Enabling the Internet of Humans

The development of immersive technologies over the past decades have focused heavily on the visual/audio replacement or augmentation of user experiences.

With the advancement of wearable sensor and motor technologies, the ability to include tactile feedback has steadily increased alongside spatial positioning of the user in an environment. Additionally, smell augmentation has been implemented to limited extents. Neurofeedback is one of the last human data elements to be characterized and integrated into XR experience design.

Neurofeedback largely encompasses the characterization of brain activity and associated feedback through one of the other sensory inputs (visual, audio, tactile). This has widely been accomplished through EEG electrodes on the scalp, which allow brain frequency patterns to be acquired and characterized. Although scalp-located EEG technology and devices have been in use for decades, they have largely been used in controlled laboratory settings due to limitations associated with motion artifacts and the need to use electrolytic gel to improve the electrode-skin interface. Recent advances in EEG and materials research have enabled EEG signals to be reliably acquired from inside the ear canal. Due to the stable interface between ear electrodes and the skin in the ear canal, it’s possible to design EEG devices which can be used as every-day devices and integrated into more user experiences.

Advanced use cases include adaptive game and experience development. However, by connecting brain metrics to Internet of Things (IoT) networks and device, the Internet of Humans (IoH) foundations can be built to provide a new framework for human computer interaction (HCI) and including in XR environments.