Mind reading

The brain is an organ that can be scanned like any other, just that the devices so far rather expensive and hence reserved to professional use only. Recent years have changed that and low-cost electroencephalography (EEG) devices helped spawn a plethora of new applications – for brain-computer interaction (think ‘drive a wheelchair with thought control’) and for live performance feedback (think ‘managing attention and caring for affective states’). Oxford Brookes collaboration partner MyndPlay helps create the hard- and software solution for the WEKIT project, visiting us recently to discuss the hardware prototype of a dry-sensor headband. “It is amazing when you can confirm visually that you’re brain is alert and you’re focused”, says Dr Wild, “the big challenge will be to get the sensor position right and actually pilot the hardware in an application in a real test bed.”