Interacting with the environment through non-invasive brain-computer interfaces

The brain computer interface (BCI) technology allows a direct connection between brain and computer without any muscular activity required, and thus it offers a unique opportunity to enhance and/or to restore communication and actions into external word in people with severe motor disability. Here, we present the framework of the current research progresses regarding non-invasive EEG-based BCI applications specifically devoted to interact with the environment. Despite of the technological advancement, the operability of a BCI device in an out-laboratory setting (i.e. real-life condition) still remains far from being settled. The BCI control is indeed, characterized by unusual properties, when compared to more traditional inputs (long delays, noise with varying structure, long-term drifts, event-related noise, and stress effects). Current approaches to this are constituted by post hoc processing the BCI signal in order to better conform to traditional control. A long-term approach is to devise novel interaction modalities. In this regard, BCI can offer an unusual and compelling testing ground for new interaction ideas in the Human Computer Interaction field. © 2009 Springer Berlin Heidelberg.