Forget about remotes that get lost all the time. Upside Down Labs has introduced the Neuro PlayGround Lite (NPG Lite) – a device that allows you to control home appliances, such as changing TV channels, using biosignals. The simplest interaction methods are eye blinks or muscle contractions.
The essence of NPG Lite lies in the combination of a 3-channel instrumentation amplifier, an ADC, and an ESP32-C6 microcontroller. This setup is capable of capturing the slightest biological voltages, opening doors for its use as an EEG sensor (for analyzing brain activity), EMG (for muscle signals), ECG (heart rhythm), or EOG (eye movements). To turn the device into a full-fledged remote, all that's needed is to add an IR transceiver to send commands to the TV.
The main value here is in the instrumentation amplifier. It allows for precise measurement of weak biological signals, which is impossible to achieve by simply connecting biosensors to a standard analog input of a microcontroller. The software also handles a significant portion of the signal processing, making the process relatively simple after obtaining reliable indicators of eye or muscle movement.
While the idea of attaching sensors to your body every time you want to watch a video might not seem the most convenient, the technology opens new horizons for device interaction. There are already examples of using similar systems for ordering drinks or in games. NPG Lite is an accessible way to get acquainted with biosignal-controlled interfaces.