Theme weekend at the new Ars Electronica Center
Photos on Flickr
Article about the application areas of brain-computer interfaces on the Ars Electronica Blog
Video: Opening of the new Ars Electronica Center / part 1
Video: Opening of the new Ars Electronica Center / part 2
Compass – Navigating the Future / Exhibitions
THU July 4, 2019, 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.; FRI July 5, 2019: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; SAT July 6 & SUN July 7, 2019: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
(Linz, July 2, 2019) Pocket billiard balls with the help of a brain-computer interface, paint pictures with the power of thought, meet a robot whose artificial neural network is a digital copy of the nervous system of a millimeter-long round worm: the next theme weekend of the new Ars Electronica Center will revolve around the brain. On Thursday, Alexander Heilinger of g.tec medical engineering will be telling you how brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) can help to make contact with vigil coma patients. On Saturdays, Angelika Peer from the University of Bozen gives insights into robot control using BCI and Alfred Lohninger from Autonom Health Gesundheitsbildungs GmbH reports on how communication between heart and brain works. On Sunday, Natalia Zaretskaya from the University of Graz will present various methods for measuring the human brain.
The programme at a glance:
THU July 4, 2019: 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Deep Space LIVE: brain-computer interfaces in stroke therapy and coma vigil (Level 0)
With the help of brain-computer interfaces, computers and other technical devices can already be operated today by measuring brain waves. At Deep Space LIVE, Alexander Heilinger of g.tec medical engineering tells us how BCIs exactly work and that they are even used in the treatment of coma patients and in physiotherapy.
SAT July 6, 2019: 11 a.m. – 12 noon
Lecture: Robot control via brain waves (Level 0)
Angelika Peer from the University of Bozen/Bolzano presents current research projects in robot control using brain-computer interfaces and shows what is already possible today.
SAT July 6, 2019: 3 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Lecture: Brain cells in the heart (level 0)
For a long time it was assumed that the heart like a machine just pumps blood through the body. Scientists have now discovered that the heart has its own neural network of 40,000 nerve cells that monitor the blood’s oxygen supply to the body. Alfred Lohninger from Autonom Health Gesundheitsbildungs GmbH gives insights into the communication between heart and brain, shows how this can be measured and what effects the new findings have on us.
SUN July 7, 2019: 11:00 a.m. 12 noon
Lecture: The measurement of living humans (Level 0)
Ultra-high field MRI 7 and 9.4 Tesla. No – these are by no means electric cars but highly complex methods for measuring brain activity. Natalia Zaretskaya from the University of Graz presents what imaging methods can contribute to such measurements and what benefits these measurement results have.
Presentation: Clinical applications of Brain Computer Interface Systems (Level -1)
FRI July 5, 2019, 3 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., SAT July 6 and SUN July 7, 2019: 12 noon – 12:30 p.m., 4 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
The Neurorehabilitation System “recoverX”
Alexander Heilinger of g.tec medical engineering presents recoveriX, a neurotechnology for the rehabilitation of stroke patients that is designed to help them improve the functioning of the upper and lower extremities. This technology complements standard physiotherapy and offers the chance for faster and more successful recovery.
FRI July 5, 2019: 2 p.m – 2:30 p.m., SAT July 6 and SUN July 7, 2019: 2 p.m – 2:30 p.m.
Brainassesment and therapy system “mindBeagle
Often the lack of feedback makes it very difficult to assess the condition of ALS or coma patients. Using mindBeagle, doctors and family members gain new insights into the degree of perception and consciousness of the patients. With Alexander Heilinger from g.tec medical engineering.
FRI July 5, 2019: 10:00 a.m. – 4 p.m.; SAT July 6 and SUN July 7, 2019: 10:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Open Workshop: BrainPool (Level 0)
BrainPool, reminiscent of pool, shows that a brain computer interface can also be used to play games. 3 people control the robot “Shpero” with their thoughts, which is supposed to pocket billiard balls.
FRI July 5, 2019: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.; SAT July 6 and SUN July 7, 2019: 10:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Open Workshop: Painting without moving (Level 0)
Is it possible to paint a picture only by the power of thought? Using a BCI hood and focused brain waves, a picture is created which can then be sent by e-mail.
FRI July 5, 2019: 2:30 p.m; SAT July 6 and SUN July 7, 2019: 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. (duration 45 min. each)
Family Tour (children 6-10 years)
Family tours introduce families to the new exhibition areas and themes in a child-friendly way. The exhibition “Understanding AI”, for example, shows how photorealistic landscapes can be designed according to one’s own ideas by simply stroking with one’s fingers. In the Machine Learning Studio, young and old can learn how machines learn and how their environment can be transformed.
Photo:
The human brain / Credit: vog.photo / Printversion / Album
Photo:
Open Worm – Open Worm Foundation / Credit: vog.photo / Printversion / Album
Photo:
recoveriX: stroke-rehabilitation – g.tec medical engineering (AT) / Credit: vog.photo / Printversion / Album
