One of the main research areas at the Department of Systems and Control Engineering (Faculty of Engineering) and the Centre for Biomedical Cybernetics, both at the University of Malta, is brain computer interfacing. This involves the non-invasive recording of brain signals from specific positions on the human scalp, the processing of these signals to extract reliable and robust information on the subject's intent and the interface with an external machine that the subject wants to control. Such a system allows the user to communicate using brain signals only, rather than the normal pathway of peripheral nerves and muscles.
The Department and Centre's current work aims at addressing the issues that hinder brain computer interfaces from being used in everyday life. These involve the poor signal quality of wireless electroencephalographic (EEG) headsets that are currently on the market, use of the system in noisy environments, poor signal classification, long detection times and the impracticality of using the system for long durations.
For more information visit the Department of Systems and Control Engineering and the Centre for Biomedical Cybernetics, or contact Dr Tracey Camilleri.