title: Improving correct switching rates in a 'hands-free' environmental control system.
abstract: One potential negative impact on the quality of life of a spinal cord injured person is the loss of the ability to control devices in their immediate environment. Consequently, research and development has been conducted on technology designed to restore some measure of independence by providing means of control over these devices. A previous assistive device using changes in brain signals from eye closure as its switching system was created. Brain signals were processed using spectral analysis and although this was a successful technique, there were limitations that resulted in higher than desired switching errors. This paper presents results of an alternative method for processing brain signals as the basis for switching, called fractal dimension. In comparison to the spectral technique, the fractal dimension technique was successful in reducing the number of false positive and false negative errors. Additionally, it eliminated the need for a baseline setup for this system. This suggests that fractal dimension is a potentially viable method for analysing brain signals for use in assistive control systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of Technology, Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia. Ashley.Craig@uts.edu.au
authors.forename: Ashley
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.forename: Ranjit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thuraisingham
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003143:Communication Devices for People with Disabilities; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D017709:Fractals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated / Q000379:methods*; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D014584:User-Computer Interface