Using Brain-computer Interfaces in an Interactive Multimedia Application

The paper describes experiences from implementing a simple snake game, which can be controlled by the user’s brainwaves using the NeuroSky mindset. The NeuroSky mindset is an inexpensive Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) device allowing developers to process EEG signals that can be used to control a computer. The BCI opens for new ways for humans to interact with computers, and can be used for many purposes such as aids for people with physical disabilities. A major challenge with inexpensive BrainComputer Interfaces like the NeuroSky mindset is to discover which patterns of the brain signals that are sufficient accurate and reliable to be used to control a game, as well as can be used as real-time input of interactive multimedia applications. Our prototype incorporates all parts of a functioning BCI system, which includes acquiring the EEG signals, processing and classifying the EEG signals, and using the signal classification to control a game. The paper share experiences from implementing a BCI controlled game as well as results of testing the game on users. Our experiments found that in our prototype, the user can control the snake game using EEG signals with above 90% accuracy. Our solution differentiates from other appliances of the NeuroSky mindset that it does not require any mental pre-training for the user.