Mind games at the district market
For the fourth time, the “Oberstrass Määrt” was an ideal forum for interacting with the local community. ETH engaged in a particularly lively exchange with visitors to the university stand.
Equipped with a headset measuring brain activity, up to four participants at a time competed in a virtual race with mind control. Children and young people in particular were brimming with enthusiasm and curiosity – slots for “BrainDriver” were packed throughout the day.
Sending the right command at the right moment is key for the Brain Computer Interface (BCI) race. Appropriate brain activity – either concentrating or relaxing – keeps your vehicle moving at speed; the goal, of course, being to steer it first over the finish line.
This is one of the six disciplines at the Cybathlon in May 2020, a first-of-its-kind championship launched by ETH, where athletes with disabilities compete to perform everyday tasks using the latest assistive technology. The first Cybathlon in 2016 was a huge success, with seats sold out at the Swiss Arena Zurich, and 66 race pilots from 25 nations pitting it out before the delighted spectators.
