Brain-computer interface examples are easy to find if you know where to look. Only a few BCI projects make the news, but this fascinating technology is anything but new. Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) have been in various stages of development and use since the 1970s and have advanced rapidly alongside microchips, computers, and artificial intelligence.
As with all developing technology, BCI has become smaller, more affordable, and more accessible. EMOTIV introduced the first wireless electroencephalography (EEG) headset in 2009, and the technology has continued to improve ever since.
As a pioneer in the BCI space, we at EMOTIV have had the honor and pleasure of watching brain-computer interfaces grow from their infancy into projects that make science fiction a reality.
From mobility and independence to fun and games, here are some of our favorite examples of innovative EMOTIV BCI use cases:
Blazing Trails with Endless Joy: Olympic Torch Relay Exoskeleton
Prometheus BCI
Above: Nathalie and her brother joyfully pass the torch to commemorate the opening of the Paralympic Games. (Source: Prometheus BCI)
In 2024, Nathalie Labrégère and Pierre Landerretche used Promethius BCI technology to control exoskeletons during the Olympic Torch Relay. They amazed the world with their demonstrations in Marseille and Versailles, France, respectively.
Labrégère has a cerebral motor disability. She overcame daily obstacles related to mobility and cognition to fulfill her dream of being an Olympic torchbearer. The inspiring feat included an Orthopus exoskeleton arm attached to her Permobil smart wheelchair controlled via Multimodal Cognitive AI Agents™ developed by Inclusive Brains. This AI-powered system allowed Nathalie to control the exoskeleton with her neural signals as captured by an EPOC X EEG headset and facial expressions via a mounted camera to control the robotic arm.
Nathalie’s twin brother, Denis, shared this magic moment with her. He was controlling her wheelchair during the relay. Denis, who has autism and is sensitive to noise and crowds, wore brain-sensing MN8 earbuds. The Prometheus BCI team used these earbuds to monitor his stress levels and provide assistance.
In Versailles, Pierre Landerretche, who has been paralyzed since he was young, showed that with a dream and support from friends, anything is possible. Pierre controlled an Orthopus exoskeleton arm on his Permobil smart wheelchair using an EMOTIV X EEG headset. The young man served as a beacon of inspiration and inclusivity as he completed his leg of the Olympic torch relay, lifting the exoskeleton arm with his brainwaves and passing the flame for the world to see. Learn more
Your Brain on Pink Floyd: Brainstorms
Pollen Music x Gala Wright
Above: The Cloud Gallery was one of Brainstorms’ four rooms at London’s immersive art venue Frameless. (Image Credit: Antonio Pagano)
In June 2024, lucky guests attended an incredible event called "Brainstorms: A Great Gig in the Sky" at the immersive art venue Frameless in London. This event was a unique combination of art, music, neuroscience, and technology, centered around exploring how our minds respond to music. Named after Pink Floyd's iconic track "The Great Gig in the Sky," the event provided a one-of-a-kind experience for art and music enthusiasts. The venue, spanning 30,000 square feet, showcased stunning visuals and invited attendees to immerse themselves in the world of Pink Floyd's music in a whole new way.
Gala Wright, daughter of Pink Floyd's co-founder Richard Wright, expressed her motivation behind bringing this concept to life with Pollen. She highlighted how visually representing brain data provides an accessible and intuitive way to understand the deeply personal yet profoundly shared experience of music. The Brainstorms project also aimed to enhance her father's musical legacy.
“The visual representation of brain data provides an accessible and intuitive way to see how a piece of music can be a deeply personal yet also powerfully shared experience,” said Gala Wright. “Questioning how this is true for my father’s compositions is a key motivation for me bringing this concept to life with Pollen. The added benefit of bringing awareness to his musicality through the Brainstorms project serves to augment his legacy.”
After its success in the UK, "Brainstorms: A Great Gig in the Sky" is set to premiere in the United States.
Brain-powered Boss Fights: One Gamer’s Quest for the Ultimate Controller
Perrikaryal
Above: Perrikaryal uses a custom-coded BCI controller to play Elden Ring. (Credit: Perrikaryal)
Armed with a zany Twitch channel and a Master's degree in psychology, Perrikaryal quickly gained a reputation for creating fun, new, and interesting ways to play video games, like dancing and humming. But it was her BCI game controller using an EPOC X and EmotivBCI that garnered her worldwide acclaim.
Elden Ring is a notoriously difficult video game, but Perrikaryal completed it using only brainwaves, then went on to beat the DLC while she was at it. Perrikaryal is still playing many video games with BCI on her channel. She hopes that by being in the spotlight, she can raise awareness about accessibility in gaming.
Mind Over Mobility: The First BCI Formula 1 Racecar
GloboTV
Rodrigo Hübner Mendes, the creator of Instituto Rodrigo Mendes, is committed to providing quality education for all children with disabilities. EMOTIV collaborated with this inspiring activist to incorporate a brain-computer interface into a Formula 1 race car.
This unique initiative demonstrated that individuals with disabilities can accomplish extraordinary feats. As a result, Mendes, who is quadriplegic, made history by becoming the first person to drive a race car using only his mind. Watch him go!
Eyes (and Brain) on the Road: The World’s First Attention-Powered Car
Royal Automobile Club (RAC)
Above: RAC outfitted a Hyundai i40 to slow down when brainwaves indicated distraction. (Source: RAC)
Every year, more than one million individuals lose their lives in car accidents globally, with the roads in Western Australia's "wheat belt" being particularly dangerous. In response, the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) collaborated with EMOTIV to develop the first-ever "attention-powered car."
By connecting a modified Hyundai i40 to the driver's brain activity through an EMOTIV EPOC X headset, the vehicle would automatically slow down if the driver became distracted. RAC showcased the car on a tour to demonstrate the dangers of inattention while driving and to promote awareness about the importance of driver safety. Learn More
Sound Waves Meet Brainwaves: MindTunes
Smirnoff
Above: MindTunes brought smiles to the faces of disabled musicians as they created music with brainwaves. (Source: Dr. Julien Castet)
The unique Smirnoff Mindtunes project united music fans with disabilities to make a track using only their brain waves. British electronic music producer DJ Fresh and neuroscientist Dr. Julien Castet equipped Andy Walker, Mark Rowland, and Jo Portois with EMOTIV EEG headsets and connected them to music software using brain-computer interfaces.
This inspiring story of creativity against all odds produced a song that truly came from the artists’ minds and hearts. The sale of the Mindtunes track donated proceeds to Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People (QEF). Learn more
Children at Play: BCI Research & Rehabilitation
Above: A girl uses BCI to control a bubble machine. (Source: Imagination Centre)
Children's brains develop as they grow and interact with their world. If children have disabilities that prevent or hinder such interaction, it can negatively affect their social skills, self-esteem, and independence. These amazing children's hospitals use EMOTIV EPOC X to help children with disabilities to interact with the world around them.
Activities may include playing games, painting, controlling a computer cursor, and turning on and off IoT devices. This important work not only provides hope for parents of children with disabilities but teaches patients what it feels like to accomplish a task on their own.
This is one of our favorite BCI project examples.
BCI4Kids, University of Calgary
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital
Glenrose Hospital Imagination Centre
Old Meets New: Making BCI Music with TONTO
AngieC
Pop star AngieC used an EMOTIV EPOC headset to become the first person to control the iconic TONTO synthesizer with her brainwaves. Music created through BCI was used for a special track on her album, Star Seeds.
“I think the real advantage of creating music with a BCI device is that it removes the need to play a physical instrument,” she told EMOTIV. “The brain is a vastly glorious thing, and there are so many places we can travel in our mind. I truly feel that BCI technology will be the key to unlocking new frontiers in music. Both my producer, Trey Mills, and I agreed that we have experienced some of the most magical moments in music thus far by using a BCI headset.”
Enjoy the Ride: ‘Mood Roads’ Puts Emotions in the Driver’s Seat
Acura
Car manufacturer Acura partnered with EMOTIV to create a unique VR experience that generated a virtual road in real-time to match a user’s mental state. Dubbed “Mood Roads,” the innovative activation debuted at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival to bring awareness to its new Sport Hybrid Super Handling All-Wheel Drive™.
Because no two brains are alike, every experience was unique to the person experiencing it. The Mood Roads were planned in advance, similar to designing a rally course or a Hot Wheels layout. Once planned, these roadscapes were flexible to accommodate the different movements based on the user’s EMOTIV EEG output. Interactive vector-mapped contours adjusted hills, curves, and colors based on the user’s current mood and level of participation.
Use the Force: BB-8 Droid Makes Jedi Dreams Come True
Paul Barbaste; IBM Bluemix
Ever since the premiere of Star Wars in 1978, generations of fans have dreamed of using Jedi powers to move objects with their mind. In 2016, then college student Paul Barbaste, a Star Wars fan, made Project JEDI. This student project used brainwaves to control a BB-8 droid with the help of an EMOTIV Insight headset, EmotivBCI software, and IBM Bluemix.
The project garnered national news attention, bringing awareness to the advancements in technology that continue to progress today.
Do you have an amazing BCI project you’d like to share? Tag #EMOTIV on social media or email us at hello@emotiv.com. Your project could be shared with our global community!
The Future of BCI
These BCI project examples and use cases are just the tip of the iceberg for what is possible with this technology. Brain-computer devices, like computers and cell phones, have become more portable and affordable over time. As artificial intelligence becomes more sophisticated, decoding brainwaves and translating them into actions will become even more accessible.
The future of BCI will continue to focus on assisting those with disabilities and degenerative diseases in interacting with their worlds. Smart home products, prosthetic limbs, exoskeletons, and motorized wheelchairs are just a few ways BCI returns a sense of independence to those in need. Non-invasive BCI will be vital for those who cannot afford experimental surgery.
Brain-computer interfaces also promote safety by detecting real-time brain states, such as focus and distraction. Future BCI projects will enable rigorous, personalized safety measures in construction, transportation, factories, surgery, and other areas where complete concentration is required. Brainwaves can also be used as a method of personal biometric security, like a password.
Neurofeedback will advance and become as common in everyday life as tracking our steps and heartbeat. Mental wellness will become better understood and solutions more effectively implemented for the treatment of stress, depression, PTSD, and learning disabilities, and allow people to take charge of their own wellbeing.
Artistic expression is an often-overlooked use case for BCI that is becoming more prevalent. Musicians, artists, and performers are tapping into their brain waves as another instrument to create inspiring works. Gaming and leisure activities will be enhanced using brain-computer interfaces to interact with video games, drones, and other electronic devices.
Most importantly, BCI is teaching us how the human brain synchronizes with the people around us. This revelation will inform better experiences, and more effective learning, encourage healthier work environments, and even inform architectural design.
The future of BCI is bright, and it's in your hands. Want to start your own DIY EEG brain computer interface project? Get started here.
You might also enjoy:
- EmotivBCI
- How to Build a BCI Project with EMOTIV EEG Headsets
- How Handi’Arcade Makes BCI Game Controllers with Insight
