Skip to main content

Scientists develop brainwave-scanning smart home system that’s controlled with thoughts

brain control smart home honda us dp6v0936 speaker
Eda Akman Aydin at Gazi University in Turkey wants to make it easier for people with movement disabilities to get around their home and has a novel idea. Her team is combining EEG (brainwave scanning) technology with current smart home products to create a thought-controlled home, reports New Scientist. It sounds like a script from a science fiction movie, but the technology to build a prototype thought control system is here, and researchers like Akman Aydin are working to develop it.

Akman Aydin’s system uses an EEG cap that can detect a specific brain pattern, known as P300, that appears when a person intends to do something. The cap works in conjunction with a display that shows pictures of items, such as a TV or phone, which a person might want to use. When the person sees the image they want, the brain will send out a P300 wave that is detected by the EEG cap. This signal then can trigger the smart home appliance and be used to turn on the TV, prepare the phone to dial, and more.

Related Videos

Five volunteers tested the system, which had 49 different commands. It took up to five flashes of an image for the system to detect the P300 wave and choose the correct image, but when it did choose, the system was correct 95 percent of the time. For two volunteers, the system chose the correct image 100 percent of the time. All volunteers were able to control a phone, light, TV and heater. “They could choose a film and change the volume,” Akman Aydin said.

EEG is only one method of interfacing the brain with smart home appliances. Takeshi Ogawa at the Advanced Telecommunication Research Institute in Kyoto, Japan is working on a system that uses functional near-infrared spectroscopy to detect changes in the blood of the brain. In this system, volunteers were required to raise their arm to select an action, and the system would detect a change in the blood oxygen levels in response to the movement. Though accurate 80 percent of the time, the system was fairly slow, with a 17-second delay between the movement and a response by the smart home appliance.

Both Akman Aydin’s and Ogawa’s method are still in the early stages of development, but they both portend a future where your brain is seamlessly connected to almost everything in your house. Privacy advocates may shudder at the thought of such a system, but those with movement disabilities have a lot to be excited about.

Editors' Recommendations

How to choose a robot vacuum
Roborock S4 Max cleaning a carpet.

A robot vacuum is a great way to automate your chores and keep your home free of dust, debris, and other allergens. Whether you’re shopping for a budget-friendly model with the basics or a premium gadget that can atomatically empty its dustbin after each cleaning, there’s bound to be something that catches your eye. Here are a few things to consider when shopping for a new robot vacuum, such as available features, the best available brands, price points, and more.

Once you’re done checking out this list, be sure to read through our roundup of the best robot vacuums.
Features to consider in a robot vacuum
Sensory sophistication and virtual mapping
Most modern robot vacuums use sensor technology to navigate around a room, but some models are more advanced than others. Basic robots have infrared sensors to stop them from bumping into things and changing direction when they collide with something, whereas more sophisticated models will map out a room using laser-guided scanners or a combination of cameras and sensors. These high-tech robots also sometimes have "dirt sensors" to be sure they have cleaned properly, and can add additional cleaning passes to dirty or high-traffic areas.

Read more
New Ikea air quality sensor arrives just in time for spring
The Ikea air quality sensor on a stack of books.

Ikea might be best-known as the place to buy affordable furniture, but the company also has a surprisingly robust lineup of smart home products. The newest addition to the Ikea smart home family is the Vindstyrka smart indoor air quality sensor -- a tiny device that measures particulate matter (PM2.5) -- and it's slated to arrive this April.

The upcoming Vindstyrka air quality sensor features a minimalist, rectangular design that offers nothing more than a few buttons and a simple display highlighting PM2.5 levels, temperature, humidity, and total volatile organic compounds (TVOC). The sensor is built to work all on its own, although you’ll get more mileage out of the device by pairing it to the Ikea smartphone app. Doing this will allow you to activate other devices based on the current air quality, including Ikea's own Starkvind air purifier.

Read more
Sonos One vs. HomePod mini: which smart speaker is best?
The Sonos One smart speaker on a countertop.

When it comes to smart speakers, the Sonos One and HomePod mini are two of the best. Offering impeccable sound, great smart home connectivity, and sleek designs, few products can match the style and performance of these two behemoths. But which one is right for your home?

While it’s impossible to go wrong with either, there are a few key differences between the two smart speakers that might make one a better fit for your home. Here’s a closer look at the Sonos One and HomePod mini to help you decide which is best.
Pricing and availability

Read more