Melody M. Moore

Direct control of a computer from the human central nervous system

We describe an invasive alternative to externally applied brain-computer interface (BCI) devices. This system requires implantation of a special electrode into the outer layers of the human neocortex. The recorded signals are transmitted to a nearby receiver and processed to drive a cursor on a computer monitor in front of the patient. Our present patient has learned to control the cursor for the production of synthetic speech and typing.

Brain-computer interfaces

Brain-computer interfaces , Brain-computer interfaces , کتابخانه مرکزی دانشگاه علوم پزشکی تهران

Real-world applications for brain-computer interface technology

The mission of the Georgia State University BrainLab is to create and adapt methods of human-computer interaction that will allow brain-computer interface (BCI) technologies to effectively control real-world applications. Most of the existing BCI applications were designed largely for training and demonstration purposes. Our goal is to research ways of transitioning BCI control skills learned in training to real-world scenarios. Our research explores some of the problems and challenges of combining BCI outputs with human-computer interface paradigms in order to achieve optimal interaction. We utilize a variety of application domains to compare and validate BCI interactions, including communication, environmental control, neural prosthetics, and creative expression. The goal of this research is to improve quality of life for those with severe disabilities.

Using human extra-cortical local field potentials to control a switch

Individuals with profound paralysis and mutism require a communication channel. Traditional assistive technology devices eventually fail, especially in the case of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) subjects who gradually become totally locked-in. A direct brain-to-computer interface that provides switch functions can provide a direct communication channel to the external world. Electroencephalographic (EEG) signals recorded from scalp electrodes are significantly degraded due to skull and scalp attenuation and ambient noise. The present system using conductive skull screws allows more reliable access to cortical local field potentials (LFPs) without entering the brain itself. We describe an almost locked-in human subject with ALS who activated a switch using online time domain detection techniques. Frequency domain analysis of his LFP activity demonstrates this to be an alternative method of detecting switch activation intentions. With this brain communicator system it is reasonable to expect that locked-in, but cognitively intact, humans will always be able to communicate.

Web accessibility for low bandwidth input

One of the first, most common, and most useful applications that todays computer users access is the World Wide Web (web). One population of users for whom the web is especially important is those with motor disabilities, because it may enable them to do things that they might not otherwise be able to do: shopping; getting an education; running a business. This is particularly important for low bandwidth users: users with such limited motor and speech that they can only produce one or two signals when communicating with a computer. We present requirements for low bandwidth web accessibility, and two tools that address these requirements. The first is a modified web browser, the second a proxy that modifies HTML. Both work without requiring web page authors to modify their pages.

Migrating legacy user interfaces to the Internet: shifting dialogue initiative

A critical problem in many businesses today is in reengineering legacy information systems to operate on the Internet. Migrating a sequentially structured program to the Internet requires restructuring it to be event-driven to accommodate a new Web-based user interface. The Model Oriented Reengineering Process for Human-Computer Interface (MORPH) technique and toolset were developed to automatically reengineer legacy character-oriented applications to graphical user interfaces. This paper explores the restructuring issues inherent in migrating legacy applications to the Internet, and how the MORPH technique assists in automating this process.

A galvanic skin response interface for people with severe motor disabilities

Biometric input devices can provide assistive technology access to people who have little or no motor control. We explore a biometric control interface based on the Galvanic Skin Response, to determine its effectiveness as a non-muscular channel of input. This paper presents data from several online studies of a locked-in subject using a Galvanic Skin Response system for communication and control. We present issues with GSR control, and approaches that may improve accuracy and information transfer rate.

MORALE. Mission ORiented Architectural Legacy Evolution

Software evolution is the most costly and time-consuming software development activity, yet software engineering research is predominantly concerned with initial development. MORALE is a development method specifically designed for evolving software. It features an inquiry-based approach to eliciting change requirements, a reverse engineering technique for extracting architectural information from existing code, an approach to impact assessment that determines the extent to which the existing systems architectural components can be reused in the evolved version, a reflective approach to actually perform the evolution, and a specific technique for dealing with the difficulties that arise when evolving user interfaces. MORALE is described in the context of making a specific change to an existing system: adding user-configurable viewers to Version 2.4 of the Mosaic Web browser. Issues that arise are discussed, and the Esprit de Corps tool-suite is described

Learning by Doing: Goals & Experience of Two Software Engineering Project Courses

In this paper, we describe two laboratory software engineering class series that are intended to teach the students ‘reflection-in-action.’ We offer the labs at undergraduate and graduate levels, and we present our experience and results from eight project quarters.

Rule-based detection for reverse engineering user interfaces

Reengineering the user interface can be a critical part of the migration of any large information system. The paper details experiences with manually reverse engineering legacy applications to build a model of the user interface functionality, and to develop a technique for partially automating this process. The results show that a language-independent set of rules can be used to detect user interface components from legacy code, and also illustrate problems that require dynamic analysis to solve them.Reengineering the user interface can be a critical part of the migration of any large information system. The paper details experiences with manually reverse engineering legacy applications to build a model of the user interface functionality, and to develop a technique for partially automating this process. The results show that a language-independent set of rules can be used to detect user interface components from legacy code, and also illustrate problems that require dynamic analysis to solve them.