AUTHOR=Käthner Ivo , Halder Sebastian , Hintermüller Christoph , Espinosa Arnau , Guger Christoph , Miralles Felip , Vargiu Eloisa , Dauwalder Stefan , Rafael-Palou Xavier , Solà Marc , Daly Jean M. , Armstrong Elaine , Martin Suzanne , Kübler Andrea TITLE=A Multifunctional Brain-Computer Interface Intended for Home Use: An Evaluation with Healthy Participants and Potential End Users with Dry and Gel-Based Electrodes JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neuroscience VOLUME=11 YEAR=2017 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2017.00286 DOI=10.3389/fnins.2017.00286 ISSN=1662-453X ABSTRACT=
Current brain-computer interface (BCIs) software is often tailored to the needs of scientists and technicians and therefore complex to allow for versatile use. To facilitate home use of BCIs a multifunctional P300 BCI with a graphical user interface intended for non-expert set-up and control was designed and implemented. The system includes applications for spelling, web access, entertainment, artistic expression and environmental control. In addition to new software, it also includes new hardware for the recording of electroencephalogram (EEG) signals. The EEG system consists of a small and wireless amplifier attached to a cap that can be equipped with gel-based or dry contact electrodes. The system was systematically evaluated with a healthy sample, and targeted end users of BCI technology, i.e., people with a varying degree of motor impairment tested the BCI in a series of individual case studies. Usability was assessed in terms of effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction. Feedback of users was gathered with structured questionnaires. Two groups of healthy participants completed an experimental protocol with the gel-based and the dry contact electrodes (