OBJECTIVE: While brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) for communication have reached considerable technical maturity, there is still a great need for state-of-the-art evaluation by the end-users outside laboratory environments. To achieve this primary objective, it is necessary to augment a BCI with a series of components that allow end-users to type text effectively. APPROACH: This work presents the clinical evaluation of a motor imagery (MI) BCI text-speller, called BrainTree, by six severely disabled end-users and ten able-bodied users. Additionally, we define a generic model of code-based BCI applications, which serves as an analytical tool for evaluation and design. MAIN RESULTS: We show that all users achieved remarkable usability and efficiency outcomes in spelling. Furthermore, our model-based analysis highlights the added value of human-computer interaction techniques and hybrid BCI error-handling mechanisms, and reveals the effects of BCI performances on usability and efficiency in code-based applications. SIGNIFICANCE: This study demonstrates the usability potential of code-based MI spellers, with BrainTree being the first to be evaluated by a substantial number of end-users, establishing them as a viable, competitive alternative to other popular BCI spellers. Another major outcome of our model-based analysis is the derivation of a 80% minimum command accuracy requirement for successful code-based application control, revising upwards previous estimates attempted in the literature.
OBJECTIVE: While brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) for communication have reached considerable technical maturity, there is still a great need for state-of-the-art evaluation by the end-users outside laboratory environments. To achieve this primary objective, it is necessary to augment a BCI with a series of components that allow end-users to type text effectively. APPROACH: This work presents the clinical evaluation of a motor imagery (MI) BCI text-speller, called BrainTree, by six severely disabled end-users and ten able-bodied users. Additionally, we define a generic model of code-based BCI applications, which serves as an analytical tool for evaluation and design. MAIN RESULTS: We show that all users achieved remarkable usability and efficiency outcomes in spelling. Furthermore, our model-based analysis highlights the added value of human-computer interaction techniques and hybrid BCI error-handling mechanisms, and reveals the effects of BCI performances on usability and efficiency in code-based applications. SIGNIFICANCE: This study demonstrates the usability potential of code-based MI spellers, with BrainTree being the first to be evaluated by a substantial number of end-users, establishing them as a viable, competitive alternative to other popular BCI spellers. Another major outcome of our model-based analysis is the derivation of a 80% minimum command accuracy requirement for successful code-based application control, revising upwards previous estimates attempted in the literature.
Authors: Matt Higger; Fernando Quivira; Murat Akcakaya; Mohammad Moghadamfalahi; Hooman Nezamfar; Mujdat Cetin; Deniz Erdogmus Journal: IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng Date: 2016-07-13 Impact factor: 3.802
Authors: Bin He; Bryan Baxter; Bradley J Edelman; Christopher C Cline; Wendy Ye Journal: Proc IEEE Inst Electr Electron Eng Date: 2015-05-20 Impact factor: 10.961
Authors: Joan Lobo-Prat; Peter N Kooren; Arno H A Stienen; Just L Herder; Bart F J M Koopman; Peter H Veltink Journal: J Neuroeng Rehabil Date: 2014-12-17 Impact factor: 4.262
Authors: A Biasiucci; R Leeb; I Iturrate; S Perdikis; A Al-Khodairy; T Corbet; A Schnider; T Schmidlin; H Zhang; M Bassolino; D Viceic; P Vuadens; A G Guggisberg; J D R Millán Journal: Nat Commun Date: 2018-06-20 Impact factor: 14.919