Scientists at Samsung’s Emerging Technology Lab, in conjunction with researchers at the University of Texas, Dallas, are looking into ways of controlling mobile devices using only thought patterns.
For this experiment, researchers are working with a standard Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet. Testers wear a cap that surrounds most of the skull and is connected with EEG-monitoring electrodes.
The cap senses and measures brain activity to perform simple tasks such as powering the tablet on and off, as well as selecting music from playlists.
However, as the skullcap is attached to sensors via several wires, it is not ideal for everyday use although Samsung suggests they could create “a cap that people wear all day long.”
The device picks up on what the tester wants to do through various actions such as blinking and focusing on an icon. Scientists says that the device’s accuracy rate is from 80 to 90 per cent.
“Several years ago, a small keypad was the only input modality to control the phone, but nowadays the user can use voice, touch, gesture, and eye movement to control and interact with mobile devices,” said Kim Insoo, Samsung’s lead researcher.
“Adding more input modalities will provide users with more convenient and richer ways of interacting with mobile devices.”
Mind-controlled interfaces are relatively novel, but they have already been used to help people who have no use of their limbs interact with computers.