Visual Flow-based Programming Plugin for Brain Computer Interface in Computer-Aided Design

TL;DR

This paper introduces Neuron, a novel BCI tool that enables designers to access neurological data, create interaction prototypes, and evaluate designs in computer-aided design, expanding BCI applications beyond traditional uses.

Contribution

The paper presents a new BCI plugin that simplifies neurological data access and design evaluation for non-experts in neuroscience or programming.

Findings

Successfully created BCI interaction prototypes with digital and physical objects

Demonstrated the tool's capability through two case studies

Provided initial evaluation and discussion of limitations and future improvements

Abstract

Over the last half century, the main application of Brain Computer Interfaces, BCIs has been controlling wheelchairs and neural prostheses or generating text or commands for people with restricted mobility. There has been very limited attention in the field to applications for computer aided design, despite the potential of BCIs to provide a new form of environmental interaction. In this paper we introduce the development and application of Neuron, a novel BCI tool that enables designers with little experience in neuroscience or computer programming to gain access to neurological data, along with established metrics relevant to design, create BCI interaction prototypes, both with digital onscreen objects and physical devices, and evaluate designs based on neurological information and record measurements for further analysis. After discussing the BCI tool development, the article presents its capabilities through two case studies, along with a brief evaluation of the tool performance and a discussion of implications, limitations, and future improvement.