Good news for disabled - UTS Mind Switch a winner at innovation awards

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Good news for disabled - UTS Mind Switch a winner at innovation awards


A team of University of Technology, Sydney researchers have won a judges' special award at the first Australian Commercialisation Forum and Fair in Sydney, for a device that enables people with disabilities to control home appliances with their brainwaves. Winners of the award included team leader Professor Ashley Craig, Paul McIsaac and Dr Yvonne Tran from the UTS Department of Health Sciences. Professor Craig said the group's Mind Switch device allowed people to activate and control electrical appliances simply by closing their eyes and was a breakthrough for people with disabilities. "The Mind Switch technology harnesses a burst of alpha brainwaves are emitted when a person's eyes are closed," Professor Craig said. "The technology is able to isolate the appropriate brainwaves from other brain activity and be used to switch appliances on and off or change TV channels." The Mind Switch consists of a small cap that contains electrodes to pick up the brain's natural activity through the scalp. The cap reads the brain's alpha waves and transmits signals to a computer, which is connected to power points around the house. Changes in brain waves can signal these power points to switch on or off, thereby allowing the user to activate electrical devices. The device works over a distance of 300 metres and when first worn the user must open and close their eyes to record their personal maximum and minimum range of alpha levels. Prof. Craig's team has developed the Mind Switch to assist profoundly disabled people to control their environment, but also has plans to use their invention for teaching purposes. "The Mind Switch represents a significant improvement over competing devices in a market that is estimated to be worth $100 million worldwide annually," Prof. Craig said. Although it did not win the principal prize at the innovation fair, the mind switch was chosen for a special prize bestowed by the judges. Professor Craig said he and his team were honoured to have received acknowledgement from the judges and that every bit of encouragement contributed to the ongoing commercialisation of the Mind Switch. "The team is strongly committed to ongoing research into and development of technologies that will improve the quality of life for the disabled," he said. Thursday 27 March 2003