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Using BCI2000 in BCI Research 269<br />

to the system only require the Borland C++ Builder environment. BCI2000 may<br />

be used at no cost for academic and educational purposes. Third, BCI2000 defines<br />

its own file format, and a generic concept <strong>of</strong> parameters and states, which encode<br />

configuration and run-time event information. The format’s versatility, and human<br />

readability <strong>of</strong> its file header, are most advantageous in large research programs that<br />

involve multi-site cooperation, or managing large amounts <strong>of</strong> recordings.<br />

2.5 Getting Started with BCI2000<br />

Getting started with BCI2000 first requires appropriate hardware. This consists <strong>of</strong><br />

a computer system, recording equipment, and the BCI2000 s<strong>of</strong>tware. The computer<br />

system may be standard desktop or a laptop computer running Windows. 1 The computer<br />

should come with a dedicated 3D-capable video card. For most experiments,<br />

it is advisable to use separate video screens for the experimenter and the subject.<br />

When using a desktop computer, this implies a two-monitor configuration; when<br />

using a laptop computer, a separate monitor for the subject, i.e., the BCI user.<br />

The recording equipment consists <strong>of</strong> an amplifier, a digitizer, and appropriate<br />

sensors. Today, many amplifiers come with an integrated digitizer. For example,<br />

this includes the g.tec TM amplifiers supported in the core distribution <strong>of</strong><br />

BCI2000: the 16-channel g.USBamp that connects via USB, and the 8-channel<br />

g.MOBIlab+ that connects via Bluetooth. Many other EEG systems and digitizer<br />

boards are supported through additional Source modules that have been provided by<br />

BCI2000 users. Examples comprise EEG/ECoG systems by Tucker-Davis, Biosemi,<br />

Brainproducts (BrainAmp, V-Amp) and Neuroscan, as well as digitizer boards by<br />

National Instruments, Measurement Computing, and Data Translation. In most situations<br />

in humans, BCI systems will record from sensors placed on the scalp<br />

(electroencephalography (EEG)). EEG caps are usually <strong>of</strong>fered in conjunction with<br />

amplifiers, or may be purchased separately.<br />

3 Research Scenarios<br />

3.1 BCI Classroom<br />

Teaching relevant aspects <strong>of</strong> brain–computer interfacing is important not only in<br />

teaching environments, but also when building or maintaining a BCI research<br />

laboratory.<br />

Much like students, research staff will need to be introduced into the field’s practical<br />

and theoretical aspects. While many important publications on BCI research<br />

1 We have comprehensively tested BCI2000 on Windows NT, Windows 2000, and Windows XP.<br />

While BCI2000 functions well under Windows Vista, Vista’s timing performance, in particular<br />

with regards to audio and video output, is reduced compared to Windows XP.

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