Neuralux
Credit
Elle Luo, Jordan Rusoff, Nicholas He, Kerem Marin
DEA6520 The Ambient Environment
Cornell University
Year
2020
Neuralux is designed to optimize the focus span with automated ambient lighting to ensure users stay focused in the work environment. The device synchronizes with the user's focus state and adjusts lighting automatically via neurological data. The system was built by connecting an Arduino circuit to a mobile EEG headset, computer and 3D printed lighting panel.
NeuraLux’s system overview: (a) Ambient lighting module, which is connected to, (b) the Arduino hardware circuit board, which wirelessly receives data from, (c) OpenBCI EEG headset for detecting brain signals from the user and real-time classification.
Technology Implementation
An Adafruit Feather ESP32 microcontroller wirelessly transmits EEG data from the OpenBCI headset to the computer by using serial communication. Upon receiving data on the computer, the software classifies concentration (focus) levels in real-time based on the data analysis of alpha and beta band powers. The microcontroller is wired to a single NeuraLux lighting module and a LCD screen, powered by a 5-volt internal power source in the microcontroller for debugging the system during the engineering process and as a visual feedback of whether or not focus is detected. In addition, a 12-volt external power source for lighting the LED strips embedded inside the module and an imported Arduino script program for the microcontroller board allows a lighting module to turn on or off based on calculations of the classification algorithm, programmed using the Arduino IDE. Additionally, the raw EEG data was preprocessed and smoothened by the OpenBCI GUI software before being transmitted to the Arduino microcontroller board for focus detection.
The following is the pseudocode of classification algorithm:
Focus == (alpha_average > 1.0uV) && (beta_average < 1.0 uV) && (alpha_average < 4 uV)
In other words, focus is detected when the average of alpha band power is greater than 1.0 uV and less than 4 uV, concurrently, the beta band power is less than 1.0 Uv.
Demonstration of the LED lighting up when focus is detected. See LED circuit (right) and laptop screen (left).
Demonstration of the LCD screen showing "Focused or "Not Focused" based on the measure of user's concentration level.