Our Story
Have you ever imagined what it would be like to be trapped in your mind? Your mind aware, but your body unable to move or communicate with your loved ones? We think about this a lot and so we are asking for your help. Michael is one-of-a-kind but he shares the same challenges as a number of other wonderful people who live with these conditions.
Our technology (NeuroSky) is a less expensive and more simple version of the traditional EEG (Electroencephalography) medical technology. Traditional medical systems can cost $40K+, are difficult to use and are not accessible to most people. Although our company's focus is mass market applications and products, every week we receive calls and emails from people who have loved ones living with various conditions including: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Cerebral Palsy (CP), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and others.
As a startup hardware company we are not in a position (nor have the software development expertise) to create special applications for these patients - but as a community of people who believe in the potential of technology to help - our hearts go out to all of the families that contact us. We understand the limitations and potential of our technology. We believe there are applications that can be designed to provide some basic functionality by combining our low-cost Brain-Computer Interface technology and iOS (iPad and iPhone) devices - making a solution accessible to everyone. Apple currently provides many assistive technology functions on their devices and an inexpensive brainwave input device will bridge the gap needed to help these patients (see NY Times Article).
On March 11th we will release an inexpensive ($129) brainwave reading headset that will interface with mobile devices (iPhone, iPad, Android). By combining the powerful features of an iPad with the brainwave input capabilities of our EEG headset (blink, focus and relaxation algorithms for input), a forward-thinking and ambitious developer can create simple communication and control software to help these patients.
Links
Samples of how NeuroSky's current technology is used
NeuroSky Website
Michael Tripoli Controlling the Star Wars Force Trainer toy with his mother Judie
Send Michael a message on his Facebook page
What We Need & What You Get
We are creating the NeuroSky Assistive Technology Fund to provide financing to pay imaginative, passionate developers to work with local patients in order to design a suite of applications for these communities. As they are completed, the applications will be posted to the iTunes app store and made available for free to the public.
We will dedicate whatever funds raised to creating these applications. The total amount is intended to make a comprehensive set of applications, but whatever money is raised will go to building components of this set.
To support this project NeuroSky will provide the (to be selected) developer with support from our research and engineering departments as well as access to our university partners as assistive technology advisors. Also, we will arrange for the developer to work with some of the patients we are currently in contact with. Furthermore, if desired, NeuroSky will provide complementary office space in downtown San Jose, CA for the developer.
Other Ways You Can Help
Please give what you can and help us get the word out about this cause. Make sure to use the share tools from this IndieGogo post.
Feel free to send a message to Michael Tripoli (and his mom Judie) via his Facebook page
For a discount code of 10%* off a MindWave or MindWave mobile headset, share this campaign by posting it to your social media.
Send a screenshot to assistivetech@neurosky.com of your post to social media and please include: a link to this campaign <www.indiegogo.com/Trapped-In-My-Mind>. Also consider including the following tags "#NeuroSkyAssistiveTech #Indiegogo #NeuroSky"if you twitter post.
*coupon codes will be sent out Friday every week. 10% per order, additional posts can also get additional discounts but it must be for a separate order.