Wearable brain-computer interface technology and its application

Abstract

Wearable Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) signify a critical evolution in human-machine communication, driven by the convergence of neuroscience, engineering, and information technology. With applications that span across industrial, medical, and recreational domains, BCIs hold potential to redefine our interaction with the technological landscape. This manuscript elucidates this transformative juncture, bifurcating into passive and active BCIs. In passive BCIs, innovations leveraging Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) are delineated, progress has been demonstrated in the classification of passively induced emotional signals, highlighting the emergence of hands-free control systems like quadcopter control and industrial inspections. The discourse on active BCIs unveils advancements such as real-time handwriting and speech decoding, driver drowsiness detection, and emotion recognition, aided by machine learning techniques. Despite groundbreaking progress, challenges in algorithm optimization, adaptability, multimodal signal complexity, and ethics persist. Future directions emphasize the potential of deep learning and multimode input signals collaboration. The manuscript underscores the societal implications, particularly in rehabilitation, communication, and entertainment. The review, therefore, serves as both an appraisal and a roadmap for the burgeoning field of wearable BCIs, underlining its role as a pathway to enhance human capabilities and quality of life.