Internet of Things and Data Analytics Handbook

6THE BRAIN–COMPUTER INTERFACE IN THE INTERNET OF THINGS

JIM MCKEETH

Embarcadero Technologies, Austin, TX, USA

6.1 INTRODUCTION

We all have a brain, and we keep it with us at all times, but how connected is our brain? We typically connect our brain through our conscious perceptions, senses, and physical interactions: we see, hear, touch, talk, gesture, and so on, but a new generation of technologies is opening the path to connect our brains directly, bypassing our usual input and output mechanics. What is this technology, how does it work, what does it do, and where is it headed?

Neuroscience is a complex field, and this chapter only offers to serve as an overview and an introduction to a wide variety of topics within neuroscience and how they pertain to the Internet of Things (IoT), specifically connecting our brains. The hope is your eyes will be open to technology and achievements you were not aware of, and you will be inspired to research these topics more on your own.

6.1.1 What Is BCI

The Brain–Computer Interface (BCI) is a technology that allows a direct interface between the brain and the computer. This interface bypasses our usual input and output mechanics of senses, voice, gestures, and so on. This allows for greater understanding of how our brain works and has the possibility to unlock greater efficiency in communication and cognition.

BCI is advanced to the point where it is practical, and there are consumer devices available. Let’s take a look at the science ...