Design and implementation of a user independent SSVEP based brain-computer interface with high transfer rates

This paper presents a brain-computer interface (BCI) that can help users to input phone numbers or select any command in the graphical user interface. The system is based on the steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP). To ensure universal applicability, a system with three fixed positioned electrodes for reducing user variation on system performance has been proposed. Sixteen buttons illuminated at different rates were displayed on a computer monitor. The frequency-coded SSVEP was used to judge which button the user desired. The attractive features of the system are noninvasive signal recording, little training required for use, higher information transfer rate (ITR) and higher accuracy in living environments.