Openbci-brain-computer-interface-by-omphalosskeptic

OpenBCI is an

open-source Open source is source code that is made freely available for possible modification and redistribution. Products include permission to use and view the source code, design documents, or content of the product. The open source model is a decentrali ...

brain–computer interface A brain–computer interface (BCI), sometimes called a brain–machine interface (BMI), is a direct communication link between the brain's electrical activity and an external device, most commonly a computer or robotic limb. BCIs are often dire ...

platform created by Joel Murphy and Conor Russomanno, after a successful Kickstarter campaign in late 2013. The company's headquarters is based in Brooklyn, NY. OpenBCI boards are low-cost biometric amplifiers used to measure and record electrical activity produced by the brain (

EEG Electroencephalography (EEG) is a method to record an electrogram of the spontaneous electrical activity of the brain. The bio signals detected by EEG have been shown to represent the postsynaptic potentials of pyramidal neurons in the neoc ...

), muscles ( EMG), and heart ( EKG). The boards are compatible with standard EEG electrodes. They can be used with the open-source OpenBCI GUI software, or they can be integrated with other open-source EEG signal processing tools. OpenBCI boards have been scientifically validated in numerous research studies.

Hardware

The OpenBCI 32-bit board uses the ADS1299, an IC developed by

Texas Instruments Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) is an American multinational semiconductor company headquartered in Dallas, Texas. It is one of the top 10 semiconductor companies worldwide based on sales volume. The company's focus is on developing analog ...

for biopotential measurements. The OpenBCI uses a

microcontroller A microcontroller (MC, uC, or μC) or microcontroller unit (MCU) is a small computer on a single integrated circuit. A microcontroller contains one or more CPUs (processor cores) along with memory and programmable input/output peripherals. Pro ...

for on-board processing — the 8bit version (now deprecated) uses an

Arduino Arduino () is an Italian open-source hardware and open-source software, software company, project, and user community that designs and manufactures single-board microcontrollers and microcontroller kits for building digital devices. Its hardwar ...

-compatible ATmega328P IC, while the 32bit board uses a

PIC PIC or pic may refer to: Places * Penbay International Circuit, or PIC, a motor track circuit in Pingtung County, Taiwan * Pic River, in Ontario, Canada * Picayune (Amtrak station) (Amtrak station code PIC), Mississippi, United States * Pic, a ...

microcontroller — and can write the EEG data to an SD card, or transmit it to software on a computer over a

bluetooth Bluetooth is a short-range wireless technology standard that is used for exchanging data between fixed and mobile devices over short distances and building personal area networks (PANs). In the most widely used mode, transmission power is li ...

link. In 2015, OpenBCI announced the Ganglion board with a 2nd

Kickstarter Kickstarter, PBC is an American Benefit corporation, public benefit corporation based in Brooklyn, New York City, that maintains a global crowdfunding platform focused on creativity. The company's stated mission is to "help bring creative project ...

campaign. It has 4 input channels for measuring EEG, EMG, and EKG, and is also Bluetooth enabled. Initially it was offered on Kickstarter at $99, before later being listed at $249.99, and subsequently increasing in price to $499.00.

Software

OpenBCI has released an open-source application for use with the OpenBCI, written with Processing. Display and processing software written in

NodeJS Node.js is a cross-platform, open-source JavaScript runtime environment that can run on Windows, Linux, Unix, macOS, and more. Node.js runs on the V8 JavaScript engine, and executes JavaScript code outside a web browser. Node.js lets develope ...

and

Python Python may refer to: Snakes * Pythonidae, a family of nonvenomous snakes found in Africa, Asia, and Australia ** ''Python'' (genus), a genus of Pythonidae found in Africa and Asia * Python (mythology), a mythical serpent Computing * Python (prog ...

are also available.

3D Printed Headset

Design files for a

3D printed 3D printing, or additive manufacturing, is the construction of a three-dimensional object from a CAD model or a digital 3D model. It can be done in a variety of processes in which material is deposited, joined or solidified under computer ...

headset for pre-production OpenBCI boards have been released on

GitHub GitHub () is a Proprietary software, proprietary developer platform that allows developers to create, store, manage, and share their code. It uses Git to provide distributed version control and GitHub itself provides access control, bug trackin ...

. The headset, known as the Ultracortex, holds the electrodes in place, and makes it easy to configure their placement using the 10–20 System. The current iteration of the Ultracortex is called the Ultracortex "Mark IV". The headset design files are available for free download from OpenBCI's GitHub account, or the headset can be purchased preprinted from the OpenBCI online store. The headsets are manufactured and produced by Voodoo Manufacturing.

Applications

OpenBCI technology has been utilized in various innovative applications, such as controlling a HexBug robot using steady-state visually evoked potentials SSVEPs (Steady State Visually

Evoked Potentials An evoked potential or evoked response is an electrical potential in a specific pattern recorded from a specific part of the nervous system, especially the brain, of a human or other animals following presentation of a stimulus such as a light fl ...

). Locked in graffiti artist

Tempt One Tony Quan (1968/69 – September 1, 2023), better known by the tag name Tempt One or Tempt1, was an American graffiti artist who began painting graffiti in Los Angeles in the early 1980s. Style Tempt's style combined the city's local cholo gr ...

has used the OpenBCI and the low-cost

Eyewriter The EyeWriter is a low-cost eye tracking system originally designed for paralyzed graffiti artist Tempt1. The EyeWriter system uses inexpensive cameras and open-source computer vision software to track the wearer's eye movements. EyeWriter was c ...

eye-tracking system to continue to draw after being diagnosed with the degenerative nerve disorder

ALS Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neuron disease (MND) or—in the United States—Lou Gehrig's disease (LGD), is a rare, terminal neurodegenerative disorder that results in the progressive loss of both upper and low ...

. In 2023 OpenBCI's CEO & cofounder, Conor Russomanno, presented the talk ''A powerful new neurotech tool for augmenting your mind'' on the TED main stage alongside Christian Bayerlein, a web developer and accessibility activist based in Koblenz, Germany. In the talk, Russomanno and Bayerlein presented the Neurofly project, which combined OpenBCI technology and a Varjo HMD to enable Bayerlein to pilot a drone around the stage completely hands-free. Bayerlein used EEG and EMG signals to control the drone's speed and direction.

Galea

In late 2020, the OpenBCI team unveiled a new product: Galea. Galea is a hardware and software platform that merges next-generation biometrics with mixed reality. It is the first device that integrates EEG, EMG, EDA, PPG, and eye-tracking into a single headset. After several years of development and manufacturing, OpenBCI began shipping Galea Beta unit pre-orders in August 2024. The current lead time for a Galea unit is 2 weeks.

Awards & Recognition

OpenBCI has been the recipient of several technology and innovation awards, including 2

Consumer Electronic Show CES (; formerly an initialism for Consumer Electronics Show) is an annual trade show organized by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA). Held in January at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Winchester, Nevada, United States, the event typi ...

(CES) 2023 Innovation Awards. Their latest product, Galea, was awarded in both the Virtual & Augmented Reality, and Wearable Technologies categories. Galea has also previously won a Unity Aerospace & Defense award and an AWE Auggie Award for Best Interaction Product After the successful 2023

TED talk TED Conferences, LLC (Technology, Entertainment, Design) is an American-Canadian non-profit media organization that posts international talks online for free distribution under the slogan "Ideas Change Everything" (previously "Ideas Worth Sprea ...

was met with standing ovation,

NPR National Public Radio (NPR) is an American public broadcasting organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It serves as a national Radio syndication, syndicator to a network of more ...

featured OpenBCI and Galea in a

TED Radio Hour ''TED Radio Hour'' is a weekly, hour-long radio program and podcast, produced as a co-production between TED (conference) and National Public Radio. It is broadcast on 600+ public radio stations in the United States and internationally, and is al ...

episode called Brain Hacks: ''The beginning of mind-reading technology? No, it's not science fiction'' OpenBCI has also had several other notable media features including in the episode ''The tech harnessing the power of thought'' of

CNN Cable News Network (CNN) is a multinational news organization operating, most notably, a website and a TV channel headquartered in Atlanta. Founded in 1980 by American media proprietor Ted Turner and Reese Schonfeld as a 24-hour cable ne ...

's Decoded series. They were also featured in a

Lenovo Lenovo Group Limited, trading as Lenovo ( , zh, c=联想, p=Liánxiǎng), is a Chinese multinational technology company specializing in designing, manufacturing, and marketing consumer electronics, personal computers, software, servers, conv ...

customer success video called ''Neural interfaces: The future of brain-computer interaction.''

References

External links

* {{Official website Brain–computer interface Computing input devices Open hardware electronic devices Open hardware and software organizations and companies Electroencephalography Open science