Mobile device giant Samsung is working with the University of Texas-Dallas to make the use of items such as cellphones and tablets, feasible for those who suffer from a range of disabilities with the help of mind-control technology, according to HotHardware.com.
The technology begins with the use of EEG-monitoring electrodes. The device user will wear a skull cap equipped with electrodes, allowing the whole unit to pick up signals from the brain. Researchers at the university have identified patterns of brain activity that reveal themselves when an individual sees reoccurring visual patterns. They have used the patterns to trigger reactions from a mobile device.
The primary Samsung device being used is the Samsung Galaxy 10.1. The tablet is being combined with the EEG technology to prompt simple tasks such as opening a app, selecting contacts, or even picking a song from the music library.
As the research progress, the team has already achieved the ability to open and use an app just by focusing on a flashing icon, according to the MIT Technology Review. Researchers say test subjects can already accomplish tasks on average in about five seconds and reach an accuracy of approximately 80 to 95 percent. Samsung’s head researcher on the study is Insoo Kim.
“Several years ago, a small keypad was the only input modality to control the phone, but nowadays the user can use voice, touch, gesture, and eye movement to control and interact with mobile devices,” Kim said in an interview with Technology Review. “Adding more input modalities will provide us with more convenient and richer ways of interacting with mobile devices.”
The research and technology are far from being completed. Many modifications, tests and studies must be done before the technology can be made readily available to those with disabilities and impairments who need it.
