As part of the R&D project " Freeing ourselves from the constraints of the body by expanding our physical and perceptual capabilities " (Project Manager: Ryota Kanai, Representative Organization: Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International, Inc. (Project Manager: Ryota Kanai, Representative Organization: Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International, Inc., hereinafter referred to as "Moonshot Kanai Project"), we have established a Brain-Machine Interface (BMI) *1 usage guideline creation committee (Issue Promoter: Ryota Kanai, Araya Inc.) and started its activities in July 2021. In July, the committee was established and started its activities. This guideline is expected to improve the proper understanding of brain-tech in the society and to promote its safe use.

＜ Background
Brain tech is an emerging market that will grow to US$520 million by 2025. Whether it's helping people sleep better, study more effectively, manage mood swings or stress, brain tech will become more accessible and accessible to the average person. On the other hand, BrainTech is still a developing market, so there is still a lot of uncertainty about who it works for and how well it works. (efficacy) and "are there any side effects? (efficacy) and "are there any side effects" (safety).

THEREFORE, IN ORDER TO SUMMARISE WHAT WE KNOW FROM CURRENT SCIENCE IN AN UNDERSTANDABLE WAY AND TO PROVIDE GUIDELINES FOR THE USE OF BMI BASED ON THIS EVIDENCE, THE MOONSHOT KANAI PROJECT HAS NOW SET UP A COMMITTEE TO DEVELOP GUIDELINES FOR THE USE OF BMI AND HAS BEGUN ITS WORK.

＜ What we do
In this activity, we will analyze the scientific evidence of efficacy and safety of physiological indices and intervention effects by systematic review, starting from products and services that apply the knowledge of brain science. We will then summarise what we can say from current knowledge, what we don't know, and what is needed for future development, and publish this in written form.

THE NEED FOR SUCH GUIDELINES FOR THE USE OF BMI HAS ALSO BEEN STRONGLY RECOGNISED INTERNATIONALLY. THEREFORE, WE WILL ALSO WORK TOWARDS THE INTERNATIONAL STANDARDISATION OF METHODS FOR ASSESSING THE RELIABILITY OF BRAINTECH BASED ON THE GUIDELINES WE HAVE DEVELOPED. THIS ACTIVITY WILL EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE INDICATORS AND INTERVENTIONS USED IN BRAINTECH, BUT NOT THE EVALUATION OF INDIVIDUAL PRODUCTS.

THESE EFFORTS WILL HELP THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS AND USE BRAIN TECHNOLOGY SAFELY. IT WILL ALSO ENCOURAGE THE MANUFACTURERS OF BRAIN-TECH AND SCIENTISTS TO DEVELOP IT PROPERLY AND BUILD EVIDENCE. IN ORDER FOR BRAIN-TECH TO BE SUPPORTED BY SOCIETY AND TO BE RECOGNIZED AS AN ENTITY TO WORK WITH, WE WILL ACHIEVE TRUST IN THE USE OF BRAIN-TECH IN SOCIETY THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE "GUIDELINES FOR THE USE OF BMI".

BMI Usage Guidelines Development Committee Supervisory Members
Ryota Kanai (Representative, Araya Inc.), Junichi Ushiba (Keio University), Mitsuaki Takemi (Keio University), Takushi Yanagisawa (Osaka University), Takuya Ibaraki (NTT Data Institute of Management)
The BMI Utilization Guideline Development Committee has already organized a guideline development group consisting of brain science experts who agree with the purpose of this guideline, but the members of this group will not be disclosed until the guideline is published in order to ensure the fairness of the evaluation process.

About the Moonshot Research and Development Program
The Moonshot R&D Program, led by the Cabinet Office, promotes challenging research and development on important social issues, such as the super-aging society and global warming, by setting ambitious, captivating targets (moonshot targets) for the government.
Click here for information on this project from the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)

Outline of the R&D project "Freeing the body from its limitations by extending physical and perceptual capabilities
If a person's intentions can be estimated, it will be possible to create the ultimate cybernetic avatar (CA) Note 2) that can be manipulated as desired. For this purpose, not only internal brain activity but also brain surface information and interaction information with others are important clues. By 2050, the ultimate BMI-CA will be able to operate as a person wishes.
Visit the project's website

＜ Glossary of Terms
(Note 1) Brain-machine interface (BMI)
BMI is a general term for technology (interface) that directly links brain (brain) and machine (machine) through the use of brain information.

(Note 2) Cybernetic avatar (CA)
A cybernetic avatar is a robot that can be controlled remotely or a character in cyberspace that shares its senses with itself and performs social activities.

＜For further information, please contact
For enquiries about the press in general and ATR in particular
Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR)
Planning and Public Relations Team, Corporate Management Department
TEL: 0774-95-1176
FAX: 0774-95-1178
E-mail: pr@atr.jp

Inquiries about R&D projects
Ryota Kanai
Araya Inc. CEO
E-mail: pmo@brains.link

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