Developing fast, intuitive and responsible ways to interact with computers using electrical activity from our muscles.

About the project

Electrical activity produced by our muscles can be measured from the skin using surface electromyography (sEMG) which is a safe and non-invasive way to understand how activate our muscles are. These signals could provide new ways for people to interact with computers and other devices.

In this project, we are investigating how much information muscle signals can carry, how quickly people can learn to use them for control, and whether subtle patterns of muscle activity can provide useful control signals without interfering with normal movement.

We will also examine the wider implications of collecting and using increasingly detailed muscle data, including questions around privacy, consent, data reuse, unintended actions and responsible use.

Our project aims to:

• develop high-bandwidth control using high-density sEMG;
• compare different ways of mapping muscle activity onto computer control;
• investigate whether patterns of muscle activity can improve control;
• understand whether subtle control signals can coexist with natural hand movements; and
• work with participants and members of the public to consider how these technologies and data should be used responsibly.