On the use of brain-computer interfaces outside scientific laboratories: toward an application in domotic environments.

Autonomy of persons with severe motor disabilities can be supported by the use of assistive technologies. In this study we designed an assistive device tailored to the needs of persons with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The aid is meant to mediate communication and control of a domotic environment. Usability of the aid from the onset of the disease to the locked-in phase is allowed by a modular interface, which can be accessed via conventional sensors (e.g., joysticks, buttons) or by a EEG-based Brain Computer Interface (BCI). Assessment at home is still ongoing. Preliminary results on three users recorded high satisfaction (VAS, 0-10) with both the BCI-device (ranging between 8.3 and 10, average 9.4) and conventional/assistive input devices (ranging between 9 and 10, average 9.6). The usability perceived by the end users and measured by means of the SUS (0-100) was on average 73.75 for the BCI and 59.1 for the conventional/assistive input devices. Furthermore the BCI exhibited a comparable efficiency in terms of required workload (29.2) with respect to muscular input devices (31.5)