In the laboratory of Tianjin University, the experimenter uses "thoughts" to "type remotely"
In a laboratory at Tianjin University, black squares flashed frequently on a screen covered with characters and symbols. A boy, wearing a black electroencephalogram cap covered with sensitive electrodes, stared at the screen and input characters into the designated area through "thought" and "air typing" without using his hands.
Outside the laboratory, the speed competition of "typing in the air" has been staged in the arena. In August 2019, Wei Siwen, a graduate student in the Neuroengineering and Rehabilitation Laboratory of the School of Precision Instruments and Optoelectronics Engineering of Tianjin University, won the championship in the "BCI Brain Control Robot Competition and the 3rd China Brain-Computer Interface Competition" at the 2019 World Robot Conference with a brain-controlled typing decoding speed of 691 bits per minute.
The average person types on a touch-screen phone at about 600 bits per minute. Without using his hands or a keyboard, Wei Siwen decoded and output 69 Chinese characters per minute with his "mind," which is faster than the average person typing on a touch-screen phone.
“Mind” typing utilizes brain-computer interface (BCI) technology.
Brain-computer interface technology is known as the "information superhighway" for communication between the human brain and the outside world. It is a new technology that establishes information output pathways between the human brain and computers or other electronic devices that do not rely on conventional brain pathways.
"Our brain's thoughts are usually expressed through peripheral neural tissue or muscle tissue," said Xu Minpeng, associate professor at the Institute of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine of Tianjin University. "Brain-computer interface technology bypasses this normal pathway and establishes a direct connection between the brain and the computer."
At present, brain-computer interface technology has been widely used in medical rehabilitation, military, aerospace and other fields. With the development of technology, brain-computer interaction will be the highest form of human-computer communication interaction in the future.
There are still technical bottlenecks
Experts said that brain-computer interface technology will go through three stages of development: brain-computer interface, brain-computer interaction and brain-computer fusion. "Currently, brain-computer interface technology is transitioning from the first stage to the second stage," the expert said. There are still four technical bottlenecks: low sensor accuracy, poor integrated computing efficiency, weak encoding and decoding capabilities, and lack of mutual adaptation means.
In the face of these problems, experts from Tianjin University said that breakthroughs must be achieved in basic principles and key technologies, system integration and major applications.
Specifically, we need to promote theoretical innovation and technological breakthroughs in key technical links such as brain-computer sensing, brain-computer encoding and decoding, and brain-computer adaptation.
"To develop more stable and portable detection electrodes and more accurate sensing methods, we also need to develop deeper, more comprehensive and more accurate brain-reading technologies," said an expert from Tianjin University.
He added that there is a need to increase investment in the research and development of specialized computing chips for brain-computer interfaces to achieve a highly integrated, portable, and simplified brain-computer interface system.
Wear safety "protective clothing"
In the future, brain-computer interface technology will evolve from the current one-way brain-computer interface to two-way brain-computer "interaction", and ultimately achieve complete intelligent "fusion" of brain and computer.
On this basis, more advanced human-machine hybrid intelligent technology will be developed, and a new human-machine intelligent network consisting of interactive connections between human brains and intelligent machines will be established.
"This will completely change the existing relationship between humans and intelligent machines and create an unprecedented new life for humans in the intelligent era," said an expert from Tianjin University.
However, with the deep interaction between brain and computer, some concerns about the development of technology are slowly emerging.
Will “invasive” brain-computer interface technology cause brain damage due to implanted electrodes?
During “brain control”, will the brain be damaged due to errors in information import or output?
For "non-invasive" brain-computer interface technology, does the disorderly management and rampant use of brain wave information collection involve infringement of personal privacy?
"The use of brain-computer interface technology should first follow the principle of informed consent," experts advise, "The use of this technology must be beneficial to people and must not cause harm to others or society."
In addition, the principle of autonomy must be followed during use.
Taking the application of brain-computer technology in treatment as an example, the patient's autonomy should be respected in any treatment process, and it is up to the patient to decide whether to receive treatment, what treatment measures to take, and when to terminate treatment.
"The content and time of 'brain reading' should be clearly defined, and 'brain reading' must be for the purpose of treatment." An expert from Tianjin University told reporters.
"Brain control" is a therapeutic measure taken to restore brain function and stimulate brain development. "Brain control is only allowed for clear clinical purposes, and the treatment time, content and methods must be strictly limited," the expert added.
Source:
Xinhua News Agency
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