PhD Study : Context aware Brain Computer Interfaces to enhance User Experience

Summary

The Brain Computer Interface (BCI) offers interaction and communication using thought processes without the need for explicit physical manipulation, potentially giving rise to a powerful assistive technology. Within the BCI research community there have been significant technical advancements in terms of the signal processing, electrodes, and applications. However, a truly robust BCI is still elusive and techniques used need to be matched and tailored to the user. However, there are many factors that can quickly render the tailored system to be less than optimal. Zander and Jatzev (2012) highlight the differences in environment between the laboratory, clinical and home setting for BCI use and point to a context aware system as a possible solution to the transient and temporal operating conditions.

They categorise 3 layers of abstraction of the states within a BCI system:

1. the status that is external and easy to observe. 2. relates to factors within the human brain including covert cognitive state. BCI feature space. This PhD will investigate how each of these states may influence the BCI: 1.Passive BCI components / affective components / performance: How the user is feeling, or how long they have been using the BCI.

2.External factors such as environmental variants can also impact performance. Connecting in with smart devices to report measures of environment or the context of a task.

3.Through understanding the environment through sensing, attain better BCI control of smart devices, e.g. using proximity and BCI command to actuate a device. In general, robustness and fitness for purpose degrades over time. With online adaptation on-going parameters extracted from the EEG and the session is used to provide updates to the classifier.

Such systems may be able to respond to some transient and temporal conditions within the EEG. A great effort is involved in choosing the optimum parameters for BCI systems and yet this calibration may quickly become outdated due external and physical factors. The ability to continually update the BCI parameters and indeed perform some level of remote monitoring of the system’s performance provides a greater opportunity for offsite technical support, a necessity for widespread home use.

The objective of this PhD is to determine and use factors, complementary input modalities (hybrid BCI) and smart devices to help in the continual re-adjustment of the BCI system (as a whole) to best meet the tasks, needs and characteristics of the user.

Allison, B.Z. (2011). Future BNCI: A Roadmap for Future Directions in Brain / Neuronal Computer Interaction Research. [Online] http://future-bnci.org/images/stories/Future_BNCI_Roadmap.pdf  [Accessed: September 2012].

Spüler, M., Rosenstiel, W., & Bogdan, M. (2012a). Online adaptation of a c-VEP brain-computer interface (BCI) based on error-related potentials and unsupervised learning. PloS one, 7(12), e51077.

Zander, T.O., Kothe, C., Jatzev, S. & Gaertner, M. (2010). Enhancing Human-Computer Interaction with input from active and passive Brain-Computer Interfaces. In: Tan, D.S. and Nijholt, A. (eds.) Brain-Computer Interfaces, 181—199. Springer, London

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

Funding and eligibility

The University offers the following levels of support:

Vice Chancellors Research Studentship (VCRS)

The following scholarship options are available to applicants worldwide:

• Full Award: (full-time tuition fees + £19,000 (tbc))
• Part Award: (full-time tuition fees + £9,500)
• Fees Only Award: (full-time tuition fees)

These scholarships will cover full-time PhD tuition fees for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance) and will provide a £900 per annum research training support grant (RTSG) to help support the PhD researcher.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Please note: you will automatically be entered into the competition for the Full Award, unless you state otherwise in your application.

Department for the Economy (DFE)

The scholarship will cover tuition fees at the Home rate and a maintenance allowance of £19,000 (tbc) per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).

This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.

• Candidates with pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, who also satisfy a three year residency requirement in the UK prior to the start of the course for which a Studentship is held MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance.
• Republic of Ireland (ROI) nationals who satisfy three years’ residency in the UK prior to the start of the course MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance (ROI nationals don’t need to have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to qualify).
• Other non-ROI EU applicants are ‘International’ are not eligible for this source of funding.
• Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies. Further information on cost of living