Technology allows people to compose music by thought

Austrian scientists develop brain-based technology - computers that allow people to compose music by thought.

Austrian scientists follow the study published in Plos One, which introduces the first computer-brain interface (BCI) technology that allows people to use thoughts to compose music, Seeker reported on Sept. 19.

Researchers around the world have been experimenting with BCI technology for decades to help people with neurodegenerative or full-blown paralysis due to spinal injuries that can communicate with thoughts.

Unlike other interfaces that allow you to play music with thought in the past, the new BCI technology allows users to choose certain note types, silence or chords to compose music.

Brain interface technology - a computer that allows people to compose music by thought.(Video: Seeker).

BCI technology has appeared for 20 years, operating on the principle of brain signaling by electroencephalogram. The device is used by the user on the head and can read the subject's thoughts accurately by measuring the waveform emitted when the subject observes the computer screen.

Technology testing on healthy volunteers, the researchers achieved impressive results with accuracy in the process of copying melodies approximately 88%. Accuracy was raised to 93.6% when participants were a musician.

The volunteer team took 21 minutes to copy 25 notes. This speed at the musician is 20 minutes. In the composition test, musicians can compose 26 notes in 14 minutes, while amateurs can compose an average of 18 notes in 30 minutes.

Main author Gernot Müeller-Putz, head of the Institute of Neurological Engineering at Graz University of Technology in Austria, said speed is not the most problematic issue.

"This technology is designed to help people who don't have a hasty lifestyle like ours. Their views are a bit different," said Müeller-Putz.

This technology is designed to help non-lifestyle people rush like us.

Researchers will test technology with a group of people with disabilities to gather feedback. Their long-term goal is to turn a laptop-based system into a smartphone-compatible system.

Müeller-Putz said he was inspired by the success of the 2010 program in Germany that allowed patients to suffer from neurodegenerative diseases, many of whom were artists, drawing with the brain.

"They held exhibitions and sold works , " said Müeller-Putz. "Why not try this technique with music?"

Over the years, technology has helped people with disabilities write messages, send emails, surf the Internet, control smart houses, and even move wheelchairs.