August 6, 2019
A new programme called Brain Driver aims to enable people with
mobility impairments to play video games easily. Users can make their moves
by simply focusing on their hands. If the trials succeed, Brain Driver could
revolutionise the way disabled people play video games.
There are some really interesting computer games available in the market
today. Who wouldn’t love to try out Star Wars, Mortal
Kombat or Apex Legends? But few of them are accessible to
people with disabilities.
There are new technologies that are changing this. They are enabling disabled
people to enjoy the video games first-hand. Now there’s a new programme
called Brain Driver in the picture which lets users steer
cars just thinking about their hand movements.
The user’s brain signals are transmitted to a computer via
electrodes that are placed on their head. This helps them to
steer the car to whichever directions they would love to. All that they need
to do is think about which hand they want to use and the direction that they
intend to move. The car will move straight if the user thinks about both
their hands together. Want to slow down your vehicle? Just calm your mind.
Krishnakumar PS, a disability rights activist from Kerala,
has limited mobility due to muscular dystrophy. He plans to track the
progress of this programme’s trials, currently underway in Switzerland,
closely.
Until a few years back, I had some movement in my hands and I used to be an
ardent fan of video games during that time. I was literally an addict. Even
now, I install games and play them with the help of my friends. This new
‘Brain Driver’ is going to be helpful for many people like me. I hope
this concept is introduced in the market soon so that I can get back to
gaming. There are many people like me who wants to play video games but are
unable to do so. – Krishnakumar PS, Disability rights
activist
To get the most out of it, the gamer has to concentrate fully. Brain Driver
will be featured at the Cybathlon Championships 2020, an
event that showcases technological devices for people with disabilities. Four
people are taking part in the trials and so far it has received good reviews.
Robin Tommy, who works with Tata Consultancy
Services, is part of a team that recently developed two devices –
Virtual Rehabilitation (VHAB) and Assisto device
for people with neuromuscular disabilities. He says his team is also woking
on something similar to ‘Brain Driver’.
“A device like ‘Brain Driver’ is not merely about getting signals from
the brain. The technology used in this is next level. Things like this can be
a driving factor to find many new things”, say Tommy.
After the success of this project, researchers hope that this will pave way
to developing technology to help disabled people to control their wheelchairs
and other devices.
ALSO READ: Assisto & VHAB will dramatically change how people with
neuromuscular disabilities communicate
