Microsoft patents electronic brain interface system (10/21/2007)

In February 2007, Microsoft Corporation filed a patent titled "Using electroencephalograph signals for task classification and activity recognition", which in its abstract claims to allow a computer to model and classifying brain states. You can read the full patent filing on the US Patent Office site.

The goal for Microsoft was to create a better computer user-interface, to replace computer input devices such as keyboards and mice. Though the interface appears to be one way (user -> computer), this achievement has several application beyond normal computing needs.

The system is actually a learning based system that is designed to teach a user how to think in order to best control the computer. Similar to learning how to type on a keyboard, or to speak to a voice recognition system, the user must learn along with the computer on how best to interface with eachother.

This system claims to use only two pairs of sensors to determine the difference between two or more brain states. It was developed by analyzing a user's brain states before, during and after a user performs a task using the new interface. The "time windows" are then stitched together to form an overall view and then the time.

Using the terminology "time window" is an apparent attempt to emphasize the fact that no two brains operate at the same speed and that in fact an individual brain can operate at differing speeds depending on what type of activity its performing.

Though the patent didn't offer many specific examples of uses for the system, it did described controlling a mouse, moving 3-d objects, and math calculations. Moving 3-d objects is quite interesting as if it can be developed further, could be used to drive cars, fly airplanes or operate robotic devices.

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