Prologue

I blame my interest in computer science on a love of science fiction novels. Isaac Asimov, more specifically, has influenced me to open my mind and dream beyond myself. There is a future out there that has been hinted at by the greatest novelists and scientists of multiple generations. But this future will not come to be without innovators, researchers, and dreamers. I am, unfortunately, more of a dreamer than anything else. But the research and innovation are on their way...

My name is Chris Aikens. I work in the Sketch Recognition Lab (SRL) at Texas A&M University (TAMU). I am currently pursuing an M.S. in Computer Science under the advisement of Dr. Tracy Hammond. Our lab is currently conducting research in sketch recognition, education, haptics, augmented reality (AR), gesture recognition, mobile computing, and brain computer interfaces (BCIs). We develop libraries and user-centered applications for researchers, educators, students, and other user bases. For more information on our lab and a look at our researchers, visit our website.

I received my B.S. in Computer Science from TAMU in August 2010. My coursework focused on computer-human interaction (CHI) and information. My interests are in human-centered design, pervasive computing, and project management. My interest in BCIs grew out of my first graduate research project known as 'GeoTrooper'.

This blog will track the progress of my research, interesting findings, previous work, and my ideas about the present and future of BCIs and technology in general. Basically, I am forcing myself to keep up with my work and that of others while still giving myself a creative outlet for new ideas. If you are interested in BCIs, me (in a non-creepy way of course), or the life of a graduate student, then this is the place to be.