This sounds completely awesome. Do you have any materials about the neuroscience of what you're doing?<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, Nov 11, 2010 at 5:14 AM, Steve Castellotti <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:sc@puzzlebox.info">sc@puzzlebox.info</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">Hey all--<br>
<br>
I just wanted to send a quick word of introduction to the group.<br>
<br>
My name is Steve. I swung over this past Tuesday evening along with<br>
the Make:SF crew, and hung around the next several hours meeting a fair<br>
few of you.<br>
<br>
<br>
I've been managing an Open Source project for the past year which<br>
is geared towards teaching kids (ages 10+ or so) a little bit of<br>
neuroscience, helping them build robots out of LEGO Mindstorms, then<br>
control and race them with their brains using consumer-grade EEG headsets.<br>
<br>
<br>
Here is a brief demonstration video:<br>
<br>
<a href="http://brainstorms.puzzlebox.info/index.php?entry=entry100923-100000" target="_blank">http://brainstorms.puzzlebox.info/index.php?entry=entry100923-100000</a><br>
<br>
<br>
And here is the project website:<br>
<br>
<a href="http://brainstorms.puzzlebox.info" target="_blank">http://brainstorms.puzzlebox.info</a><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
The current version of the software measures attention and<br>
relaxation levels using a NeuroSky MindSet, translating those into<br>
acceleration levels sent to the robots. Basic support for the Emotiv<br>
EPOC is also available, although for classroom use I've been leaning<br>
towards the former as it has dry sensors (where kids are concerned, wet<br>
+ heads = bad) and is easy to put on and start using without much<br>
fiddling about.<br>
<br>
There's a variety of paradigms for controlling the robots and<br>
several new types of "games" planned on the roadmap, but for the moment<br>
the software is working and in active use in at least one classroom on<br>
the East coast (Incidentally I am looking for more local schools which<br>
might be interested to get involved). The focus is now on building up<br>
case studies and fleshing out the teaching materials to better integrate<br>
into existing curriculum.<br>
<br>
<br>
Last night I brought round the remote control for a small RC<br>
helicopter, and with a great deal of help from Milo, Anthony, John, and<br>
a few others we managed to almost completely reverse-engineer the<br>
circuit board and transmitter's communications protocol. I'd like to<br>
extend a huge thanks to those guys for sticking around past 2 AM to help<br>
bang it all out!<br>
<br>
<br>
I'm planning to bring in my gear on Monday for the electronics<br>
hacking session. I'll have the NeuroSky and Emotiv headsets, my LEGO<br>
kit, and the RC helicopter (assuming I can managed to transport it all)<br>
and would be happy to show anyone interested how it all hangs together.<br>
With any luck I will already be on my way to getting the RC helicopter<br>
to fly via the software. The intention is to pick up a second helicopter<br>
and be able to have races in which two people compete to achieve and<br>
maintain high enough levels of focus to keep the helicopters in the air<br>
and be first to cross the finish line.<br>
<br>
<br>
Thanks again for everyone's help and looking forward to catching up<br>
with folks come Monday.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Cheers<br>
<br>
Steve<br>
<font color="#888888"><br>
<br>
<br>
--<br>
Steve Castellotti<br>
Puzzlebox Limited<br>
<br>
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