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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Os avanços nas Interfaces Cérebro-máquina, resultantes dos avanços no tratamento de sinal e
da inteligência artificial, estão a permitir-nos aceder à atividade cerebral, descodificá-la, e usála
para comandar dispositivos, sejam eles braços artificiais ou computadores. Isto é muito mais
importante quando os utilizadores são pessoas que perderam a capacidade de comunicar,
embora mantenham as suas capacidades cognitivas intactas. O caso mais extremo desta
situação é o das pessoas afetadas pela Síndrome de Encarceramento.
Este trabalho pretende contribuir para a melhoria da qualidade de vida das pessoas afetadas
por esta síndrome, disponibilizando-lhes um meio de comunicação adaptado às suas
limitações. É essencialmente um estudo de usabilidade aplicada a um tipo de utilizador
extremamente diminuído na sua capacidade de interação.
Nesta investigação começamos por compreender a Síndrome de Encarceramento e as
limitações e capacidades das pessoas afetadas por ela. Abordamos a neuroplasticidade, o que
é, e em que medida é importante para a utilização das Interfaces Cérebro-máquina.
Analisamos o funcionamento destas interfaces, e os fundamentos científicos que o suportam.
Finalmente, com todo este conhecimento em mãos, investigamos e desenvolvemos métodos
que nos permitissem otimizar as limitadas capacidades do utilizador na sua interação com o
sistema, minimizando o esforço e maximizando o desempenho. Foi para o efeito desenhado e
implementado um protótipo que nos permitisse validar as soluções encontradas.
Advances in Brain-machine Interfaces, resulting from advances in signal processing and artificial intelligence, are allowing us access brain activity, decode it, and use it to control devices, be they artificial arms or computers. This is very important when users are people who have lost the ability to communicate, though maintained their cognitive abilities intact. The most extreme case of this is the one of people affected by Locked-in Syndrome. This work aims to contribute to improving the quality of life of people affected by this syndrome, providing them with a communication medium adapted to their limited capabilities. It is essentially a usability study applied to a type of user extremely reduced in its ability to interact. In this study we started by understanding the Locked-in Syndrome and the limitations and capabilities of the people affected by it. We approached neuroplasticity, what is it, and in what manner is it important to the use of Brain-machine Interfaces. We analyze the operation of this interfaces, and scientific foundations that support it. Finally, with all this knowledge in hand, we investigated and developed methods that allowed us to optimize the limited capabilities of the user in his interaction with the system, minimizing effort and maximizing performance. For the purpose, it was designed and implemented a prototype that allowed us to validate the solutions found.
Advances in Brain-machine Interfaces, resulting from advances in signal processing and artificial intelligence, are allowing us access brain activity, decode it, and use it to control devices, be they artificial arms or computers. This is very important when users are people who have lost the ability to communicate, though maintained their cognitive abilities intact. The most extreme case of this is the one of people affected by Locked-in Syndrome. This work aims to contribute to improving the quality of life of people affected by this syndrome, providing them with a communication medium adapted to their limited capabilities. It is essentially a usability study applied to a type of user extremely reduced in its ability to interact. In this study we started by understanding the Locked-in Syndrome and the limitations and capabilities of the people affected by it. We approached neuroplasticity, what is it, and in what manner is it important to the use of Brain-machine Interfaces. We analyze the operation of this interfaces, and scientific foundations that support it. Finally, with all this knowledge in hand, we investigated and developed methods that allowed us to optimize the limited capabilities of the user in his interaction with the system, minimizing effort and maximizing performance. For the purpose, it was designed and implemented a prototype that allowed us to validate the solutions found.
Description
Keywords
Síndrome de Encarceramento Neuroplasticidade Interfaces Cérebromáquina Interfaces Cérebro-computador Escrita preditiva Locked-in syndrome Neuroplasticity Brain-machine interfaces Brain-computer interfaces Predictive text
Citation
Publisher
Instituto Politécnico do Porto. Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto