Toward the development of a BCI and gestural interface to support individuals with physical disabilities

Abstract

In this paper, we describe a first step towards the development of a solution to support the movement and repositioning of an individual's limbs. Limb repositioning is particularly valuable for individuals with physical disabilities who are either bed or chair-bound, to help reduce the occurrence of contractures and pressure ulcers. A data gathering study has been performed examining attitudes towards using BCI and gestural devices to control a robotic aid to assist with the repositioning process. Findings from a preliminary study evaluating a controller interface prototype suggest that while BCI and gestural technologies may play a valuable role in limiting fatigue from interacting with a mouse or other input device, challenges are faced accurately identifying specific facial expressions (e.g. blinks). Future work would aim to refine algorithms to detect gestures, with a view to augmenting the experience when using a BCI and gestural device to control a robotic aid.