Post by g.tec medical engineering GmbH - NEVER STOP RECORDING

Looking back 27 years in BCI history is essential to understand where we are now. Today at the BCI & Neurotechnology Spring School 2026, I asked Alexander Lechner to help me with a demo of a passive EEG electrode system. Back in 1999, we showcased this same technology at one of the first BCI meetings in Rensselaerville, New York. The setup was quite a process: -The Hardware: Golden EEG electrodes were individually screwed into the cap. To capture hand movements, we used just two electrodes over the left hemisphere (C3) and two over the right (C4). -The Signal: To increase the signal-to-noise ratio, we performed a bipolar derivation, with the ground on the forehead. -The Computer: We actually fitted an EEG amplifier into the floppy disk slot of a Compaq computer! It was just big enough for two bipolar channels, using a 12-bit ADC board from National Instruments. In those days, abrasive gel was mandatory. We had to scrub the skin to bring impedance down to 1-5 kOhm. If you didn't hit those numbers, you recorded nothing but noise and the experiment failed. For 2 channels, it took 5 minutes. For a full 64-channel setup, you were looking at a solid hour of prep. I wanted to contrast this during our live session today. First, we assembled the old passive electrodes. I did not use them for 20 years and was just wondering during the presentation if they will work. Then, we switched to the g.HIamp with active EEG systems. Even while giving the presentation, we set up 64 channels in just 4 minutes and 45 seconds. That is faster than it took us to prep just 2 channels back in 1999! Never stop recording.

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