Masters Degrees (Computer Science and Informatics)

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Browsing Masters Degrees (Computer Science and Informatics) by Subject "Brain-computer interfaces"

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    Assessing a brain-computer interface by evoking the auditory cortex through binaural beat
    (University of the Free State, 2013-01) Potgieter, Louwrens; De Wet, Lizette; Schall, Robert
    English: Why can some people study, read books, and work while listening to music or with noise in the background while other people simply cannot? This was the question that prompted this research study. The aim of this project was to assess the impact of binaural beats on participants during the performance of a task. The participants were exposed to different binaural beats that changed the dominant brainwaves while they were engaging in the task. A braincomputer interface was used to monitor the performance of the task in which a Lego Mindstorm robot was controlled as it moved through a course. To accomplish the aim of the project, the effects of binaural tones on participants’ task performance were investigated in relation to participants’ levels of frustration, excitement, engagement, meditation and performance. Participants were monitored by means of using an Emotiv EPOC neuroheadset. Although previous studies on binaural beats have been done, most of these studies were done on Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) children, with users performing everyday tasks. In these studies, time was the only metric used. The researcher collected data by means of questionnaires that were completed by the participants to obtain personal information and measure the user experience. The aspects of frustration, excitement, engagement, meditation and performance were determined using the Emotiv headset in combination with the Emotiv software development kit, Microsoft Robotics Studio and software created by the researcher. After intensive statistical analysis, the researcher found that different sound frequencies did indeed affect user performance. Sessions where no sound frequency was applied were associated with more errors and longer time durations compared with all other frequencies. It can be concluded that invoking a participant’s dominant brainwave by means of binaural tones can change his/her state of mind. This in turn can affect the long-term excitement, short-term excitement, engagement, meditation, frustration or performance of a participant while performing a task. Much remains to be learned, in particular regarding the combination of brain-computer interfaces and human-computer interaction. The possibility of new cutting-edge technologies that could provide a platform for further in-depth research is an exciting prospect.
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    ItemOpen Access
    Assessing a brain-computer interface by evoking the auditory cortex through binaural beats
    (University of the Free State, 2014-07-22) Potgieter, Louwrens; De Wet, Lizette; Schall, Robert
    English: Why can some people study, read books, and work while listening to music or with noise in the background while other people simply cannot? This was the question that prompted this research study. The aim of this project was to assess the impact of binaural beats on participants during the performance of a task. The participants were exposed to different binaural beats that changed the dominant brainwaves while they were engaging in the task. A braincomputer interface was used to monitor the performance of the task in which a Lego Mindstorm robot was controlled as it moved through a course. To accomplish the aim of the project, the effects of binaural tones on participants’ task performance were investigated in relation to participants’ levels of frustration, excitement, engagement, meditation and performance. Participants were monitored by means of using an Emotiv EPOC neuroheadset. Although previous studies on binaural beats have been done, most of these studies were done on Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) children, with users performing everyday tasks. In these studies, time was the only metric used. The researcher collected data by means of questionnaires that were completed by the participants to obtain personal information and measure the user experience. The aspects of frustration, excitement, engagement, meditation and performance were determined using the Emotiv headset in combination with the Emotiv software development kit, Microsoft Robotics Studio and software created by the researcher. After intensive statistical analysis, the researcher found that different sound frequencies did indeed affect user performance. Sessions where no sound frequency was applied were associated with more errors and longer time durations compared with all other frequencies. It can be concluded that invoking a participant’s dominant brainwave by means of binaural tones can change his/her state of mind. This in turn can affect the long-term excitement, short-term excitement, engagement, meditation, frustration or performance of a participant while performing a task. Much remains to be learned, in particular regarding the combination of brain-computer interfaces and human-computer interaction. The possibility of new cutting-edge technologies that could provide a platform for further in-depth research is an exciting prospect.
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    Assessing the use of a Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) in mathematics education: the case of a cognitive game
    (University of the Free State, 2015) Verkijika, Silas Formunyuy; De Wet, Lizette
    English: South Africa currently faces a huge shortage of mathematics skills, a problem commonly referred to as the “math crisis”. Researchers in South Africa have attributed the growing “math crisis” to the lack of cognitive functions among learners. However, existing solutions to address the problem have overlooked the role of cognitive functions in improving mathematics aptitude. Moreover, even though cognitive functions have been widely established to have a significant influence on mathematics performance, there is surprisingly little research on how to enhance cognitive functions (Witt, 2011). Consequently, this study had as primary objective to explore the impact of a BCI-based mathematics educational game as a tool for facilitating the development of cognitive function that enhance mathematics skills in children. The choice of a BCI-based solution for enhancing cognitive functions stems from recent neuroscience literature that highlights the potential of BCIs as tools for enhancing cognitive functions. Existing neuroscience, psychological and mathematical education research have established a number of cognitive functions (working memory, inhibitory control, math anxiety, and number sense) that affect mathematics education. This study combined these existing paradigms with the BCI device to provide a technological solution for enhancing the basic cognitive functions that foster mathematics learning. Following these assertions, a BCI-based mathematics educational game was developed taking into account the target population (children from the ages from 9-16) and the important role of digital educational games in improving education (in this case mathematics education in particular). Using a within-subjects short-term longitudinal research design, this study established that a BCI-based mathematics educational game could be used to significantly enhance four basic cognitive functions (working memory, inhibitory control, math anxiety, and number sense). These four cognitive functions have been widely acknowledged as significant fundamental aspects of mathematics education. As such, adopting such a technological solution in South African schools can go a long way to address the current “math crises” by enabling educators and learners to address the issue of low cognitive functions. This study culminated with practical recommendations on how to address the “math crisis” in South Africa.
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    Comparing brain-computer interfaces across varying technology access levels
    (University of the Free State, 2014) Dollman, Gavin John; De Wet, L.; Beelders, T. R.
    English: A brain-computer interface (BCI) is a device that uses neurophysiological signals measured from the brain to activate external machinery. BCIs have traditionally been used to enhance the standard of living for severely disabled patients. This has resulted in a shortage of data on how BCIs perform with able-bodied individuals. There has recently (2012) been a trend towards BCI research involving able users but these studies are still too few to make a substantial impact. Additionally, traditional input methods are being replaced or supplemented by alternative natural modes of interaction and these natural interactions have become known as NUIs. To investigate the suitability of a BCI as a NUI, this study used the Emotiv headset to provide direct measurement of a participant’s performance while performing tasks similar to wheelchair manipulation in order to determine whether a participant’s access to traditional input methods influences their performance. Thus, the main aim of this study was to investigate the usability of an Emotiv for robot navigation. Additionally, the study aimed to discover whether a user’s performance differed when using a keyboard compared to the Emotiv as well as investigating whether there was improvement of performance in the short term for a user through repetitive use of the Emotiv. In order to compare the usability of the Emotiv to a keyboard the participants were placed into groups based on their exposure to traditional input methods. This was verified based on their individual expertise rating, which was a measure of frequency and length of use. The test instrument used consisted of a written program that navigated a pair of Mindstorm NXT robots across a custom designed test course. Data was collected via usability testing which measured learnability, efficiency and effectiveness. Efficiency was measured as the time taken to complete a task while effectiveness was a measure of the errors made by a participant when completing a task. Results indicated that there was no significant difference between the groups’ efficiency and effectiveness when using the Emotiv to complete a task. Thus, a user’s previous experience with a traditional input method does not influence a user’s performance with an Emotiv when navigating a robot. This result indicates that the interface is intuitive to use and, therefore the Emotiv could be suitable as a NUI. The results for the usability metrics efficiency and effectiveness indicated that there was a significant difference between the performances with the Emotiv and a keyboard. The results show that, with the Emotiv, participants took more time to complete a task and made more errors when compared to a keyboard. This discrepancy was attributed to cognitive theory as it is believed that the participants violated their preformed schema which affected their performance. However, the participants quickly became comfortable with the Emotiv which supports the evidence that the interface is intuitive to use. For neither the usability metrics efficiency nor effectiveness was a significant improvement detected with repetitive use of the Emotiv. Thus, repetitive use of the Emotiv to navigate a robot does not improve a user’s performance over a short period of time. These results indicate that in terms of efficiency and effectiveness the keyboard is the superior interface. The results also revealed that a participant’s performance is not affected by their exposure to traditional input methods when utilising a BCI. Thus, the Emotiv is intuitive to use and appears suitable for use as a NUI. This study proved that the Emotiv is an intuitive interface and can be used with little to no previous experience.