Can Brain Computer Interfaces Become Practical Assistive Devices in the Community

A Brain Computer Interface (BCI) provides direct communi-cation from the brain to a computer or electronic device. In order for BCIs to become practical assistive devices it is nec-essary to develop robust systems, which can be used outside of the laboratory. This paper appraises the technical challenges, and outlines the design of an intuitive user interface, which can be used for smart device control and entertainment appli-cations, of specific interest to users. We adopted a user-centred approach, surveying two groups of participants: fif-teen volunteers who could use BCI as an additional technol-ogy and six users with complex communication and assistive technology needs. Interaction is based on a four way choice, parsing a hierarchical menu structure which allows selection of room location and then device (e.g. light, television) within a smart home. The interface promotes ease of use which aim to improve the BCI communication rate.