GLENROSE HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | 21 A brain-computer interface, or BCI, is a technology that allows a person to control a device using brain signals instead of muscle movement. Whenever we think, imagine a movement, or focus our attention, our brain produces tiny electrical signals. Using comfortable non- invasive sensors placed on the scalp, similar to a swim cap, a BCI detects these signals and translates them into commands, such as moving a wheelchair, playing a video game, or selecting an option on a computer screen. Despite how it may sound, a BCI does not read a person’s thoughts. Instead, it recognizes specific patterns of brain activity that have been trained for a particular task, allowing people to interact with their environment in new ways. WHAT ARE BRAIN- COMPUTER INTERFACES? That understanding has shaped the direction of his research. “Instead of asking, ‘How can we build the smartest BCI?’ I’m asking, ‘How can we build the right BCI for each child?’” Over the past two years, Rouhani has built a multidisciplinary team of engineers, robotics specialists, computer scientists, and hardware developers. But he says some of the most important members of the team aren’t researchers at all. Families, clinicians, and therapists play a critical role in shaping the research. “Sometimes a small improvement in comfort or ease of use can have a much greater impact than a more sophisticated algorithm,” he shares. “It’s reinforced our belief that the people using the technology should help shape its design from the very beginning.” One area of focus is the development of smart power wheelchairs that combine BCIs with autonomous navigation. Rather than requiring a child to communicate every small movement, the goal is for them to simply communicate their intention, like where they want to go, while the wheelchair safely handles the rest. Here, the assistive technology isn’t just working beside the child; it’s becoming an extension of their body.
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