With the information gathered from older EEG devices, scientists can only confirm the presence or absence of a condition such as epilepsy. By using the Geodesic Sensor Net , scientists are beginning to understand the nature and behavior of this condition, moving research in the field towards a cure. Dr. Don Tucker, Ph.D., a Professor of Psychology at the University of Oregon, started Electrical Geodesics, Inc. in 1990 to enhance research into human brain wave electrical activity. EEGs are used in a wide number of commercial applications, ranging from aeronautics to advertising. But for critical research into the human brain, the traditional EEG does not offer enough data for researchers looking for subtle changes in brain activity.
Traditional machines collect data from only eight to sixteen points on the subject's head.
The Geodesic Sensor Net uses up to 256 sensors and provides a more complete and useful map of a subject's brain wave activity. A sophisticated measurement tool alone cannot translate brain waves into usable research material. Early on, EGI realized that the Sensor Net would require an equally sophisticated tool to analyze and visualize the data. The Power Mac G4 bridged the gap between measurement and visualization. Dr. Tucker examined many different computing platforms, but discovered that Macintosh consistently produced superior results.