BrainShare

Abstract

Locked-in syndrome (LIS) patients are partially or entirely paralyzed but fully conscious. Those patients report a high quality of life and desire to remain active in their society and families. We propose a system for enhancing social interactions of LIS patients with their families and friends with the goal of improving their overall quality of life. Our system comprises a Brain-Computer Interface (BCI), augmented-reality glasses, and a screen that shares the view of a caretaker with the patient. This setting targets both patients and caretakers: (1) it allows the patient to experience the outside world through the eyes of the caretaker and (2) it creates a way of active communication between patient and caretaker to convey needs and advice. To validate our approach, we showcased our prototype and conducted interviews that demonstrate the potential benefit for affected patients.