Digital Culture & AudioVisual Challenges

This paper aims to present the potential and challenges of Brain Computer Interfaces used to control interaction in immersive Virtual Reality Cinema.
Brain Computer Interfaces can be used as interaction mechanisms in cinematic narratives as state-of-the art survey shows in recent cinematic projects where the cinematic content changes depending on the viewers response to the content.
The translation of brain signals to interaction possibilities with narrative value can create a new form of cinematic experiences where the viewer acquires a central part in the evolution of the storyline and can experience a personified view of a movie, activating a user-specific content whilst revealing to the viewer information about themselves, based on their response to the content.
This combined approach in scriptwriting and movie directing, where the viewer gets to learn about themselves and their response to movie content, whilst exploring interactive narrative content, indicates a new condition for both the viewer and the viewing experience, and the director and the scriptwriter of the movie.
In this paper this condition is explored and analyzed via the study of the particularities of a brain-computer controlled movie, NEUROSYNAPSES VR interactive movie.
Combining Brain-Computer Interaction Interfaces with immersive Virtual reality raises issues of feasibility related to hardware as well as content development, where customized solutions need to be coined in order to enable a smooth and un-interrupted user experience.
In NEUROSYNAPSES movie the interactive narrative scenario developed adapts to the technological challenges, in an effort not to compromise the narrative content.
The comparative study of available technologies along with the development of adequate interactive cinematic content leads to interesting findings, leading to further research.
The research presented in this paper contributes to the deeperr understanding of how BCI can be used to create brain-controlled movies, in terms of feasibility but also in terms of aesthetics and enrichment of cinematic experience with a personified approach in fiction movies viewing.