The Cyberlink (trademark) Interface: Development of a Hands-Free Continuous/Discrete Multi-Channel Computer Input Device

The Cyberlink is an alternative controller that employs electromyographic, electrooculographic and electroenceptialo- graphic signals measured at the operator's forehead. The Phase I SBIR developed a pre-production prototype and demonstrated that operators are able to use it for continuous (point) and discrete (click) computer control with promising efficiency and accuracy. The Phase II effort transitions this technology to a mature system that is available commercially. A dry electrode/headband system was developed for signal acquisition. A low noise bioamplifier and micro-controller performs signal conditioning and initial processing. Windows 3.1 and 95 drivers were developed to permit the Cyberlink to interface with third-party software. A suite of calibration, training and adjustment utilities also operate under Windows. The final evaluation compared the Cyberlink and a standard mouse in a two-axis target acquisition task that employed a Fitts' Law paradigm. Both mouse and Cyberlink performance could be modeled with Fitts' Law, although the mouse was about four times faster. This is an encouraging result, given the subjects much greater experience with a mouse. The Cyberlink is currently being employed as an assertive and therapeutic technology. Its rapid discrete input capability is being explored for several Air Force applications that would benefit from hands-free control.