Constructing Ambient Intelligence

Abstract

Abstract. This paper is aimed to introduce IDIAP Brain Computer Interface (IBCI) research that successfully applied Ambience Intelligence (AmI) principles in designing intelligent brain-machine interactions. We proceed through IBCI applications describing how machines can decode and react to the human mental commands, cognitive and emotive states. We show how effective human-machine interaction for brain computer interfacing (BCI) can be achieved through, 1) asynchronous and spontaneous BCI, 2) shared control between the human and machine, 3) online learning and 4) the use of cognitive state recognition. Identifying common principles in BCI research and ambiance intelligence (AmI) research, we discuss IBCI applications. With the current studies on recognition of human cognitive states, we argue for the possibility of designing empathic environments or devices that have a better human like understanding directly from brain signals. MotivationBrain Computer Interfacing (BCI) or Brain Machine Interfacing (BMI) refers to interaction with devices, where user's intentions represented as several brain states are deciphered and translated into actions without requiring any physical action [44] [25] [21]. There is a growing interest in the use of brain signals for communicating and operating devices, which is facilitated by the advances in the the measurement technologies in the past decades. As BCI bypasses the classical neuromuscular communication channels, this technology is intended to use for rehabilitation of tetraplegic or paraplegic patients to improve their communication, mobility and independence. The BCI research also opens up new possibilities in natural interaction for able-bodied people (e.g., for space applications, where environment is inherently hostile and dangerous for astronauts, who could greatly benefit from direct mental teleoperation of external semi-automatic manipulators [26], and for entertainment applications like multimedia gaming [20]). Typical applications of BCI are communication aids such as spelling devices [5] [31] [25] and mobility aids such as wheelchair [41]. In the current paper, we Gangadhar.Garipelli@idiap.ch