Ethical considerations

Just like any technology, EEG, if used responsibly, brings more benefits than drawbacks. Our project is 1.) useful because it allows one to observe and modify their momentary state, 2.) instructive because it demonstrates what the possibilities and limitations of EEG are at the moment, 3.) fun and pretty because... just look at it.

The fact that the device we used is anything but perfect is, paradoxically, what makes it harmless. Fears of unethical mind-reading are unfounded because we simply aren't anywhere close to being able to do that. Our pipeline uses the EEG data in a way that poses no immediate threat to the user's personal data. The data is abstracted and visualized in experiential terms, thus no raw data can be collected and used. Users should be notified that this tool is not a clinically accurate system and should not be used for diagnosis of any kind. It is a designed experience affected by brain activity. The user should agree to allow the program to use their brain data to augment the experience.

We believe that informed consent of the person providing their EEG data, and the good intentions of the person in charge of the data, are crucial in making the result ethical. Both were present in the making of B-vr. The benefits of B-vr thus clearly outweigh the drawbacks.