Shanghai recently hosted a major gathering of researchers, medical professionals, and industry leaders at the Fourth Smart Healthcare and Rehabilitation Conference and the Seventh Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) Meeting, underscoring China’s growing role in advancing human-machine interaction technologies.
A highlight of the two-day event was a project from East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST), which integrates BCI technology with virtual reality to create an immersive human-machine interaction system. The platform allows users with mobility limitations to control devices such as wheelchairs or robots using only brain signals.
“Our system comprises three main components: BCI equipment, controllable devices, and VR glasses,” explained Huang Yitao, a graduate student involved in the project. The system incorporates robots developed by Robo Party, a company known for its “low cost, high performance, and open-source” approach. By mounting cameras on robots, users can effectively transfer their perception into the machine, creating a deeply immersive experience.
Professor Jin Jing, the project’s lead, compared the system to a real-world version of Avatar, describing it as a new paradigm of human-machine interaction where a user’s consciousness extends beyond their physical body while maintaining self-awareness. The latest iteration advances beyond earlier systems by delivering real-time 3D scene rendering and more immersive experiences, with clear potential for elderly care and support for mobility-impaired individuals.
Another innovation spotlighted at the conference came from Arfysica Innovation, a Shanghai-based company founded in 2016. The firm has developed a noninvasive neural rehabilitation system currently deployed in top-tier hospitals across China, including Beijing Tiantan Hospital, where the country’s first BCI ward was established. Using a wireless 16-channel EEG cap with active dry electrodes, the system eliminates the need for conductive gel, enhancing patient comfort.
The impact on patient recovery is significant. “After six weeks of daily 25-to-50-minute sessions, patients show major improvements in motor function,” said Jin Hui, vice president of Arfysica. According to him, the system achieves more than 95 percent decoding accuracy and improves rehabilitation efficiency by 30 to 50 percent.
Meanwhile, Neuracle introduced its advanced BCI multimodal acquisition system, capable of collecting brain signals alongside physiological data such as electromyography and blood oxygen levels. The system can monitor up to 10 subjects simultaneously, opening new avenues for research in areas including traffic safety, construction, and even neuroaesthetics. “We’re already exploring applications in high-risk industries,” noted Shi Huihuang of Neuracle’s research and marketing department.
The conference also highlighted the human side of BCI’s potential. Zakir Ullah, a Pakistani PhD student at Shanghai Jiao Tong University interning at a local BCI company, emphasized the life-changing nature of the technology. “What excites me most is seeing how BCI devices directly help people regain motor control and lead better lives,” he said. Inspired by China’s innovation-driven environment and strong government support, Ullah expressed his intention to continue working in China after graduation.
Overall, the conference reinforced how China is positioning itself at the forefront of BCI research and commercialization, with applications spanning healthcare, rehabilitation, robotics, safety, and beyond. With cross-disciplinary collaboration accelerating, the field is poised to shape the future of human-machine interaction.