Brain vs Brawn Pong
GAME WITH YOUR BRAIN! Join the Biomedical Engineering Society in an interactive competition between muscle and mind through the classic game of PONG. One paddle is controlled through electromyography (EMG) which allows a user to control an electrical device by measuring the potential across a muscle to determine degree of flexion. The other paddle is controlled by measuring brain waves through electroencephalography (EEG). This state-of-the-art technology is still in development and allows us to analyze various elements of brain activity by measuring potentials across the scalp. The ability to interact with electrical devices through mental and muscular impulses will revolutionize how we as a society interact with technology.
What is EMG and EEG?
EMG stands for electromyography. EMG is a medical electrodiagnostic technique used to evaluate electrical activity in skeletal muscles. These measurements are carried out by an instrument called an electromyograph. In our project, we built an electromyograph to measure signals exhibited by muscle potential to control one of the two paddles in the game.
EEG stands for electroencephalography. EEG is a test that tracks brain wave patterns to detect abnormalities related to the brain’s electrical activity. To perform EEG tests, small metal discs connected to thin wires (electrodes) are attached to the scalp, which measure potentials across the scalp and reference them to a grounding point, which then sends signals to a computer. In our project, we utilize the power of EEG through Emotive’s EPOC machine, giving the user mind control over the second paddle on the screen.
Lead Exhibitor: Nathan Cornwell
Team Members: Reema Patel, Jessica Austriaco, Seo Taek Kong, Mamo O’Hara, Matthew De Venecia, D’Kaila Price, Zeeshan Haidry, Than Huynh, Dimitrios Gotsis