Abstract
In this chapter we discuss Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) as navigation devices from a Human Factors point of view. We argue that navigation is more than only steering a car or a wheelchair. It involves three levels: planning, steering and control, linked to cognition, perception and sensation, respectively. We structure the existing BCIs along those three levels. Most existing BCIs focus on the steering level of navigation. This is a remarkable observation from a Human Factors perspective because steering requires a very specific subclass of control devices that have a high bandwidth and a very low latency like joysticks or steering wheels; requirements that can not be met with current BCIs. We recommend exploring the potential of BCIs for the planning level, e.g. to select a route, and for the control level, e.g. based on possible collision-related potentials.
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Acknowledgements
The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of the BrainGain Smart Mix Programme of the Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Netherlands Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. This research has been supported by the GATE project, funded by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) and the Netherlands ICT Research and Innovation Authority (ICT Regie).
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Thurlings, M.E., van Erp, J.B.F., Brouwer, AM., Werkhoven, P.J. (2010). EEG-Based Navigation from a Human Factors Perspective. In: Tan, D., Nijholt, A. (eds) Brain-Computer Interfaces. Human-Computer Interaction Series. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84996-272-8_5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84996-272-8_5
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