Project magazine Workpackage 5 // Deliverable 5.3 www.hackthebrainhub.com
Ref. Ares(2017)6376575-28/12/2017
CO-CREATION BRAINHACK creates collaborations between multiple communities engaged in Brain Neural Computer Interaction (BNCI) and is making those technologies accessible to all. Many projects wherein artistically appropriated technologies are brought to the general public show great criticality but also show the innovative power of the interactions between Sciences, Technologies and the Arts STARTS. The STARTS initiative of the European Commission and BRAINHACK share this approach and nurture significantly the emergence of BNCI technologies by integrating artistic experimentation within a general public context and creating potential for small scale entrepreneurship. HACKATHONS
BNCI TECH BRAINHACK acts in three areas gathering creating probing / innovating Pervasive technologies are affecting the way we create, perceive and experience a variety of realities. In this context, BNCI can even commodify realities and hybridize the man-machine axis. Not only scientists and technologists, but also artists, look at therapeutic and entertainment appliances of BNCI. These STARTS collaborations explore novel aesthetics and create experiences within technological innovation environments. WEARABLES
E-HEALTH BRAINHACK develops new research driven by transdisciplinarity and by the recognition of artistic practices as a valid methodology in the production of knowledge, similarly to what happens in scientific or engineering practices. LABYRINTH PSYCHOTICA is an artistic research project about the experience of psychosis. This spinal project launches interactive platforms, a WEARABLE and a LABYRINTH, which transform the direct perceptions of the user into a simulation of psychosis. More than abstract philosophical argumentation, art is often a concrete sensory medium that can trigger the emotions of those who interact with it. EMPATHY
BRAINDANCE BRAINHACK fosters new art inspired by and critically investigating neurosciences and BNCI and bringing to them key dimensions for innovation sensitivity, context awareness, transdisciplinarity integration and freedom of design. The BrainDance performance DEMULTIPLEXIA has been selected for the premier at Bozar Electronic Arts Festival, BEAF'17 in Brussels. DEMULTIPLEXIA explores a scenario of non-verbal emotional communication via images, light and sound. Two dancers and four participants of the audience (neuromediators) are monitored with wireless EEG devices. An emotional dialogue between the dancers is created and simultaneously influenced by neuromediators. PERFORMANCE
BODY & MIND BRAINHACK supports new BNCI uses and applications. Results of art and technology hackathon projects represent proofs of concept and deliver or stimulate new tools for creative use of BNCI systems, software and hardware. The BiSensorial prototype is a functionally complete wearable, neuroadaptive, therapeutic device. It aims to induce users into specific mental states - such as relaxation, sleep, or wakefulness by using sensory stimuli such as vibrations on the skin and sound. BiSensorial customizes the stimuli based on the EEG readings to tune the stimuli to the user s current state, creating a neuroadaptive feedback loop. The project evolved into the spin off project RE /ME, which won the DART 17 prize. AWARENESS
INNOVATION BRAINHACK unites scientists, artists, makers, technologists, hackers, engineers, citizens, activists and amateurs interested in new promising BNCI development directions and promoting open innovation in an inclusive BNCI community. Brain Worm provides the feeling of controlling a kinetic-pneumatic object with the power of your mind alone and can have a strong impact on the observer in addition to visualisation, sonification or even a VR experience (modalities much more commonly used to showcase BCI technology nowadays). The Brain Worm popularizes the science of brain-computer interfacing in a palpable, user friendly and attractive way. EXPERIENCES
EXCHANGE BRAINHACK provides a controlled testing ground that allows audiences to experience, and to debate, the risks and benefits of new technologies. The BrainHack project has developed ethical guidelines that can be used at other Hackathons. Concerning informed consent, safety and privacy protection of participants. Engaging with BCI-themed art may itself be ethically beneficial. In addition to prompting us to reflect on technological controversies, it may increase our empathy for the disabled; it may also create broad communities of viewers and listeners by focusing on brain data, rather than external markers such as race or gender. ETHICS
INVESTMENT BRAINHACK uses Hackathons as a platform to stimulate learning and exchange between artists, scientists and BNCI technology providers, pushing the technology for exploring new applications. Expanding the initial idea of hackathons, one of the project sponsors, BCI technology company g.tec launched the brain-computer interface designers hackathon platform BR41N.IO where ready prototypes are being "hacked". The FET2RIN project allowed BRAINHACK researchers to pitch neuro-theatre ideas in front of investors and an accompanying crowdfunding campaign is currently being prepared. MARKET
PARTICIPATION BRAINHACK partners with the DART 17 residency in San Francisco (USA) for interdisciplinary thinkers with a creative approach to technology to push the edge of potential in media like AR, VR, 3D, Data, Robotics, Sensors, Gaming, Smart Objects, and beyond. Open to applicants from all over the world, all you need is an existing prototype. In the spectacular San Francisco waterfront at the Swiss Pier 17, where more than 70 co-workers from universities, corporations, governments, artists, designers and startups share one space, DART 17 is located. At the STARTS event in September 2017 BrainHack and DART 17 annouced RE/ME, which evolved from the spinal project BiSensorial, as winners of the DART 17 prize. OUTREACH
IMMERSIVE BRAINHACK co-produced OPEN MIND, a documentary movie directed by Anna Sanmartí, with ARTSHARE and the European Commission. Anna Sanmartí directed documentary films in diverse countries of utmost human interest, discovering realities that make our world a place of endless inspiration. Her main interest is reality, getting to know different cultures, people, ways of thinking, lives... and tell stories in form of motion pictures. The short documentary OPEN MIND premiered at the Estonian Presidency STARTS event at BOZAR in September 2017 and will be screened on film festivals and science-tech festivals. A feature length movie is in planning. VISUALISATION
UNIVERSAL BRAINHACK can mentor through hackathons, online video tutorial platforms and project repository. The field of non-clinical BNCI is nascent. The hackathons offer an introduction to this field for multidisciplinary teams. Scientists and artists often realise the added value of the mutual contribution after the cooperation and development of a joint project. The artistic ways of research and the approach towards aesthetics can be quite a novel experience. All participants will be able to create more meaningful installations and projects. The BCI codes evaluated for the projects are available for download via open source on GitHub.com. NETWORK
PUBLIC BRAINHACK s results were presented at relevant BCI conferences. - 6th International BCI Meeting, BCI Past, Present, and Future, 2016, Asilomar, California, USA - 7th Graz BCI Conference 2017, From Vision to Reality, 2017, Graz, Austria - 22nd Int. Conference on Intelligent User Interfaces, BCI4Real, 2017, Limassol, Cyprus BCI scientists actively participated in the hackathons: - They gave lectures with an overview of BCI methods and applications, - They were part of the teams contributing to the development of the projects They were part of the jury Companies involved in BCI research supported and participated in all three hackathons. IMPACT
GLOBAL VISIT HACKTHEBRAIN-HUB.COM OR SCAN CODE TRUST
www.hackthebrainhub.com https://github.com/hackthebrain https://twitter.com/hackthebrainhub https://vimeo.com/hackthebrainhub https://www.youtube.com/channel/uckiak_gxrqymryefhgapudw/featuredwww.vim https://www.facebook.com/hackthebrainhubproject/ This project has received funding from the European Union s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 686987