Neurobits:

Conventional EEG devices are usually consist on a cap that with electrodes that measure electrical activity from the brain through either gel-based electrodes or spiky dry-electrodes. Due to the form factor and pressure from these devices, they may cause irritation on the scalp, hinder body movements, and can negatively impact the user’s comfort. This may limit the potential of neurotechnology for daily use in daily-life situations. We propose a head-conforming design of EEG-electrodes, NeuroBits, a system that incorporates EEG electrodes that attach to the hair, are seamless, lightweight, and tiny. These electrodes use silicone microbeads to attach to a strand of hair and blend in fluidly, while also having the capacity to continuously record brain activity inside and outside of the laboratory. The NeuroBits system was evaluated favorably in a user study of 14 participants, examining signal quality, user experience, and perceptions towards social acceptance in a natural environment, in comparison against the electrodes of a consumer available mobile-EEG device (OpenBCI). By integrating human-factors design into conventional neurotechnology, NeuroBits provides a novel wearable means of monitoring brain activity in real-world settings.