Patent ID: 8369939

Claim:
An electroencephalogram interface system comprising: an electroencephalogram measurement section for measuring an electroencephalogram signal from a user, a function control section for analyzing an event-related potential contained in the electroencephalogram signal and outputting a function control signal for controlling a function of a device based on a result of analysis, an output section for outputting the function control signal, and an activation apparatus for activating the electroencephalogram interface system, the activation apparatus comprising: an activation determination section for, while the function control section of the electroencephalogram interface system is inactive, transmitting to the output section a stimulation control signal for controlling presentation and vanishing of a visual stimulation of a single-item on the output section, and, within the electroencephalogram signal acquired from the electroencephalogram measurement section, comparing a P200 component value of an event-related potential since a timing of presenting the visual stimulation as a starting point against a predetermined threshold value, and determining whether or not to output an activation trigger to the function control section based on a result of comparison; and a stimulation attention determination section for determining whether or not the user is paying attention to the visual stimulation based on an N100 component of the event-related potential since the timing of presenting the visual stimulation as a starting point, and causing processing by the activation determination section to begin depending on a determination result, wherein, the activation apparatus activates the electroencephalogram interface system by outputting the activation trigger to the function control section.