I developed a new application for EEG-SMT https://www.olimex.com/Products/EEG/OpenEEG/EEG-SMT/open-source-hardware It includes a help system that explains how to use the device for local neural monitoring. It also covers troubleshooting and additional topics that new users want to know about. The application is distributed with an MIT license allowing any modifications, reuse (incl. in commercial products), etc. The full source code is included, as well as a working release for Windows.
https://github.com/michaloblastni/local-neural-monitoring
Unlike Python, Java, etc. this is developed in C using WinAPI and it does not have any dependencies. The whole application incl. help has around 100kB. Performance is also much better because your EEG signal will refresh faster.
I am looking for any contributors, constructive criticism, information that is missing in help, or other suggestions for improvement. The application will stay forever free and Open Source.
One of the goals is to make it easier for an average computer user to buy the cheapest BCI that still works, and to make it possible for this user to monitor his neural activity without having to configure/troubleshoot anything. The application should check if anything that EEG-SMT needs is misconfigured and ask the user if he agrees to fix it, then fix it for him automatically. This is probably the first and the only application that automatically detects the serial mouse issue that occurs when the device is plugged in and it offers to fix it, and upon a confirmation it fixes it in the registry by setting sermouse to disabled.
This application should be usable for ordinary people who are not neuroscientists, or engineers, but ordinary computer users. Every user could benefit from Olimex EEG-SMT because it is a low-cost device that opens the doors to local neural monitoring at home for any purposes.
I am looking for information:- How did you attach the electrodes to your head to make them stick for accurate measurement?
- How have you trained an AI classifier, in any application, to detect something that interests you?
Most people use tight headbands to attach the electrodes to the head. Check this blog post:
https://olimex.wordpress.com/2015/12/10/control-things-with-your-brain-and-openeeg-eeg-smt/
Also this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arORVzdgXG0
It is good idea to use conductive gel. Unfortunately, specific spots might require shaving for precise measurement.
Thanks for the links! I've looked into this, and it seems the attachment method and use of gel really depend on whether you're using active or passive electrodes. With passive electrodes, you typically need conductive gel—or at least water—to reduce impedance. But I'm using active electrodes, and they seem to be working fine even without gel.
I've tried headbands too, but they press on the head a bit too much—same with EEG caps. Right now, I'm just using a bandaid to hold the electrodes in place, and it's surprisingly effective. Some people use 3D printed EEG caps. Not sure if they are are available for download somewhere for Olimex SMT-EEG, and if they are lightweight.
By the way, once I've collected data with the EEG-SMT, am I analyzing it correctly?
Here's my current Jupyter notebook for processing the signals:
👉 https://github.com/michaloblastni/local-neural-monitoring/blob/main/EEG_data_analysis.ipynb