The Berlin Brain-computer Interface Presents the Novel Mental Typewriter Hex-o-spell

We present a novel typewriter application ‘Hex-o-Spell’ that is specifically tailored to the characteristics of direct brain-to-computer interaction. The high bandwidth at which a user may perceive information from the display is used in an appealing visualization based on hexagons. On the other hand the control of the application is possible at low bandwidth using only two control commands (mental states) and is relatively stable against delays and the like. The effectiveness and robustness of the interface was demonstrated at the CeBIT 2006 (world’s largest IT fair) where two subjects operated the mental typewriter at a speed of up to 7.6 char/min. It was developed within the Berlin BrainComputer Interface project in cooperation with specialists for Human Computer Interaction.