What would brain-computer interface users want? Opinions and priorities of potential users with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Abstract

Objective Universal design principles advocate inclusion of end users in every design stage, including research and development. Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) have long been described as potential tools to enable people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to operate technology without moving. Therefore the objective of the current study is to determine the opinions and priorities of people with ALS regarding BCI design. This information will guide BCIs in development to meet end user needs. Methods Telephone survey of 61 people with ALS from the University of Michigan’s Motor Neuron Disease Clinic. Results Regarding BCI design, participants prioritized accuracy of command identification of at least 90% (satisfying 84% of respondents), speed of operation comparable to at least 15-19 letters-per-minute (satisfying 72%), and accidental exits from a standby mode not more than once every 2-4 hours (satisfying 84%). While 84% of respondents would accept using an electrode cap, 72% were willing to undergo outpatient surgery and 41% to undergo surgery with a short hospital stay in order to obtain a BCI. Conclusions People with ALS expressed a strong interest in obtaining BCIs, but current BCIs do not yet provide desired BCI performance.

Reaching and grasping a glass of water by locked-in ALS patients through a BCI-controlled humanoid robot

“…Our results relating to motivation and satisfaction support the general consensus that ALS patients might indeed want to use P300 BCIs, even given their current limitations (Zickler et al, 2009;Huggins et al, 2011;Blain et al, 2012).…”

“…Most BCI research has been restricted to a laboratory setting, though home use by locked-in patients has been validated (Vaughan et al, 2006;Münßinger et al, 2010;Holz et al, 2015;McCane et al, 2015). Furthermore, while some BCI spellers have made a difference for patients, additional capabilities such as robot control could provide more help with activities of daily living (Zickler et al, 2009;Huggins et al, 2011;Blain et al, 2012). P300 BCIs have been successfully demonstrated for robot control in healthy users (Bell et al, 2008;Escolano et al, 2012;Choi and Jo, 2013).…”

Comparison of three types of dry electrodes for electroencephalography

“…Considering the small size and adduction requirements, the novel dry electrodes enable high density multichannel electrode arrangements. These dense multichannel setups provide crucial spatial information about the brain activity, hence allowing for brain source reconstruction procedures in current [12] and new areas of application [3], [4].…”

“…New application areas of EEG are in the field of brain-computer interfaces (BCI) or ambient assisted living (AAL). BCIs might enable handicapped persons to interact with their environment, based on measured brain signals [3], [4]. For such applications, specific EEG systems are needed, which may be applied by non-experts in a simple and fast way.…”

The brain-computer interface researcher’s questionnaire: from research to application

“…Although in the current study there was some agreement for the enhance, supplement and restore scenarios, with the statement The currently available hardware is cosmetically unappealing, this was not the case for replace, improve and research tool. For the statement The end-user image is stigmatized by the majority of paralyzed patients have a positive attitude towards implanted BCIs [15][16][17], especially if such a system were wireless [18].…”