A brain computer interface approach to smart space

• Main Authors: Yu-Chun Huang, 黃郁鈞
• Other Authors: Yu-Tung Liu
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2006
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/54519951960890187271

碩士 === 國立交通大學 === 建築研究所 === 94 === The more digital technologies develop the more researchers are paying attention to the new research field of “Smart Homes”. The goal of Smart Homes is to provide and more economical dwellings for humans. Le Cobusier envisioned a house as a machine for living. To enable a space to take the initiative in perceiving the demands of the user and to respond with appropriate feedback under diverse conditions, many sensors for communicating with the user via gestures, cameras and cellular phones are installed throughout the house. There are many ongoing developments in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). For example, users can direct their own smart home functions from a handheld device. The user defines the sensor measures (criteria) that should be taken into account when performing a specific action; the action then responds to user specified criteria, making the applications more flexible and tailored. To interact with the environment more naturally, “The Smart Floor System” has been developed. This floor system identifies users from the rhythm and pattern of their footsteps used in their everyday living and working environments. As for context-awareness, human have to act intentionally in case the action could be detected by the sensors. However, developers of some of the general sensors are not satisfied with only assisting handicapped people. They are now developing a Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) system. It is not necessary to use an action, keyboard, or mouse to interact with the space; brainwaves are used that provide natural and intuitive interactions. In order to achieve symbiosis and harmony between the users and the space, we communicate with the space using computers assisted by BCI. This gives a more friendly and human touch to a space. And as research develops we will be able to communicate with a space even more naturally. The problem of this research is how can people communicate with the space where they live more naturally, and how can the space respond to people within its confines more naturally? This research proposes, therefore, a smart space that enables the user to work in an energized way via the BCI system. When the space “perceives” that someone is getting sleepy by monitoring the user’s brainwaves, it will take appropriate action such as providing specific background music or adjusting the lighting and temperature in the room as subliminal reminders to the user to stay alert and productive.