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BR41N.IO

The Brain-Computer Interface Designers Hachathon

2024

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Anouk Wipprecht

THIS IS BR41N.IO

20 years ago, Brain-Computer Interfaces could only move computer cursors. Today, machine learning is one component of BCI’s that will be used in many different fields of neuroscience, such as motor rehabilitation of stroke patients, assessment and communication of coma patients, control of devices for disabled people, cognitive training or neuromarketing.

The BR41N.IO Brain-Computer Interface Designers Hackathon has been created as an education opportunity to study current and future developments and unlimited possibilities of brain-computer interfaces and neurotechnologies in creative, scientific and clinical fields. BR41N.IO helps students and professionals to understand artificial intelligence, life science, art and technology, and how they become a unity to evolve innovative and exceptional BCI headpieces.

The BR41N.IO hackathon series brings together engineers, programmers, designers, artists or enthusiasts, to collaborate intensively as an interdisciplinary team. They program or build their own fully functional EEG-based Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) to control a drone, a Sphero or e-puck robot or an orthosis. The participation only requires basic knowledge in Brain-Computer Interfaces, machine learning, programming or designing. 

SINCE 2017

2017 was the initial year where BR41N.IO took place in Dublin (Ireland), Linz and Graz (Austria), Valencia (Spain) and Banff (Canada) for the first time. Participants from all over the world have been working together and achieved innovative and playful BCI headsets and applications within 24 hours. Since 2017, BR41N.IO Hackathons have been enrolled all around the world. 

INSPIRED BY AGENT UNICORN

BR41N.IO is inspired by the unique “Agent Unicorn” headpiece from Fashion-Technology-Artist Anouk Wipprecht, an accessory shaped like a horn on a unicorn, for children who suffer from ADHD or autism. Agent Unicorn is a Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) headpiece that measures brain activity to find out what might trigger these children and give a better understanding of their individual distractions.

Agent Unicorn. photo by Marije Dijkema