Neural Impulse Actuator
Encyclopedia
The Neural Impulse Actuator (NIA) is a brain–computer interface (BCI) device developed by OCZ Technology
. BCI devices attempt to move away from the classic input devices like keyboard and mouse and instead read electrical activity from the head, preferably the EEG
. The name Neural Impulse Actuator implies that the signals originate from some neuronal activity, however, what is actually captured is a mixture of muscle, skin and nerve activity including sympathetic and parasympathetic components that have to be summarized as biopotentials rather than pure neural signals. As of May 27, 2011, the OCZ website says that the NIA is no longer being manufactured and has been end-of-lifed. http://www.ocztechnology.com/nia-game-controller-eol.html
into different frequency spectra to allow the separation into different groups of electrical signals. Individual signals that are isolated comprise alpha and beta brain waves, electromyograms and electro oculograms
.
The current version of the NIA uses carbon-fibers injected into soft plastic as substrate for the headband and for the sensors and achieves sensitivity much greater than the original silver chloride-based sensors using a clip-on interface to the wire harness.
to 32 and 64-bit versions of Microsoft Windows
(XP
and Vista
).
No specifications have been published. People who are trying to make use of the device on Unix-like platforms, or create their own software for it for other reasons, say it may be a HID device providing raw data from its sensors to the software. There is no support for Linux.
The 3rd-party input remapping applications GlovePIE and PPJoy accept input from the nia according to GlovePIE.org forums.
OCZ Technology
OCZ Technology is a manufacturer of computer hardware based in San Jose, California, USA. Since entering the memory market in 2002, OCZ has targeted its products primarily at the computer hardware enthusiast market, first producing performance DDR RAM, Video Cards, USB drives, and various Cooling...
. BCI devices attempt to move away from the classic input devices like keyboard and mouse and instead read electrical activity from the head, preferably the EEG
Electroencephalography
Electroencephalography is the recording of electrical activity along the scalp. EEG measures voltage fluctuations resulting from ionic current flows within the neurons of the brain...
. The name Neural Impulse Actuator implies that the signals originate from some neuronal activity, however, what is actually captured is a mixture of muscle, skin and nerve activity including sympathetic and parasympathetic components that have to be summarized as biopotentials rather than pure neural signals. As of May 27, 2011, the OCZ website says that the NIA is no longer being manufactured and has been end-of-lifed. http://www.ocztechnology.com/nia-game-controller-eol.html
Name
The name Neural Impulse Actuator is still justifiable since also the secondary signals are under neuronal control. The biopotentials are decompiledFast Fourier transform
A fast Fourier transform is an efficient algorithm to compute the discrete Fourier transform and its inverse. "The FFT has been called the most important numerical algorithm of our lifetime ." There are many distinct FFT algorithms involving a wide range of mathematics, from simple...
into different frequency spectra to allow the separation into different groups of electrical signals. Individual signals that are isolated comprise alpha and beta brain waves, electromyograms and electro oculograms
Electrooculography
Electrooculography is a technique for measuring the resting potential of the retina. The resulting signal is called the electrooculogram. The main applications are in ophthalmological diagnosis and in recording eye movements...
.
The current version of the NIA uses carbon-fibers injected into soft plastic as substrate for the headband and for the sensors and achieves sensitivity much greater than the original silver chloride-based sensors using a clip-on interface to the wire harness.
Short keys system
Control over the computer in either desktop or gaming environments is done by binding keys to different zones within as many as three vertical joysticks. Each joystick can be divided into several zones based on thresholds and each zone within each joystick can be bound to a keyboard key. Each key stroke can further be assigned to several modes, including single keystroke, hold, repeat and dwell which allows full plasticity with respect to configuration of the NIA for any application. Moreover, the same "vertical joysticks" can be used in more than one instance to enable simultaneous pressing of multiple keys at any given time like "W" and "Spacebar" for jumping forward or toggling between left and right strafing for running in a zigzag pattern.Software support
The only software available officially is proprietaryProprietary software
Proprietary software is computer software licensed under exclusive legal right of the copyright holder. The licensee is given the right to use the software under certain conditions, while restricted from other uses, such as modification, further distribution, or reverse engineering.Complementary...
to 32 and 64-bit versions of Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
(XP
Windows XP
Windows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base...
and Vista
Windows Vista
Windows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs...
).
No specifications have been published. People who are trying to make use of the device on Unix-like platforms, or create their own software for it for other reasons, say it may be a HID device providing raw data from its sensors to the software. There is no support for Linux.
The 3rd-party input remapping applications GlovePIE and PPJoy accept input from the nia according to GlovePIE.org forums.
See also
- Comparison of consumer brain-computer interface devicesComparison of Consumer Brain-Computer Interface Devices-Open-source projects:The project offers individuals a way to build their own EEG device. The OpenEEG project estimates that building your own EEG costs $200 and takes a few weekends...
- Emotiv EPOC
- MindsetNeuroSkyNeuroSky, Inc. is a manufacturer of Brain-Computer Interface technologies for consumer product applications. It was founded in 2004 and is a Silicon Valley based company. The company claims that their mission is to make BCI technology available to any industry...
External links
- Help for using the NIA
- OCZ Mind Controlled Gamer Mouse Nears Production
- OCZ preps neural headband controller for release Brain-body actuated system Brain-body actuated system
- http://www.anandtech.com/tradeshows/showdoc.aspx?i=3252&p=2
- http://www.ocztechnology.com/aboutocz/press/2008/273 – OCZ Press release
- http://www.tcmagazine.com/comments.php?shownews=18456
- http://www.techpowerup.com/54897/Price_of_OCZ_Neural_Impulse_Actuator_Confirmed_$159.html
- Complete Review of NIA, including the practice it requires.
- Complete Review including its development.