[CSEE-colloq] talk: Brain-Computer Interface Technologies, with demo! 11:30 Fri 2/24

[Tim Finin]

              Engineering Week IEEE Student Branch Seminar in
               conjunction with CSEE Graduate Seminar

                 Brain-Computer Interface Technologies in the Coming
               Decades (with Demonstration)

                           Dr. Kaleb McDowell Translational
                Neuroscience Branch Chief Army Research Laboratory

          11:30-12:30 Friday, 24 February 2012, ITE 227, UMBC


As the proliferation of technology dramatically infiltrates all
aspects of modern life, in many ways the world is becoming so dynamic
and complex that technological capabilities are overwhelming human
capabilities to optimally interact with and leverage those
technologies. Fortunately, these technological advancements have also
driven an explosion of neuroscience research over the past several
decades, presenting engineers with a remarkable opportunity to design
and develop flexible and adaptive brain-based neurotechnologies that
integrate with and capitalize on human capabilities and limitations to
improve human-system interactions. Major forerunners of this
conception are brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), which to this point
have been largely focused on improving the quality of life for
particular clinical populations and include, for example, applications
for advanced communications with paralyzed or "locked-in" patients as
well as the direct control of prostheses and wheelchairs. Near-term
applications are envisioned that are primarily task-oriented and are
targeted to avoid the most difficult obstacles to development.  In the
farther term, a holistic approach to BCIs will enable a broad range of
task-oriented and opportunistic applications by leveraging pervasive
technologies and advanced analytical approaches to sense and merge
critical brain, behavioral, task, and environmental information.
Communications and other applications that are envisioned to be
broadly impacted by BCIs are highlighted; however, these represent
just a small sample of the potential of these technologies.


Kaleb McDowell (M'08-SM'11) was born in Frederick, MD, USA on July 10,
1970. He has a B.S in operations research and industrial engineering
from Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA in 1992, an M.S. in
kinesiology from the University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA in
2000, and a Ph.D. in neuroscience and cognitive science from the
University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA in 2003.

He is currently the Chief of the Translational Neuroscience Branch and
Chair of the Neuroscience Strategic Research Area at the U.S. Army
Research Laboratory (ARL) in Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, USA. Since
joining ARL as a Research Psychologist in 2003, he has contributed to
over 30 reviewed publications, and has led several major research and
development programs focused on neuroscience, indirect vision systems
and vehicle mobility. His current research interest focuses on
translating basic neuroscience into applications for use by healthy
populations in everyday, real-world environments.

Dr. McDowell received Department of Army Research and Development
Achievement awards for technical excellence in 2007 and 2009 and the
ARL Award for Leadership in 2011.

Host: IEEE UG and Grad Student Branches (cookies drinks available 11:15am)