhancing the capabilities of individuals with disabilities. In people with a severe neurological disability like chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) one strategy to overcome functional loss involves providing access to assistive technology that allows the severely disabled person to regain some level of control over their living environment. New types of assistive technologies include brain computer interface (BCI) based assistive technology systems. These are systems that interpret and translate voluntary changes in brain electrical activity to allow users to activate and control devices in their environment with their brain signals. However, BCI based assistive technologies require a great deal of attention and concentration from the user, especially if the user exerts control over extended periods of time. Any task that requires extended concentration and attention will undoubtedly result in elevated mental fatigue. Chronic mental fatigue is a common though negative symptom of many illnesses and disabilities. In this chapter we describe a device that utilizes changes in brain activity using EEG alpha waves (8-13Hz) as a switching mechanism for an environmental control system (ECS). The device functions by detecting changes in alpha activity during the opening and closing of the eyes. A rapid and substantial increase in alpha activity is observed when eyes are closed and there is a large attenuation of the 8-13Hz activity when the eyes are open. Switching occurs when alpha activity increases above a set threshold during eye closure. Although this hands-free ECS has been shown to be effective in severely disabled participants in their homes while operating a television set, little is known about the effects of mental fatigue on the operational capacity of this device when used by people with severe disabilities for long periods of time. Recent research on strategies for controlling the impact of fatigue will be presented and implications for BCI assistive technology discussed.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	New Research on Assistive Technologies: Uses and Limitations	en_US
dc.title	Assistive technologies using brain-computer interfaces: The problem of mental fatigue	en_US
dc.type	Chapter
utslib.for	090305 Rehabilitation Engineering	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHT - Health Technologies
utslib.copyright.status	open_access
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US

Abstract:

© 2014 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Assistive technology has great potential for enhancing the capabilities of individuals with disabilities. In people with a severe neurological disability like chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) one strategy to overcome functional loss involves providing access to assistive technology that allows the severely disabled person to regain some level of control over their living environment. New types of assistive technologies include brain computer interface (BCI) based assistive technology systems. These are systems that interpret and translate voluntary changes in brain electrical activity to allow users to activate and control devices in their environment with their brain signals. However, BCI based assistive technologies require a great deal of attention and concentration from the user, especially if the user exerts control over extended periods of time. Any task that requires extended concentration and attention will undoubtedly result in elevated mental fatigue. Chronic mental fatigue is a common though negative symptom of many illnesses and disabilities. In this chapter we describe a device that utilizes changes in brain activity using EEG alpha waves (8-13Hz) as a switching mechanism for an environmental control system (ECS). The device functions by detecting changes in alpha activity during the opening and closing of the eyes. A rapid and substantial increase in alpha activity is observed when eyes are closed and there is a large attenuation of the 8-13Hz activity when the eyes are open. Switching occurs when alpha activity increases above a set threshold during eye closure. Although this hands-free ECS has been shown to be effective in severely disabled participants in their homes while operating a television set, little is known about the effects of mental fatigue on the operational capacity of this device when used by people with severe disabilities for long periods of time. Recent research on strategies for controlling the impact of fatigue will be presented and implications for BCI assistive technology discussed.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/40988