Mobile Brain-Computer Interface for the Cloud-Computing of Neurophysiological Responses

Abstract

Thanks to the development of mobile technology and real-time capable algorithms, traditional BCIs coexist with new mobile-BCI-based applications nowadays. The aim of this thesis was to research and develop mobile-BCI-based applications and to apply them to field-research studies. First, hardware and software requirements for mobile-BCI-based applications have been analyzed. In particular, the limitations of current wireless and low-cost EEG acquisition systems have been reviewed. In addition, the use of signal processing algorithms (artifact removal, feature extraction and classification) in mobile BCIs has been investigated. These requirements have been used to develop a portable, wireless, low-cost hardware/software system for real-time acquisition and processing of biosignals (i.e., RABio w8). The developed system improves the existing commercial systems in terms of cost, configurability, portability and usability, being a reliable and useful instrument for the research community and, in the future, for the general public. The next stage has been to develop several functional and ubiquitous out-of-lab applications based on mobile BCI and on cloud-computing. In particular, for the detection and training of attention, for the assessment and detection of stress level, for the generation of secure passwords through EEG signals and for the diagnosis of visual-system-related pathologies through visual evoked potentials. In most cases the RABio w8 system was used. These applications have demonstrated a considerable potential, with the option of having a relevant impact on society. Finally, all the above has been applied to field-research studies related to physiological, cognitive and affective computing. Specifically, in studies related to attention, stress, EEG-based password generation and visual evoked potentials, among others. Valuable scientific results have been obtained from the field-research studies, thus proving the usefulness of the developed technology, and giving rise to a considerable number of publications in international journals with impact factor and congresses. In conclusion, the results of this thesis could generate a relevant impact on the research community and, potentially, on various areas of society including work and military defense, education, mental health, sports and e-sports, art and communications.