Electroencephalogram interface system, electroencephalogram interface apparatus, method, and computer program

An electroencephalogram interface apparatus for use in an electroencephalogram interface system for presenting on a screen an option which is related to an operation of a device, and controlling an operation of the device by utilizing an eye movement and an electroencephalogram signal of the user, wherein,

• the electroencephalogram interface system includes an electroencephalogram measurement section for measuring an electroencephalogram signal of the user, and an eye movement measurement section for measuring an eye movement of the user,
• the electroencephalogram interface apparatus comprising:
• a highlight determination section for determining whether a predetermined time has elapsed or not since a point in time when a rotational angular velocity of the eye movement received from the eye movement measurement section becomes equal to or less than a prestored threshold value, and if the predetermined time has elapsed, identifying a region of the screen in which the user is fixing his or her gaze based on the eye movement, and determining an option to be highlighted;
• an interface section for highlighting the option determined by the highlight determination section, distinguishing a component of an event-related potential contained in the electroencephalogram signal received from the electroencephalogram measurement section based on the timing of highlighting the option as a starting point, and determining an operation of the device based on the distinguished component;
• and
• a timing adjustment section for adjusting a timing of beginning highlighting, based on the eye movement after a process of displaying the option on the screen is begun and until the option is displayed on the screen.

A method for use in an electroencephalogram interface system for controlling an operation of a device by utilizing an electroencephalogram signal of a user, comprising the steps of:

• measuring an electroencephalogram signal of the user;
• measuring an eye movement of the user;
• presenting on a screen an option which is related to an operation of a device;
• determining whether a predetermined time has elapsed or not since a point in time when a rotational angular velocity of the eye movement becomes equal to or less than a prestored threshold value;
• if the predetermined time has elapsed, identifying a region of the screen in which the user is fixing his or her gaze based on the eye movement, and determining an option to be highlighted;
• highlighting the determined option, and distinguishing a component of an event-related potential contained in the electroencephalogram signal based on the timing of highlighting the option as a starting point;
• determining an operation of the device based on the distinguished component;
• and
• adjusting a timing of beginning highlighting based on the eye movement after a process of displaying the option on the screen is begun and until the option is displayed on the screen.

A computer program stored on a computer-readable medium and executed by an electroencephalogram interface apparatus,

• the electroencephalogram interface apparatus being incorporated in an electroencephalogram interface system for controlling an operation of a device by utilizing an electroencephalogram signal of a user,
• the electroencephalogram interface system including
• an electroencephalogram measurement section for measuring an electroencephalogram signal of the user,
• an eye movement measurement section for measuring an eye movement of the user, and
• an output section for presenting on a screen an option which is related to an operation of a device, wherein
• the computer program causes a computer of the electroencephalogram interface apparatus to execute the steps of:
• determining whether a predetermined time has elapsed or not since a point in time when a rotational angular velocity of the eye movement measured by the eye movement measurement section becomes equal to or less than a prestored threshold value;
• if the predetermined time has elapsed, identifying a region of the screen in which the user is fixing his or her gaze based on the eye movement, and determining an option to be highlighted;
• highlighting the determined option, and distinguishing a component of an event-related potential contained in the electroencephalogram signal based on the timing of highlighting the option as a starting point;
• determining an operation of the device based on the distinguished component;
• and
• adjusting a timing of beginning highlighting based on the eye movement after a process of displaying the option on the screen is begun and until the option is displayed on the screen.