My name is Owen Collumb, and for many years I have been working with Ulster University and the University of Bath in the UK on their Brain–Computer Interface (BCI) research programme.
I use a non-invasive headset to communicate with a computer by imagining movements in my mind. These imagined movements are detected by the headset and translated into real-time movement of objects on a computer screen. The headset uses 32 channels to record my brain signals, which are then processed to allow accurate control.
Our team has presented this research at the past three Cybathlon competitions, which are held every four years in Zurich, Switzerland. At the Cybathlon, we compete against teams from around the world who are leaders in Brain–Computer Interface technology. In 2024, our team, NeuroCONCISE, was ranked the number one BCI team in the world after winning a European tournament leading up to the Cybathlon finals.
Although I do not currently use Brain–Computer Interface technology as a day-to-day assistive technology, I fully understand the impact it could have on the lives of disabled people.
Brain–Computer Interfaces can allow people to interact with objects in their home environment, at work, and in many other settings. Disabled people are already very familiar with assistive technologies that control objects through voice recognition, eye gaze, and other methods. What makes BCI different is that the control comes directly from imagination.
Our trials have shown a high level of control for basic tasks, and there is real potential for BCIs to be used in medicine and rehabilitation. In particular, they may play an important role in future treatment and recovery programmes.
Professor Damien Coyle, who leads our project in the Augmented Human Department at the University of Bath, explains the ambition behind the research.
What is the ambition for your BCI assistive technology?
“Our ambition is to take the knowledge we’ve developed and turn it into a package that others can use. We’re working with new technologies, including wearable headsets, through the NeuroCONCISE Spin-out company. Our goal is to make these technologies more accessible—not only to teams who might compete in the Cybathlon, but also to people living independently in their own homes who could benefit from engaging with technology in different ways.
Some people may find it easier to interact with technology using movement or speech, but they may still want the challenge of learning to self-regulate and modulate their brain activity. Our aim is to support that engagement and sense of empowerment.”
What are some applications for your BCI technology?
“In areas such as stroke rehabilitation, we’ve shown that engaging the brain through motor imagery can influence the regions responsible for regaining movement. This can be especially valuable in the acute stages after a stroke, when a person may be too unwell to participate in physical therapy.
Stroke rehabilitation relies on repetitive engagement to keep the relevant brain areas active. However, simply imagining movement for a few minutes can be boring, and people often don’t know which parts of their brain they are activating.
A Brain–Computer Interface can provide real-time feedback on brain activity and can be connected to technologies such as functional electrical stimulation or an exoskeleton. This creates a full feedback loop, where the brain is activated first and then followed by physical movement.
Research shows that this approach is significantly more effective than passive therapy, such as a physiotherapist moving a patient’s arm for them. In passive therapy, the patient may not be mentally engaged, which limits the results. When the brain must be actively involved for the device to work, therapy becomes more effective and produces better outcomes.”
I, Owen Collumb believe Brain–Computer Interface technology could have a life-changing impact by giving non-verbal disabled people a voice and providing communication for people with locked-in syndrome.
In recent years, the technology has advanced further with invasive Brain–Computer Interfaces, where implants are placed directly into the brain. These systems offer much higher accuracy and speed. I have competed against disabled people using implanted devices, and the level of control they achieve is extraordinary. Their imagined movements translate onto a screen faster than the hand movements of a non-disabled person. The response feels almost instantaneous.
However, invasive implants come with risks, including the possibility that the body may reject them.
As a disabled person, I believe we do not need to be “fixed” or changed to fit into society. Assistive technology should always be a choice—something we can take or leave depending on our own needs and wishes. Nothing should be done without consulting disabled people directly.
We must make our own decisions about Brain–Computer Interface technology and ask important questions:
Does it give us freedom and control over our lives?
Or does it allow society to pursue an obsession with fixing us?
The choice must always be ours. Anything about us should be done with us, and with our full involvement.
My interest in Brain–Computer Interface technology is not focused on interacting with computer screens or assistive technologies in the home or workplace. Instead, it lies in the ability of BCIs to connect with devices inside the body, such as epidural stimulation. These technologies can bypass disrupted neural pathways when communication between parts of the body has been interrupted by injury or disability. I believe we owe it to ourselves to explore these connections and the potential they offer for pain relief and improved mental wellbeing as humans.