Virtual object manipulation with a brain-computer interface: Comparing vertical and lateral command results using the Emotiv EPOC
Keskinen, Matti (2023)
2023
Master's Programme in Human-Technology Interaction
Informaatioteknologian ja viestinnän tiedekunta - Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2023-06-12
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202306076576
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202306076576
Tiivistelmä
As brain-computer interfaces (BCI) have become more common in the last two decades, the change has raised questions about the usability and best practices for this relatively new modality of human-computer interaction. When giving simple two-directional commands with a BCI device, lateral axis commands using a BCI offer a potentially more intuitive and reliable way of interacting compared to vertical axis commands. However, there are only a few BCI studies that offer less insight into specific and practical interaction commands and focus more on evaluating the device itself.
The aim of my thesis is to explore the use of a commercial BCI device to compare two basic-level command axes for virtual object manipulation. This was done to determine whether one would perform significantly better than the other. For this purpose, an experimental test was con-ducted: the test included two rounds consisting of a calibration stage and a mental command success test for both the lateral and vertical axis, followed by a questionnaire, in which participants answered questions about their experiences with the test and the BCI device.
The results were collected using Emotiv EPOC, a commercial BCI headset, and analyzed with a paired samples t-test using the calculated means of the amounts of all participant’s suc-cessful commands. Results showed that the horizontal axis commands were significantly more successful compared to vertical ones (paired samples t-test (t(22) = 2.446; p = 0.023; Two-sided)). Problems related to the use of the BCI device led some users to struggle with moving the virtual object or not being able to achieve a successful command. Removing device problems and gain-ing insight into best practices for BCI are vital for future research and application development. Questionnaire results showed that participants perceived the test as neutral or slightly mentally demanding (mean = 3.47; standard deviation = 0.874) and that the subjects perceived using the device as neutral to slightly pleasant (mean = 3,41; standard deviation = 1,278), both on a scale of 1-5.
The aim of my thesis is to explore the use of a commercial BCI device to compare two basic-level command axes for virtual object manipulation. This was done to determine whether one would perform significantly better than the other. For this purpose, an experimental test was con-ducted: the test included two rounds consisting of a calibration stage and a mental command success test for both the lateral and vertical axis, followed by a questionnaire, in which participants answered questions about their experiences with the test and the BCI device.
The results were collected using Emotiv EPOC, a commercial BCI headset, and analyzed with a paired samples t-test using the calculated means of the amounts of all participant’s suc-cessful commands. Results showed that the horizontal axis commands were significantly more successful compared to vertical ones (paired samples t-test (t(22) = 2.446; p = 0.023; Two-sided)). Problems related to the use of the BCI device led some users to struggle with moving the virtual object or not being able to achieve a successful command. Removing device problems and gain-ing insight into best practices for BCI are vital for future research and application development. Questionnaire results showed that participants perceived the test as neutral or slightly mentally demanding (mean = 3.47; standard deviation = 0.874) and that the subjects perceived using the device as neutral to slightly pleasant (mean = 3,41; standard deviation = 1,278), both on a scale of 1-5.