MIT Mind Rider bike helmet indicates "focused, active mental state"
Scott Mace
Trevor Bourget
"MindRider is a helmet that translates electroencephalogram (EEG) feedback into an embedded LED display. For the wearer, green lights indicate a focused, active mental state, while red lights indicate drowsiness, anxiety, and other states not conducive to operating a bike or vehicle. Flashing red lights indicate extreme anxiety (panic).
Patricia Kovacs
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Neal
Hello Scott and All,
Interesting concept. It might be helpful to fatigued motorists or 'zoned out' motorists.
I think it was Serge that mentioned many of us drive our cars on familiar trips and could not recall the route as we were on ‘auto pilot’ and not particularly aware of our surroundings. I don’t think this happens as frequently on a bicycle as was are active in pedaling, looking for road hazards, and generally more ‘in the moment’.
I participated in an EEG study funded by the Federal Aviation Admin. conducted by NASA and the Stanford Sleep Center a couple of decades ago.
A researcher from the Sleep Center and one from NASA rode with my cockpit crew on a typical 10 day commercial airline trip from US to Japan, China, Thailand, Singapore, and other destinations.
Prior to the trip segment each of us (the operating cockpit members) had multipoint EEG probes inserted under the scalp and glued in place. The wires were run under our shirts to a recording unit hooked to our belt in the small of our back ……. about the size of an onstage mike transmitter.
During the flights we were given random timed tests utilizing a small hand held unit to measure perception/reaction times.
The results of the tests determined that if we took a 15 to 30 minute nap on long flight segments we would have improved reaction/perception times benefiting the mission by improving crew performance during the more critical approach and landing phase of the trip – especially on the longer legs of 8 to 10 hours.
The results of the study were never officially implemented because of the belief that the concept of sleeping pilots (though one at a time) in the cockpit was a non-starter with the passengers. It should be noted that on some very long flights as a procedure we rotated an extra cockpit crew member so each of us could retire to the bunk room for a nap.
On the last leg of one of the multi-day experiments, arriving in Los Angeles, our NASA and Stanford reps were going to miss their connection to San Jose because of headwinds and our delayed arrival. To speed up the removal of the EEG electrodes I said we would do the procedure in the large airport men’s bathroom just outside customs rather than going to the hotel as was the normal procedure. We were wearing our uniform hats and unless you observed closely you wouldn’t notice the multicolored umbilical cord running down our neck inside our uniform shirt from our scalp to the recording device under our jacket giving us the cyborg look.
The procedure was simple, wet our scalp with acetone to melt the glue, wait a bit, and yank out the electrodes. Our reps were wearing their ‘white doctor coats’ with the embroidered NASA logo while they worked on us in the men’s bathroom.
A passenger, entering the bathroom wanted to know what we were doing. I whispered to him it was secret and to pretend not to notice.
I said we were communicating with extra terrestrials in flying saucers and they communicated by mental telepathy and we had been recording their messages.
He promptly broke the ‘code of secrecy’ by announcing in the outer passageway to all the passengers – “Get a load of this, these guys are talking to people in outer space”. We soon had a crowd watching the electrode removal. So much for the ‘code of secrecy’.
Neal
Ebeling, Jr., Herman F.
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That sounds like it has potential. But instead of being "targeted" at cyclists, I think that it would be better targeted at drivers. As they're the ones who actually bring the danger to the roads.
And given that all new cars are already computerized. It could be hardwired into the cars computer system. A pressure sensor could also be installed into the drivers seat so that the car couldn't be driven without wearing the "helmet."
Maybe also including sensor's and software that monitor's the vitals of the driver. As well as the the "helmet" wired/built into the headrest of the drivers seat. That way the driver couldn't drive without wearing the "helmet" nor could s/he give it to someone else in the car who is in a better mood. The sensors could also monitor a person's BAC, and whether or not they had drugs in their system, their blood sugar levels, heart rate, pulse, blood pressure, and probably several other vitals.
By wiring the "helmet" and sensors into the car's computer system. If the driver was not in the proper mental state to drive, or had alcohol and/or drugs in his/her system that would make them a danger to be behind the wheel and on the road, then the car wouldn't start. If while they were driving, things changed, then the onboard computer could slow the car down giving the driver enough to time to pull over and park. And then once parked it wouldn't start again until after the drivers readings return to the baseline readings.
The car(s) could also be equipped with an RFID reader, and the speed limit signs could likewise have have RFID chips embedded in them. As well as the ability to relay via cellular communications the cars speed to the police, and if the car's driver/owner tries to "hack" the onboard computer it likewise sends a signal to the police.
It could also be used to send information to the hospital or doctor of the car owners/drivers choice. So that if they're involved in a crash the hospital and EMS/EMT will have a baseline of the patients readings before the crash as well as they'll have a recording of their vitals at the time of the crash.
One question that I have is what do they mean by "These features may also allow for hands-free control of cycle function." It is already possible to safely ride a bicycle hands-free. So what do they mean by "may also allow for hands-free control?"
Also with the placement of the LEDs on the helmet, how is the cyclist or driver suppose to know when they're too anxious, stressed, etc. to continue riding? Or likewise if it's wired into a cars computer? Although if it's wired into a cars computer system then there could be a couple of LEDs added to the dashboard to alert the driver to said changes in his/her state and fitness to continue to drive.
Overall, I do think that this is a good idea. It's just being marketed to the wrong demographic.
Herman F. Ebeling, Jr.
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| 2005 Specialized Hardrock MTB | 2009 Giant Seek 2 |
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Live Long and Prosper
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John S. Allen
http://cambridgecivic.com/?p=714
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