BCIs read signals from the brain and use machine learning algorithms to translate the signals into an external action. The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses, Second Edition. (2020). They manage the. Neurorobotics 14:25. doi: 10.3389/fnbot.2020.00025, Renard, Y., Lotte, F., Gibert, G., Congedo, M., Maby, E., Delannoy, V., et al. While BCI cannot currently be used to extract a users intentions, private thoughts or what theyre reading or viewing, combining BCI data with specific stimuli can one day make that possible. The transfer rate (in bits per second) is a computed measure for communication devices that reflects the speed and accuracy of a device. Comput. Brain Computer . Apart form healthcare, they can be employed in the fields of neuroergonomics and smart environments, neuromarketing, and advertising, education, games and entertainment, and security. Commercializing brain-computer interfaces. Let us have a look at the best consumer-based EEGs released. Broader design principles often prioritize making players feel good, be that via the satisfaction of leveling up or the thrill of satisfying combat. A robust low-cost EEG motor imagery-based brain-computer interface. An active BCI requires users to actively modulate their brain signals to interact with an external device. One of the goals is to allow people to fully immerse themselves in video games through a VR-style headset, however Mr Newell claimed that the ultimate potential is nearly limitless. BCI software can translate mental commands from EEG data into commands in a video game. Every time we think, move, feel or remember something, our neurons are at work. Objects hovered in the air while participants cycled through them subconsciously, directing their mind to the object they wished to select and subsequently use. Brain-Computer Interfaces have made significant contributions to various fields of study. In the next few years, we might be able to control our PowerPoint presentation or Excel files using only our brains. Entertain. Club. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. Here are some of the most common brain-computer interface examples in use today: The earliest point in BCI history can be traced back to German physiologist and psychiatrist Hans Berger. Npj Quantum Inf. The head of Valve, Gabe Newell, has stated that the future of video games will involve "Brain-computer interfaces.". However, the importance of graphics was minimized in the study when it should be a major concern for video games. The team's . AI Games 5, 141149. "Global Brain Computer Interface market size was valued at USD 1451.68 million in 2022 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 10.29% during the forecast period, reaching USD 2613.0 million by . Nevertheless, the use of BCI was restricted to a unique aspect of these games. These groups are: invasive systems, electrodes are inserted directly into the cortex are used for single cell or multi unit . Available online at: http://arxiv.org/abs/1409.0107 (accessed December 11, 2020). How do users know if their BCI data has been used for commercial purposes? Brain-computer interfaces, or BCI for short, use changes in the electric activity of the brain to control a device, like a computer (or a game!) Binnendijk and her colleagues analyzed existing and potential BCI tools that vary in terms of accuracy and invasiveness, two qualities that are closely related. Nevertheless, there is no support for developers (at any level, technologic, mathematical, usability) to integrate BCI in concrete game production. A brain-computer interface (BCI), also known as neural-control interface (NCI), mind-machine interface (MMI), direct neural interface (DNI), or brain-machine . This couples with the fact that around 20% of the users are not proficient using a typical BCI. Recommendations for integrating a P300-based brain computer interface in virtual reality environments for gaming. Brain-Computer Interfaces: Principles and Practice. In a recent interview, Newell explained that our own bodies . Biol. Still, the video game industry has already shown its interest in acting as proof of concept for the technology. Copeland is part of cutting-edge research into brain-computer interfaces at the University of Pittsburgh, recently awarded over $8 million by the National Institutes of Health. In general, laboratory BCI games demonstrate good design, being turn-based and having slow gameplayin this aspect following the guidelines stated by the scientific community (e.g., Nijholt et al., 2009; Marshall et al., 2013). (2019). . A brain-computer interface (BCI), also referred to as a brain-machine interface (BMI) or neural interface, is a system that establishes a direct communication between the brain and an external device ( Lebedev & Nicolelis, 2017; Milln et al., 2010; J. R. Wolpaw et al., 2002 ). BANGALORE, India, May 13, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A brain computer interface is a computer-based program that acquires, analyzes, and converts brain signals into commands transmitted to an output . A Brain-computer Interface is a communication and control system in . Over the next few years, noninvasive BCIs could be incorporated into playtesting an aspect of video game production that allows developers to see how players respond to the game before its released. EMOTIVs brain-computer interface devices include the EMOTIV Insight and the EMOTIV EPOC X EEG headsets. It felt like the computer guessing what was important to you, says Neurable co-founder Adam Molnar, explaining their technology in terms of it hacking a neural response. Academic researchers have studied whether BCI users can directly interact with computer software through brain activity alone. Watch a demo video Battle for Middle-earth exposed the stresses of game development. Ever since Elon Musk's Neuralink showcased the monkey Pager controlling a game with its mind, Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) came to the spotlight. Mike Ambinder, an experimental psychologist at the studio, confirmed via email that the company is actively researching the technology and engaging with external companies it considers to be doing appealing work in the space.. IEEE Trans. Available online at: https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01366873/document (accessed December 11, 2020). Comput. Its going to have a huge impact on the kinds of experiences we can create for people., What Newell actually imagines and how the technology could impact video games remains unclear, although Valve, a company with deep pockets, is ideally positioned to explore the nascent field. Limitations are further detailed in section Limitations of BCI Games of the present study, and the obstacles to public use are analyzed. Brain-computer interfaces can help individuals who dont have use of their limbs, require assistive devices, or are unable to speak. The real world will stop being the metric that we apply to the best possible visual fidelity, he said. A survey of interactive systems based on brain-computer interfaces. Although Newell admits that the idea of having your brain interface directly with a computer sounds indistinguishable from science fiction, he says developers would be making a silly mistake if they ignore the area. BCI translates brain signals into command outcomes using artificial intelligence algorithms. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley; Sons. This means participants using invasive BCIs, either now or in the future, arent just outputting their own data but opening up their brains to alteration from artificially-generated neuron firings. This means it can take information from the brain and use this to control another device or computer, or vice versa. AI Games 5, 8299. . Back at 2019s Game Developers Conference, Valves principal experimental psychologist, Mike Ambinder gave a talk on the companys work in the area, VentureBeat reported at the time, covering many of the same possibilities and use cases that Newell outlines in his recent interview. However, graphics and game design have been underestimated in the development of BCI games in laboratories. Interact. EEG-based Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI) is a non-invasive technique used to translate brain activity to commands that control an effector (such as a computer keyboard, mouse, etc). doi: 10.1109/THMS.2020.2968411. (Courtesy of Woon-Hong Yeo) Combining new classes of nanomembrane electrodes with flexible electronics and a deep learning algorithm could help disabled people . Should BCI data be anonymized? 1.1.1 Communication Bridge. Brain Computer Interface (BCI) System is such a concept that translates the neuronal into signals that can be processed to perform different types of output. Valve has spoken publicly about its work on brain-computer interfaces before. For example, Lotte et al. EMOTIV offers brain-computer interface devices that can be paired with its brain-computer interface software called EmotivBCI. Its this area which excites Ambinder and his colleagues most the potential for video game experiences to respond to players feelings in real-time rather than relying on traditional inputs such as the keyboard, mouse or gamepad. When we think of a Brain-Computer Interface, the best example I can give is Mark 42 from Iron Man 3. Generally, in this concept, it acquires the brain signal, analyses them, and translates . A review of brain-computer interface games and an opinion survey from researchers, developers and users. Barachant, A., Bonnet, S., Congedo, M., and Jutten, C. (2012). This term was first proposed by Professor Jacques Vidal in 1973 . But thats not where it gets weird. Intell. Facebook also announced that it was building a BCI in 2017. More recently, in 2017, Rodrigo Hbner Mendes, a quadriplegic, became the first person ever to drive an F1 car by using only his brainwaves, thanks to BCI technologies and an EMOTIV EEG headset. In a medical first, brain implant allows paralyzed man to feel again. Can you stimulate craving or can you stimulate addiction? A review of existing BCI software can be found in Pierce et al. This is particularly true for VR games where low FPS can result in a higher jitter (Cattan et al., 2018a). ***Disclaimer EMOTIV products are intended to be used for research applications and personal use only. Syst. Since the last decades, several groundbreaking research has been conducted in this domain. doi: 10.1109/TBME.2011.2172210. IEEE Eng. Gabe Newell says the future of gaming may lie in brain-computer interface technology, or BCI for short. (2020) has argued that most BCI games demonstrate very low accuracy and speed as compared to conventional interfaces, suggesting that there are issues that must be addressed to facilitate the acceptance of BCI games. According to Cattan et al. doi: 10.1109/86.847811. doi: 10.1038/s41534-018-0116-9. Brain-Computer Interface is a communicative system that enables its users to interact directly with computers or other external devices through their brain activity. Brain-computer interfaces using EEG signals can help them control a prosthetic limb or computer interface. Intell. Gaming also . More concretely, Farahany wants to see privacy built into BCI devices and their user interfaces an on-off switch for data transmission and options to toggle how different types of data is shared. The market for brain-computer interface devices such as gaming sticks, amplifiers, and headsets is expanding because to improved technology and increased consumer demand. Brain Machine Interface also allows for excellent collaboration between . His work has appeared in outlets such as VICE, The Verge, The Nation, and The A.V. (2014) conducted an opinion survey on the importance of BCI games elements. For example, a BCI can allow someone who is paralyzed to . Available online at: https://scholar.smu.edu/datasciencereview/vol1/iss4/11 (accessed December 11, 2020). BCIs could aid people with disabilities and improve national defense capabilities, among other uses. The human user receives feedback from the robot, which helps them feel total immersion in the remote environment. Our team and community has deep experience in BCI technology, neuroscience, gaming, human-computer interaction, and close connection to . People are going to have to have a lot of confidence that these are secure systems that dont have longterm health risks., Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. Oct 21, 2021. Nevertheless, concerns were raised about the usability of the technology, such as its association with unstable wireless communication, non-standardized sampling rate and use of gel electrodes (e.g., Chabance et al., 2019). Sci. The use of braincomputer interfaces (BCIs) based on electroencephalography (EEG) in video games has been widely investigated. Cattan, G., Andreev, A., Maureille, B., and Congedo, M. (2018a). Neurotechnological brain enhancements may allow us to communicate more effectively with machines in a brain/computer interface. YouTubers Make 43-Inch Gaming Laptop Using Intel NUC, Plywood Mar 3 . 22, 117. For instance, the number of frames per second (FPS) is a major concern for stimulation-based BCI, as they require the exact onset of the stimulation with a precision of around 2 ms (Andreev et al., 2016). The answers to these questions could signal a dark future relationship between BCIs and video games. Graphics and game design are a key concern and expectation for games on the market, from AAA to indie games. Our products are not sold as Medical Devices as defined in EU directive 93/42/EEC. Computers 7:34. doi: 10.3390/computers7020034. Brain computer interfaces (BCIs) are slowly moving into the mass market. The head of video game giant Valve has revealed that the company is working on a way to connect human brains to computers in order to revolutionise gaming and fundamentally alter human experience. I spent $130 in Genshin Impact. If you might do this, maybe dont play it. Brain-computer interfaces are also called brain-machine interfaces. ^https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/fastest-realtime-court-reporter-(stenotype-writing)/, 4. Could you stimulate particular preferences?. (2019). Nevertheless, Copeland, a self-confessed fan of role-playing games, has managed to play Final Fantasy XIV using a BCI. Lotte, F., Renard, Y., and Lcuyer, A. Review: Cyberpunk 2077 is a thrill ride through an ugly, unexamined world, Hiko, captain of Valorant champions 100 Thieves, has some advice for the pros. Sonam1, Yashpal Singp 1,2Department of Computer Science &Engineering, Ganga Institute of Technology and Management, Kablana, Jhajjar, Haryana, India. Even so, big barriers remain between Copelands activities and the technology reaching the wider public none more formidable than the neuroscience itself. Many EEG-based BCI devices have been developed with traditional wet- or micro . Hierarchical quantum classifiers. Because of its ability to manipulate external devices through brain activity, a large portion of brain-computer interface research focuses on remote control. It acquires brain signals, analyses, and translates them into messages or commands that are sent to output devices to carry out desired actions. For years, investigational BCIs used in clinical trials have required cables to connect the . We used high-end graphics hardware and rich textures and models [].. When the algorithms identify matching EEG brain activity, the BCI can transmit external commands to control a device (such as a computer cursor, robotic arm or wheelchair). Summary. The term brain-computer interface was first coined in 1973 by Jacques Vidal, Emeritus Professor and founding member of UCLA's Computer Science department, who posited a direct communication . In addition, Lotte et al. Available online at: https://github.com/sccn/labstreaminglayer (accessed December 11, 2020). A brain-computer interface (BCI) is a communication system that can help users interact with the outside environment by translating brain signals into machine commands. You could solve blindness, you could solve paralysis, you could solve hearing, he said. The machine learning algorithms have been trained to pick up on EEG brain activity associated with certain emotions, actions and expressions. University of South Florida, United States, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. A monumental 1988 experiment conducted byStevo Bozinovski, Mihail Sestakov and Liljana Bozinovskaused BCI and EEG to control a robot. One aspect of this study was to outline the difference of perspective between developers and researcher communities regarding BCI development. In this section, we will explore some of . Proc. Further interesting developments are expected in this field in the next decade. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). BCIs represent life-changing possibilities for subjects with motor impairments, because they allow them to perform physical actions they otherwise couldnt. Allied Market Research. Oh, remember Bob? Celebrities and tech companies ranging from the game developer Valve to Elon Musk are invested in its revolutionary potential. Games 1. doi: 10.1109/TG.2019.2957963. A Huffington Post (New York, US) publication presented an EEG headset that was ergonomic (i.e., with dry electrodes and wireless) for <500 euros6,7. EEG Source Analysis. More pressing than these hypotheticals is the data churned out by EEGs or invasive devices, and collected by the corporations behind them. When he wasnt completing tasks set by the research team, Copeland put the BCI to recreational use, immersing himself in video games. In this respect, Kaplan et al. A subjective study on the use of BCI for gaming (Cattan et al., 2019) also reported a lack of feedback for error quantification from participants. Lewis Gordon is a video game and culture writer. The success of a BCI system depends as much on the system itself as on the user's ability to produce distinctive EEG activity. The author confirms being the sole contributor of this work and has approved it for publication. Far from merely anticipating greater degrees of freedom, Copeland believes in a future where BCIs are widely used. doi: 10.1109/TCIAIG.2013.2253778, Vasiljevic, G., and Miranda, L. (2019). As the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center shut its laboratories following the covid-19 outbreak, Nathan Copeland, a 33-year-old volunteer, collected the equipment that would grant him transformative abilities during lockdown. BCI systems can be divided into two groups according to the placement of the electrodes used to detect and measure neurons firing in the brain. Gaming tests the logic of software and the adaptability of hardware. Adaptation of P300 based Brain-Computer Interface for Gaming [38], which is gaining. At its most basic, this could allow software to understand whether a player is enjoying a game, and adjust the experience accordingly. Seven red flags that your tax preparer is a fraud. Perhaps in-game weather would shift according to your mood; a rumbling storm to mirror a foul feeling. Our products are not sold as medical devices as defined in EU directive 93/42/EEC. Psychophysiology 49, 16171621. On the better performance of pianists with motor imagery-based brain-computer interface systems. A subject using EEG-based BCI thats connected to a robotic arm can think wave and the robotic arm will wave. As the field of brain-computer interface research grows and the technology in brain-computer interface applications continues to improve, a number of brain-computer interface ethical issues have been raised. The Facebook brain-computer interface aims to allow users to type using only their brainwaves through non-invasive brain computer interfaces. Andreev, A., Barachant, A., Lotte, F., and Congedo, M. (2016). While much of the discussion around brain-computer interface ethical issues is still being shaped, privacy and security issues remain premier concerns. Despite the lack of standards, commercial brands such as Emotiv (San Francisco, the US) or NeuroSky (San Rose, the US) have developed plugins for game development. 4, 313. Many have said that the brain and mind are the final frontier of science. Andreev, A., Cattan, G., and Congedo, M. (2019). OpenBCI has raised a round of funding to build neurotechnology that could be used for brain-computer interfaces for games, health, and more . However, we believe this only means that graphics are a basic requirement for video games. This experiment was the first to successfully control a physical object using an EEG machine. ^http://alexandre.barachant.org/eeg.io/, Abraham, H., AduOffei Agarwal, R., Akhalwaya, I. Y., Aleksandrowicz, G., Alexander, T., et al. doi: 10.1007/s11948-018-0061-1, van de Laar, B., Grkk, H., Bos, D. doi: 10.1016/j.entcom.2009.09.007, Pierce, S., S, C. C., Marvin, A., Anton, N., and E, G. J. Sci. Available online at: https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01947551 (accessed December 11, 2020). The focus is on systems that provide a closed-loop interaction with artificial devices based on information extracted from . 2018, 50895092. Annu. *Correspondence: Grgoire Cattan, gregoire.cattan@ibm.com, Brain-Computer Interfaces for Non-clinical (Home, Sports, Art, Entertainment, Education, Well-being) Applications, View all
The greater the proximity of an electrode to the brain, the stronger the signallike a cerebral cell phone tower. A brain-computer interface (BCI) enables a person to control an external device using brain signals. OpenBCI has been laying the foundation for so many scientific discoveries and brain computer interface companies. Portland, OR , Aug. 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to the report published by Allied Market Research, the global brain-computer interface market was estimated at $1.48 billion in 2020 and . 59, 920928. With the life-changing possibilities of BCI technology comes ethical implications. 2018; Vos et al. P.-O., Poel, M., and Nijholt, A. (2013), Cattan et al. Vidal is widely recognized as the inventor of BCIs, as reflected in peer-reviewed articles. Brain-computer interface (BCI) is a collaboration between a brain and a device that enables signals from the brain to direct some external activity, such as control of a cursor or a prosthetic limb. Sensors 20:4452. doi: 10.3390/s20164452, Rosca, S., and Leba, M. (2019). The use of electroencephalographic (EEG) signals has become the most common approach for a BCI because of their usability and strong reliability. Brain-computer interface (BCI) technology is a potentially powerful communication and control option in the interaction between users and systems. A prototype of OpenBCI's Galea. 19, 3553. IEEE Trans. . IHMTEK. This opinion is rather qualified in the scientific community, which reported that BCIs suffer from (1) a low transfer rate, (2) a lack of market-ready, affordable, and user-friendly research-grade EEG acquisition devices, and (3) a gap between the game design and graphics of video games available on the market vs. in laboratories. This article was published more than2 years ago. doi: 10.1162/pres.19.1.35, Riquelme-Ros, J.-V., Rodrguez-Bermdez, G., Rodrguez-Rodrguez, I., Rodrguez, J.-V., and Molina-Garca-Pardo, J.-M. (2020). Marshall, D., Coyle, D., Wilson, S., and Callaghan, M. (2013). A BCI allows for direct communication between the brain and an external device, often to control its activity. BCI technology has the potential to make everyday tasks easier for individuals of all ability levels. A passive BCI merely interprets brain signals to give insight into the cognitive state of an individual. MATEC Web Conf. Another consideration is that any development is material-dependant, as all are based on different hardware, drivers and protocols (e.g., Ahn et al., 2014; Pierce et al., 2020). For example, researchers are developing BCIs that allow people with paralysis to spell words on a computer screen or regain control of their . The global brain computer interface market will witness a robust CAGR of 15.11%, valued at $1505.06 million in 2021, expected to appreciate and reach $5340.38 million by 2030, confirms Strategic Market Research. With or without an agreed BCI bill of rights, or really any clarity on the ethical questions, companies are set to continue investing in the technology. Comparisons of Performance between Quantum and Classical Machine Learning. The global brain-computer interface market size is expected to reach USD 5,070.7 Million in 2030 and register a revenue CAGR of 12.3% during the forecast period. In a demo, players were tasked with escaping a futuristic laboratory without using their hands. Eventually, it will get to the stage where someone who doesnt need [a BCI] could have it, he says. Regardless, it sounds like Valve doesnt have any plans to commercialize its research just yet. Remember when Bob got hacked by the Russian malware? ArXiv14090107 Cs Stat. In fact, BCI illiteracy is an issue which is also well-established in the existing literature (e.g., Nijholt et al., 2009; Allison and Neuper, 2010; Marshall et al., 2013; Vasiljevic and Miranda, 2019), although the idea that physiological traits are responsible for BCI illiteracy is controverted (Thompson, 2019; Riquelme-Ros et al., 2020). However, low-cost versions of the Emotiv headsets omit a proper electrode location for P300-based BCIs, while research-grade versions still practice dissuasive pricing. Theres nothing magical about these systems that make them less vulnerable to viruses or things like that, he said. In this regard, the complexity of signal detection and classification is, to our belief, a key obstacle to creating effective BCIs for use in games. During a presentation last August, Musk said the chip would be used to help solve brain and spine problems but could ultimately be used for a range of applications, such as summoning a self-driving Tesla telepathically. Similar concerns were broached in recent studies, such as Vasiljevic and Miranda (2019) which reported that only a few studies focused on qualitative aspects of the interaction with BCI games. Adapting the P300-based brain-computer interface for gaming: a review. On one hand, if this aspect is a side aspect (e.g., Alphawow), the use of BCI is not valuable because of its cost. Ambinder suggests incorporating such intimate feelings into games will lead to qualitatively different experiences. Newell said he envisions the gaming devices detecting a gamer's emotions and then adjusting the . Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are also increasingly being used in security, lie detection, alertness monitoring, telepresence, gaming, education, art, and human augmentation. However, such headsets are not available for public use, in the sense that, even though some are open-source, developers cannot build them in practice. Valve co-founder and president Gabe Newell talks about Valve's exploration of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) for gaming and beyond, in an interview with New Zealand's 1 News . Med. Valve co-founder Gabe Newell previously revealed Valve was working on a brain-computer interface (BCI) with OpenBCI, the minds behind open source BCI software and hardware . Brain computer interface market by type (invasive BCI, non-invasive BCI and partially invasive BCI), application (communication & control, healthcare, smart home control, entertainment & gaming, and others): global opportunity analysis and industry forecast, 2020-2027. Newell says that theyre making such rapid progress that any device risks being outdated once its gone through the slow process commercialization. Available online at: https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02166844 (accessed August 2, 2019). In 2013, OpenBCI (New York, US) finished a successful fundraising campaign, with the aim of providing a high-quality EEG acquisition system for <1,000 euros. In brain-computer interface gaming, subjects wear an EEG headset while playing VR games designed to control virtual objects. Johns Hopkins' brain-computer interface device. ^https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgKEOlcX9R8, 7. (2018b) and Rashid et al. 2023 Vox Media, LLC. The feasibility of using BCIs outside the lab has also been demonstrated in different context and at events. Brain-computer interface software: a review and discussion. . In the case of cursor control, for . The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. Fifty years after the term brain-computer interface was coined, the neurotechnology is being pursued by an array of start-up companies using a variety of different technologies. Priorities of these limitations for video game development are discussed in the literature (Nijholt et al., 2009; Ferreira et al., 2013; Marshall et al., 2013; van de Laar et al., 2013; Ahn et al., 2014; Cattan et al., 2018b; Kerous et al., 2018; Vasiljevic and Miranda, 2019; Pierce et al., 2020), and in general preponderance of quantitative over qualitative aspects is criticized (Nijholt et al., 2009; Vasiljevic and Miranda, 2019). These instances range from the 1980s when teenagers parted with quarters at the arcade, to modern online titles which derive at least part of their income from loot boxes (often referred to by critics and, increasingly, government regulators as a form of gambling). 36. Soc. Wolpaw, J., and Wolpaw, E. W. (2012). Mr Newell also said that beyond gaming, advances with BCI technology would transform sleep into just an app that you run in order to maximise body recovery and performance. This technology has been built into toys and gaming devices. In 2017, start-up Neurable made headlines with a video game controlled using a noninvasive BCI: the team attached an electroencephalogy (EEG) device an assembly of sensors that sit just above the head to a modified HTC Vive virtual reality headset. Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) is an advanced and multidisciplinary active research domain based on neuroscience, signal processing, biomedical sensors, hardware, etc.