Brain Computer Interface based Smart Keyboard using Neurosky Mindwave Headset

The brain is an essential part of the human body, which controls movement, behavior and regulates the equilibrium of the human body. The classification of the human brain, which defines regions within the brain as the forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain. The Midbrain mostly comprises a portion of the

Project Title

Brain Computer Interface based Smart Keyboard using Neurosky Mindwave Headset

Project Area of Specialization

NeuroTech

Project Summary

The brain is an essential part of the human body, which controls movement, behavior and regulates the equilibrium of the human body. The classification of the human brain, which defines regions within the brain as the forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain. The Midbrain mostly comprises a portion of the brainstem, which controls some reflex actions of eye movements and other voluntary movements. On the basis of the project, we have required The Neurosky EEG to recognize the signals generated by the brain. The Neurosky EEG sensor obtains the attention and blink levels. The blinking level is used to select characters and enable the pointer to navigate through the keyboard rows to hasten the writing process. The virtual keyboard is designed to contain alphanumeric and control characters. EEG Controller has other interesting switching option methods that can be used by persons with paralyzed skeletal muscles. The average user may have problems with achieving a high attention level in such a short period of time, In reality, these values depend on different factors: user’s health state, user’s well-being, atmospheric pressure, time of day, etc.

Project Objectives

• To develop a brain smart keyboard using Mind Wave.

• To use electroencephalography (EEG) technique to read brain waves from the brain creating a BCI.

• To provide an interface for people who have severe movement disorders like Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) or locked in syndromes, cerebral palsy, etc.

• To create a Virtual Keyboard using C# Programming.

Project Implementation Method

This work successfully develops a BCI solution that detects and processes brain signals in real-time. Five sub-blocks can represent the system, and the following is a description of the microarchitecture design. 

EEG Signal Acquisition: The primary data acquisition element of the solution is the NeuroSky MindWave headset. It is an inexpensive, lightweight, portable device with wireless communication, It consists of eight parts, which are a power switch, an ear clip the ear arm, battery area, adjustable headbands sensor, tip sensor, tip sensor arm, and think gear clip. Two sensors are used to operate this device to obtain and filter EEG signals.

Preprocessing: EEG raw signals are very low power signals collected from the user's scalp, amplified, digitized, and transmitted through a Bluetooth model to the personal computer using the NeuroSky MindWave device.

Features of EEG Signals: An EEG signal comprises rhythmic activity and transients. The rhythmic activity is divided into wavebands by frequency while the transient is referring to spontaneous spikes and wave formations that are sharp. These five types at the most critical frequency ranges: delta (2-4Hz), theta (4-8Hz), alpha (8-12Hz), beta (15-30Hz), and gamma (30-80Hz). 

Classification: The Neurosky uses the Think Gear Technology to process and classify the EEG output and consider quantitative approaches to send signals via Bluetooth to the PC. The EEG processing protocols are closed source software. The output data are Raw EEG signal, sense Attention and Mediation is an integer value between 0 and 100, Blink Strength is returning an integer value between 0 and 255. The “eSense Attention” value is used to scan and initialize the virtual keyboard enabling the user proper character choice. The Blink Strength value is used to select characters or enables the cursor to move to the next row of the virtual keyboard. 

Virtual Keyboard Design and Work: The processing development environment (PDE) does process the data. A MindWave Wireless USB adapter receives the packets of data transmitted from the brainwave sensor. The NeuroSky EEG sensor obtains the attention and blink levels. If the attention value exceeds the threshold for a specific time, for example, 1 second, then the keyboard scan is 1 second, so the keyboard scan starts. The attention level is received as a series of inputs, at a 1 Hz frequency, while the NeurSky sensor obtains the unprocessed EEG data at a 512 Hz frequency.

Benefits of the Project

1) The main goal of this project is to replace or restore useful function to people disabled by neuromuscular disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, cerebral palsy, stroke, or spinal cord injury. Working on this idea researchers can make it far better and with the use of brain signals, they can increasingly complex control of cursors, robotic arms, prostheses, wheelchairs, and other devices.

2) Brain-computer interfaces may also prove useful for rehabilitation after stroke and for other disorders. In the future, they might augment the performance of surgeons or other medical professionals. Brain-computer interface technology is the focus of a rapidly growing research and development enterprise that is greatly exciting for scientists, engineers, clinicians, and the public in general.
3) The emerging field of brain-computer interface (BCI) technology may allow individuals unable to speak and/or use their limbs to once again communicate or operate assistive devices for walking and manipulating objects.

4) This project is useful for those people who have severe movement disorders like Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) or Locked-in Syndrome, is a condition where a patient is awake and aware of its surrounding but unable to communicate or perform any action due to paralysis of almost every voluntary muscles in the body (with the exception of eye movements and blinking). The people who are suffering from severe Cerebral Palsy disorder are not able to speak or not understandable enough so they could not communicate and interact with others.

5) This Project helped paralyzed peoples use their thought waves to respond yes or no to spoken questions. People who are paralyzed except for up and down eye movements and blinking are classified as having locked-in syndrome. 
brain-computer interface (BCI), which is non-invasive, could transform the lives of such patients, allowing them to express feelings and opinions to their loved ones and careers.

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

After applying all the implementation methods we will get a scenario in which we have an EEG Neurosky Headset for recognition of Signals generated by the brain. After that with the help of Virtual Keyboard which we will designed user will able to communicate with us.

Final Deliverable of the Project

HW/SW integrated system

Core Industry

IT

Other Industries

Core Technology

NeuroTech

Other Technologies

Sustainable Development Goals

Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Required Resources

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