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Nov 4, 2015 | By Benedict

Ever wondered what it would be like to read someone’s mind? Whilst even the best scientists can’t provide a complete picture of your thoughts, certain forms of biosensing technology exist which allow users to measure brain data through electrical signals, which can then be decoded in various ways. OpenBCI (brain-computer interface) has launched a Kickstarter campaign for a low-cost, high-performance biosensing kit, comprised of an Arduino-compatible board and 3D printable headset. The company has set a target $80,000, with the campaign running until December 19th.

OpenBCI is a Brooklyn-based startup, consisting of Joel Murphy, a technology-loving art professor at the Parsons School of Design, New York, and Conor Russomanno, a graduate student of Murphy’s. Following an earlier successful Kickstarter campaign back in 2013, the duo have returned to the crowdfunding site to help bring their latest model into production.

“OpenBCI is an open-source platform of hardware and software tools that makes it possible to measure, analyze, and utilize the human body’s electrical signals,” the duo explain on their latest Kickstarter page. “The OpenBCI system can measure brain data (EEG), muscle data (EMG), heart activity (ECG), and more.”

After the massive success of the prior campaign, which raised over $200,000, Murphy and Russomanno hope that the current project can see them achieve a number of goals. These goals include making the OpenBCI platform more cost-effective; getting it into classrooms, to spark students’ interest in neuro-engineering at an early age; enabling new forms of research; ensuring the transparency of neoroscience and biosensing; providing research-quality biosensing tools to biohackers, and bringing further members into the OpenBCI community.

The OpenBCI biosensing kit is made up of two key components: the OpenBCI Ganglion biosensing device, and the 3D printable Ultracortex Mark IV headset.

The Ganglion features four high-impedance differential inputs, a driven ground (DRL), a positive voltage supply (Vdd), and a negative voltage supply (Vss). Its inputs can be used to measure EMG or ECG, or connected to a reference electrode to measure EEG. Its Simblee microcontroller provides user programmable flash, 29 GPIO pins, and wireless software updates (OTA). The Ganglion will be pre-programmed with firmware for immediate use.

The 3D printable Ultracortex Mark IV headset will be OpenBCI’s sixth headset model. Whilst that model is still being designed, the Mark III is available to buy or to download and 3D print. The electrode holders of both models can be adjusted so the headset fits heads of any size. OpenBCI claims that the Ultracortex can be installed and used quickly and easily—after putting the headset on, users can obtain up to 16 channels of EEG data in less than 30 seconds. The team plans for the Mark IV to have a higher node count than its predecessors, as well as greater comfort, simplified assembly, and secured electrode cabling for reduced noise and a cleaner appearance.

Feel like getting your hands on a 3D printed mind-reading device? Of course you do. OpenBCI has offered a range of incentives to backers of their campaign. For a limited time only, an $80 pledge will secure backers a Ganglion board without the headset; a $325 pledge gets the Ganglion and a print-it-yourself Ultracortex Mark IV at the early bird price, whilst a $425 pledge is enough for the Ganglion and a 3D printed, unassembled Ultracortex Mark IV. For the fully assembled headset, backers need to stump up $650. The startup can ship their products anywhere in the world. The Ganglion alone can be delivered in December 2015, with the Ultracortex Mark IV headset expecting to be shipped in July 2016.

 

 

Posted in 3D Printing Application

 

 

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