BR41N.IO is a brainstorming and collaborative marathon designed to be a learning experience for developers, technologists, engineers, students, artists, and scientists who cram and build brain-computer interface (BCI) applications together in teams.
Who can participate?
Anyone can participate who has interests in BMI, BCI, robotics, AR, VR, machine learning, computing, sensors, human-machine interface systems, control, signal processing, big data, haptics, rehabilitation, and similar areas. Participants do not have to be a BMI expert to participate on a team!
Can I submit a different project?
Professional teams can participate to develop individual applications. Simply submit your project idea to contact@br41n.io. Your project will be included among the BR41N.IO projects below where people can apply for it.
What's in there for me?
Be creative, think outside the box. The best BR41N.IO projects will be awarded with cash prizes:
- 1st BR41N.IO IEEE Brain Prize: $ 500
- 2nd BR41N.IO Prize: $ 300
- 3rd BR41N.IO Prize: $ 200
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
Step 1: Sign up for a BR41N.IO project!
There are several predefined projects which you can choose to work on. Below, the projects are described in detail including hard- and software requirements. The Unicorn Hybrid Black and the Unicorn Suite should be used to realize BR41N.IO projects. But, you can use your own hardware and software for the BR41N.IO hackathon.
Step 2: Meet your team virtually!
We will connect you with the team members of your project. Create your own virtual meeting space using Skype, Google Hangouts, Zoom, etc. to start working on your ideas.
Step 3: Stay connected with us via Slack!
While you work on your groundbreaking new BCI applications, we are here to answer all the questions that might come up and support you wherever we can via Slack.
Step 4: Present your projects virtually and win!
You will be invited to present your results virtually via Zoom. Prepare yourself to explain what you did, what the results are and to show a demonstration (live or with a video) to the international audience.
SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY
FOR UNICORN HYBRID BLACK OWNERS
Do you have a Unicorn Hybrid Black at home or at your University/Institution? Great! Let's put together a team of students and participate with the Unicorn at this virtual BR41N.IO Hackathon.
HACKATHON JURY
Christoph Guger (AT)
g.tec neurotechnology GmbH
Alois Ferscha (AT)
Johannes Kepler University
Alexander Egyed (AT)
Johannes Kepler University
Michael Mondria (AT)
Ars Electronica Solutions
Harald Pretl (AT)
Johannes Kepler University
Thomas Haslwanter (AT)
University of Applied Sciences, Linz
TIMETABLE
On-Site Location: Johannes Kepler University (JKU) in Linz. A virtual participation is also possible.
Saturday, September 12
| 10:30–11:00 CEST |
How to run a real-time BCI application |
| 11:00 CEST | Start of BR41N.IO & group formation |
| 16:00–16:15 CEST |
Keynote: Insights into JKU's LIT Projects |
| 16:15–17:30 CEST |
Keynote: g.PANGOLIN Dress |
| Hacking all night long |
Sunday, September 13
| 11:00 CEST |
End of BR41N.IO Hackathon |
| 11:00–13:00 CEST |
BR41N.IO Hackathon project presentations |
| 13:00–13:30 CEST |
Meeting of Hackathon Jury |
| 13:30-14:00 CEST |
BR41N.IO Ceremony |
SPONSORS
BCI PRINCIPLES
Brain-computer interfaces are realized by 4 different principles:
slow waves
steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEP)
motor imagery (MI)
evoked potentials (EP)
In the BR41N.IO Hackathon Series, motor imagery and EP based systems
are mostly used to control the applications:
In the case of the motor imagery application, participants have to imagine e.g. left or right hand movement to produce an event-related desynchronization over the sensorimotor cortex. This is basically an amplitude change of the alpha and beta regions of the EEG.
In the case of EPs, the BCI system is showing different flashing icons and the user has to attend to the icon he wants to select. When the icon flashes on the computer screen, than a P300 wave is produced in the brain and the BCI system is able to detect it.
PROGRAMMING PROJECTS*
*Rent your Unicorn Hybrid Black hardware + software at the Ars Electronica Festival.
Unicorn Speller: Smart Home
The Unicorn Brain Interface comes with the Unicorn Speller application that is using P300 paradigm to control electronic devices such as lamps, radios or television. Watch the video Unicorn Speller Smart Home.
soft-/hardware: Unicorn Hybrid Black, Unicorn Speller, electronic devices
participants: 2 groups, 3-5 people per group
skills: basic programming skills (Matlab, Simulink)
Orthosis Control
It is possible to control a 3D printed orthosis using a Unicorn Hybrid Black with motor imagery. It is possible to move an orthosis by thinking about left or right hand motion. Watch the Orthosis Control video.
soft-/hardware: Unicorn Hybrid Black, Unicorn Speller, bring your own orthosis or use Unity instead
participants: 2 groups, 3-5 people per group
Skills: Basic programming skills (Matlab, Simulink), basic graphics programming skills with Unity
Unity Rehab
Create a Unity based game that can be used for rehabilitation purposes.
soft-/hardware: Unicorn Hybrid Black, Unity
participants: 4 groups, 3-5 people per group
Skills: Basic programming skills (Matlab, Simulink), Basic graphics programming with Unity
Dream Painting
If you want to create a Dream Painting, you have to wear a Unicorn Brain Interface while you sleep. When you wake up, you are able to create a picture based on EEG signals.
soft-/hardware: Unicorn Hybrid Black, Unicorn Painting
participants: 2 groups, 3-5 people per group
skills: Basic programming skills (Matlab, Simulink)
fNIRS and EEG Control
The team can use fNIRS (functional near-infrared spectroscopy) and EEG simultaneously to control BCI applications.
soft-/hardware: g.Nautilus fNIRS
participants: 1 group, 3-5 people per group
skills: Basic programming skills (Matlab, Simulink)
Sense & Stimulate the Brain
Stimulate the brain with tDCS to increase or mental performance and measure brain activity with EEG at the same time with the Unicorn Hybrid Black environment.
soft-/hardware specifications: Unicorn Hybrid Black, Unicorn Brain Stimulator
participants: 1 groups, 3-5 people per group
skills: Basic programming skills (Matlab, Simulink, C#)
Unity Games
Create your own Unity game that can be controlled with a brain-computer interface.
soft-/hardware: Unicorn Hybrid Black, Unicorn Suite, Unity
participants: 4 groups, 3-5 people per group
Skills: Basic programming skills (Matlab, Simulink), Basic graphics programming with Unity
Unicorn Sphero
The Unicorn Hybrid Black offers the Unicorn Speller application that allows you to control a robotic ball called Sphero. Watch the video Unicorn Sphero.
soft-/hardware: Unicorn Hybrid Black, Unicorn Sphero, Sphero robot
participants: 2 groups, 3-5 people per group
skills: Basic programming skills (C#)
Flight Control
The Unicorn Hybrid Black comes with the Unicorn Speller which allows you to fly your own drone with the brain only.
soft-/hardware: Unicorn Hybrid Black, Unicorn Speller, bring your own drone or use Unity instead
participants: 2 groups, 3-5 people per group
skills: Basic programming skills (Java)
Your Hacking Project
You are invited to create your own programming project for this hackathon. You'll have all the BCI headsets or you bring your own BCI to design and program your own fully functional headset.
soft-/hardware specifications: Unicorn Hybrid Black, tbd
participants: 2 groups, 3-5 people per group
skills: Basic programming skills
OFFLINE DATA ANALYSIS PROJECTS**
**no hardware required.
Stroke Rehab Data Analysis
Analyze a motor imagery BCI data-set from a chronic stroke patient in order to optimize pre-processing, feature extraction and classification algorithms. Compare your results with state-of-the-art algorithms.
soft-/hardware: MATLAB or other signal processing platform that is able to read in the MATLAB matrix
participants: 3 groups, 3-5 people per group
skills: signal processing skills
P300 Speller Data Analysis
Analyze a visual P300 BCI data-set from a healthy person in order to optimize pre-processing, feature extraction and classification algorithms. Compare your results with state-of-the-art algorithms.
soft-/hardware: MATLAB or other signal processing platform that is able to read in the MATLAB matrix
participants: 3 groups, 3-5 people per group
skills: signal processing skills
Unresponsive Wakefullness Syndrom Data Analysis
Analyze a vibro-tactile P300 BCI data-set from a patient with disorders of consciousness in order to optimize pre-processing, feature extraction and classification algorithms. Compare your results with state-of-the-art algorithms.
soft-/hardware: MATLAB or other signal processing platform that is able to read in the MATLAB matrix
participants: 3 groups, 3-5 people per group
skills: signal processing skills
SSVEP Data Analysis
Analyze an SSVEP BCI data-set from a healthy person in order to optimize pre-processing, feature extraction and classification algorithms. Compare your results with state-of-the-art algorithms.
soft-/hardware: MATLAB or other signal processing platform that is able to read in the MATLAB matrix
participants: 3 groups, 3-5 people per groupskills: signal processing skills
Locked-in Patient Data Analysis
Analyze a vibro-tactile P300 BCI data-set from a patient with locked-in syndrom in order to optimize pre-processing, feature extraction and classification algorithms. Compare your results with state-of-the-art algorithms.
soft-/hardware: MATLAB or other signal processing platform that is able to read in the MATLAB matrix
participants: 3 groups, 3-5 people per group
skills: signal processing skills
ECoG Hand Pose Data Analysis
Analyze an ECoG BCI data-set from an epilepsy person in order to optimize pre-processing, feature extraction and classification algorithms. Compare your results with state-of-the-art algorithms.
soft-/hardware: MATLAB or other signal processing platform that is able to read in the MATLAB matrix
participants: 3 groups, 3-5 people per group
skills: signal processing skills
ARTS PROJECTS
Unicorn Painting
Create images according to your brain activity that you measure with the Unicorn Brain Interface.
soft-/hardware: Unicorn Hybrid Black, Unicorn Painting
participants: 2 groups, 3-5 people per group
Design Unicorn Brain Interface with 3D Printers
Expand the Unicorn Brain Interface with your own 3D printed parts. Let them move, light, hold things or simply look nice. Watch the video 3D Headset Design.
soft-/hardware: 3D printer, 3D freeware
participants: 2 groups, 3-5 people per group
Skills: Basic CAD
Design Unicorn Brain Interface with Sewing Machines
Give the Unicorn Brain Interface a new, fashionable look.
soft-/hardware: Sewing machines, fabrics and handicraft material
participants: 10 people