Empowering Accessibility: Human-Centered Approach to a BCI Home Control for Impaired People

Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) have shown significant potential for individuals with motor impairments, either by improving physiotherapy treatments or by enabling to perform simple tasks, autonomously. However, much of this progress remains confined to controlled laboratory environments. This study aims to develop a BCI-controlled interface, for real-life scenario, tailored to allow individuals with Locked-In Syndrome (LIS) to interact with their home environment. To ensure system usability, a Human-Centered Design (HCD) approach was adopted prioritizing end-user needs. The interface control system was tested using a BITalino for Electroencephalogram (EEG) acquisition. Preliminary results demonstrated that professionals recognize the system's potential, highlighting the importance of real-time feedback, and design simplicity features to minimize user fatigue and improve control accuracy.Clinical Relevance-This interdisciplinary methodology bridges the gap between assistive technologies and the user needs, promoting autonomy and communication with a BCI-controlled interface for real home interaction.