Communication system using EOG for persons with disabilities and its judgment by EEG

Abstract

The aim of this study was to present electrooculogram (EOG) signals that can be used for human computer interface efficiently. Establishing an efficient alternative channel for communication without overt speech and hand movements is important to increase the quality of life for patients suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or other diseases that prevent correct limb and facial muscular responses. Using EOG signals, it is possible to improve the communication abilities of those patients who can move their eyes. Investigating the possible usage of the EOG for human–computer interface, a relation between sight angle and EOG is determined. In other methodology, most famous approaches involve the use of a camera to visually track the eye. However, this method has problems that the eyes of user must always be open. In this paper, we propose the mouse cursor control system for ALS patients using EOG and electroencephalograph (EEG) signals. We introduced the algorithm using alternating current and direct current of EOG corresponding to the drift. Therefore, EOG measurement system we proposed improved the problems of artifacts caused by eye blinking which was not accepted for other systems, the displacement of electrode positions and the drift. In addition, we introduced the EEG measurement to examine whether the subject could control their eye movement consciously. The EEG signals were not used to control the mouse movement, but to determine the subject’s control state. In order to test whether our system works well, we prepared a questionnaire and asked the subjects to operate our system, and answer with YES or NO by moving the mouse cursor. During the task, we also recorded the subjects’ EEG by MYNDPLAY [7] and checked their conscious level. Three subjects participated in this experiment, and they had never operated this system before. In this experiment, we measured 30 states of EEG signals while EOG was also measuring for one eye movement and analyzed the EEG signals. The results of analysis of the EEG signal changes and the answers to questions indicated that at 26 of 30 states, the subjects’ conscious level while they were moving the cursor by EOG signals was correctly determined from the EEG signals. From these results, we could know that the EEG signals can be used to adjust the EOG system whether it works according to patients’ mind or just a misjudgment.