Web-based startup is to launch their global brain for private testing in June
Posted by: ringo-ring on: 20/03/2011
- In: Projects
- 5 Comments
A startup company called ledface is working on their new web service that will turn each registered user into a node within collectively intelligent network. After acquiring the membership, users can start asking their questions and collective intelligence is supposed to answer them.
As I understood from their website, it works like this:
Collective Consciousness : implications for Immortality and Spiritual Freedom
Posted by: ringo-ring on: 23/02/2011
- In: Interviews | Projects
- 2 Comments
A few weeks ago I’ve been interviewed for H+ Magazine on my project of re-engineering human consciousness with new technologies such as brain-machine interfaces, and I attach the most interesting points from the interview here. Shortly about the project: to develop such brain-machine interface that will enable us to actually feel what is going on inside the machine, and even become aware of what is going on inside the minds of other connected people. It turns out, however, that there is much more usefulness into this project than just the potential to spy into others’ minds (don’t take me wrong – it can actually help us understand each other better!) – there is also potential for increase in our lifespan up to the immortality, and for increase in our level of spiritual freedom. If you’re interested how – read points #06 and #07. There is also discussion of the most relevant research that will provide a decent base for implementing the project – #02 and #08, and lot of other interesting stuff 
Some notes on Contec KT88 EEG amplifier
Posted by: ringo-ring on: 23/01/2011
- In: Projects | Software
- 7 Comments
I’ve just posted that old program to read data from KT88-1016 amplifier here:
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/conteckt88/files/
- look for file named eegRead.zip
It’s written in C++ and should complie without problems with Borland C++ Builder 6.0 – which can be downloaded from torrent.
Also, I threw there a OpenViBe driver sketch - kt88-1016-openvibe.zip – to use Contec KT88 with OpenViBe BCI software. Disclaimer: It has only basic functionality and some features like configuration still has to be done.
“Mind implants” or how to expand consciousness using new technologies
Posted by: ringo-ring on: 14/06/2010
- In: Projects
- 4 Comments
Slides for the talk I gave at Humanity+ Summit 2010 “Brain-Computer Interfacing, Consciousness, and the Global Brain: Towards the Technological Enlightenment”
Comments for the slides below
Consciousness in mixed systems: merging artificial and biological minds via Brain-Machine Interface
Posted by: ringo-ring on: 25/04/2010
- In: Projects
- 6 Comments
Here the poster I presented at the Toward a Science of Consciousness 2010 conference. I propose a new approach for building sensory prostheses. Neuroprostheses that are developed today evoke sensory experiences by stimulating the brain. Brain produces visual, tactile or auditory experiences in response to stimulation. In proposed model, experiences are not generated by brain – they are produced by electronic device that is capable of conscious experiences – “qualia” – by itself. The conscious experiences of this device and biological brain are then merged through special kind of brain-machine interface.
Motor prostheses and intelligence augmentation are mentioned too 
Poster abstract:
The rapidly developing field of Brain-Machine Interface (BMI) technology seeks to establish a direct communication-and-control channel between human brain and machines. Practical applications for BMI include restoration of lost vision and motor functions, and even extending normal human capabilities. But unfortunately current BMI systems are far too poor to achieve even a level of performance that is comparable to what humans are normally capable of, let alone improving it. And this situation holds on for quite a while. The possible solution for coming out is to move research focus to those aspects of brain-machine interaction that usually do not receive much attention.
Toward a science of consciousness 2010 conference proceedings!
Posted by: ringo-ring on: 22/04/2010
I was one of those happy participants of TSC 2010 that took place in Tucson, Arizona past week. It is the biggest event dedicated to consciousness this year, with diverse participants and their approaches ranging from meditation and philosophy to neurobiology and quantum physics.
Some updates…
Posted by: ringo-ring on: 22/04/2010
The last few months were too overwhelmed with events, projects and laziness… But now I’m back to blogging
Regarding KT88-1016, I think I’ll have to abandon this project for an undefined time! Got a BCI-related job here, and anyway, everyone is going for Emotiv now. And I became disappointed now in capabilities of EEG-based BCIs – invasive approach definitely offers more!
Brain-computer interfaces, hypnosis, Mind Machines, synchrony, migraine and publicity of science
Posted by: ringo-ring on: 28/08/2009
Francois Vialatte is a researcher at Brain Science Institute RIKEN. He works on deciphering brain signals for creating better Brain-Computer interfaces and tools that can diagnose Alzheimer’s at early stages. Learn more about his research.
On this interview BCI researcher Francois Vialatte answers some unpleasant questions surrounding BCI research, such as does BCI really has its future? Also we discuss current problems with publicity of science, potential hypnotic effects of BCI and possibility of entering altered state of mind while playing BCI games.
Identify person by unique brain activity
Posted by: ringo-ring on: 16/08/2009
“Brain-wave signatures, represented as the EEG signals of a person … are different from one individual to another, even when they perform the same thought or task”, “A brain-based biometric can be as strong as DNA-based biometric”
Brain of each human being is completely unique. Its structure is highly influenced not only by our DNA but also by everything we experience in our life. You can find people even with the same DNA – but life history is something that cannot be duplicated.
So brain activity is unique biometric every person has. And such biometrics are used in access control systems when security is needed. Simply, you can use your biometric as a password to gain access to resources protected from everyone except you. And brain activity has a lot of advantages over other biometrics traditionally used in access control systems (such as fingerprints). Here are the most important ones:
- Brain activity is secure. In case of fingerprints, for example, we leave biometric in every place we touch with our hands, so everyone who needs to attack the system can collect & replicate it. Brain, in contrary, is safely hidden inside a skull.
- Brain activity is changeable. You cannot influence other biometrics – your iris pattern, DNA, heart beats, fingerprints – are determined by nature and there is no easy way to modify them. If system based on these biometrics is compromised once, it is compromised forever. Brain activity, conversely, can be easily changed just by simple thought.
DIY EEG Devices or Cheap EEG – 2
Posted by: ringo-ring on: 10/07/2009
- In: hardware
- 6 Comments
As blog’s stats shows a lot of us today are dreaming of a cheap EEG device – most traffic is coming from Google searches “cheap eeg”, “cheapest eeg hardware” and the like =) From cheap EEG devices available, cheapest are those you build yourself. Currently there are various DIY EEG hardware designs & building instructions available on the Internet. Here is a short survey on what we have.
Downloadable EEG data
Posted by: ringo-ring on: 08/07/2009
- In: Downloads
- 9 Comments
I was hunting for such databases for a while while preparing my project. Here is what I collected.
Writing your own soft for a really cheap EEG hardware
Posted by: ringo-ring on: 15/06/2009
- In: Projects | Software
- 91 Comments
(A signal shown here was taken while twisting electrodes in hands. This is not EEG =)
As a geek I’ve always dreamed of a day when my computer will really become extension of my mind – all boundaries like the need to use mouse, keyboard and other awkward interfaces to explain my idea to machine will be gone. When mind will fuse with technology, and obtain all if its computing power, logic accuracy, incredible amounts of memory… and many other good things we could only dream of.
Fortunately, advances in technology in last years show we’re quickly moving in this direction. If you watch news you know today it’s possible to control machines using only your mind. It’s done by using brain-computer interfaces.
Surely it’s more interesting to try brain-computer interfacing yourself then just to watch it in news. But here comes the roadblock: you need special hardware – an EEG device – to make the connection, and it’s not cheap. When I googled for EEG hardware, I found unfortunately prices start from 3000$ and go up to tens of thousands of bucks 
((
About Me
Alexandra ElbakyanI’m looking for freelance offers
I specialize in web programming (php, jQuery) and will eagerly take part in your ambitious projects!
Brain-Computer Interfaces group at TheNeuroNetwork
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