Control of word processing environment using myoelectric signals

• Published in: Journal on multimodal user interfaces 2015-12, Vol.9 (4), p.299-311
• Main Authors: Pošusta, Antonín, Sporka, Adam J., Poláček, Ondřej, Rudolf, Šimon, Otáhal, Jakub
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Computer Science; Image Processing and Computer Vision; Original Paper; Signal,Image and Speech Processing; User Interfaces and Human Computer Interaction
• ISSN: 1783-7677; 1783-8738
• DOI: 10.1007/s12193-015-0200-9

This paper shows how myoelectric signals (EMG) can be used to generate control signals for further use in human–machine interfaces. Our custom-built portable USB device is able to capture multi-channel highspeed surface EMG signals from muscles and its software counterpart is capable to control common PC interface including ordinary text editors such as MS Word. At the time of the study the system utilized three parallel EMG channels to control user interfaces. The interaction was based on series of 1-of-N selections which specify rows and columns in on-screen keyboards. The selection was performed by quantification of selected muscle activity of the user. The system was further tested by a disabled person who provided input during a participatory design session. Our study has demonstrated that the system and the user interface can be used for effective text input and editing also in disabled people.