A proposal for Internet of Smart Home Things based on BCI system to aid patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Smart devices are already present in all areas of knowledge: sometimes as the main role, and sometimes as the supporting role. Regardless of their function, smart devices communicate with other devices, monitor, and control everything in the physical world. In this way, the Internet of Things (IoT) has been gaining ramifications. The one that is growing most in the area of health, and that is becoming more and more popular, is IoHT. Several treatments have been employed around the world based around IoHT, including one for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS is one of four existing neuromotor diseases without a cure to date. With the progression of the disease, patients lose the strength of the body’s voluntary muscles until total paralysis. Other consequences of the progression of the disease are the loss of autonomy in some aspects of life in addition to the loss of self-esteem. This work aims to develop a BCI system based on IoHT using a personal digital assistant brainwave sensor to assist patients with ALS in performing predefined tasks. To validate this tool as a complement to traditional medical treatment, ten volunteers conducted tests on the proposed solution. Results were very promising.