Fabrication and Testbed Network for Next-Generation Optical Brain Computer Interfacing – DA
University of Bath: Hannah Leese
University of Bristol: Daniel Whitcomb (PI)
Cardiff University: Sam Shutts
University of Exeter: Tom Piers
Following a successful Generator Fund project, the GW4 Optical Brain Computer Interfacing Research Community has identified a potential scientific and commercial gap in therapeutic brain stimulation device technology. The Development Award will enable them to formalise their device concept, develop prototype components, and gain valuable feedback from key stakeholders. The ultimate outcome is a to define an external funding to support further research.
Activity 1: Develop concept models
Each Community member will create a concept model/prototype of the device component that they will ultimately oversee the development of in the larger collaborative effort. The models will then be utilised in the workshop activity to stimulate discussion, enhance the understanding of other Community members work, and enable the identification of strengths and potential weaknesses of the approaches proposed.
Activity 2: Workshop
Subsequent to the model preparation, the Community will convene in Bristol for a 1-day workshop, split into two phases. In the morning, the Community members will meet and present their prepared component, followed by questions and discussion. They will then work on a collaborative ‘flash presentation’, preparing slides for a presentation that will be delivered in the afternoon of that day. There is purposefully limited time to prepare for this presentation – this will necessarily encourage the inclusion of ‘key information’ only.
In the afternoon, the Community will be joined by two key stakeholders: the University of Bristol Academic Director of Research Translation and Commercialisation (Prof. Gavin Welsh) and subject-specialist Prof. Bruce Drinkwater (Professor of Ultrasonics). The Community will give the ‘flash presentation’ outlining the concept and the underlying science and technology. Feedback and critical evaluation will be invited, both from a technical perspective (Prof. Bruce Drinkwater), and also a conceptual and commercialisation perspective (Prof. Gavin Welsh).
They day will conclude with an agreement on the substantive technical direction of the device’s development, and identification of potential key funding sources. Finally, we will agree specific tasks to write funding application(s).
