Brain to Computer Interfacing (BCI) for Well-Being

The Washington DC Chapter of ACM SIGGRAPH and the Torpedo Factory Art Center are proud to present Paras Kaul, a distinguished speaker who has been a guest presenter at several ACM SIGGRAPH conferences.  Paras is a noted brainwave artist/researcher who composes brainwave music and animation.

Brain to Computer Interfacing (BCI) for Well-Being
Paras Kaul
paraskaul.onair.cc   brainwavewellness.onair.cc 

Paras Kaul will discuss how she uses neurofeedback to produce music in the Healing Arts Ensemble and her work as a Research Associate for the Music and Well-Being Program at George Mason University. She will discuss how to train your brain using neurofeedback to determine the brain wave state you are in, how EEG is used in (BCI) systems, and the relationship between EEG analysis and brain wave states. She will demonstrate a new, cost efficient neurofeedback device that uses Arduino technology, which will soon be available to the public. As a follow-up to last year’s presentation on Raspberry Pi technology used for teaching Boolean girls how to program animation, she will present new technology in development for kids to learn about robotics.

Please join us on Thursday, March 23, 2017 from 7pm to 9pm at the Torpedo Factory Art Center to experience the work of a pioneer in brain wellness and new media.


PARAS KAUL BIO
http://paraskaul.onair.cc http://brainwavewellness.onair.cc

Paras Kaul is a brainwave artist/researcher who composes brainwave music and animation. She received an MFA degree in digital animation and video from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago with undergraduate studies in English, art, and photography at California State University, Sacramento and James Madison University in VA. After completing her education, Paras held computer animation internships at Omnibus located at Paramount Studios in Hollywood and at Real Time Design in Chicago. As a production assistant at Digital Effects, Inc. in NY, she handled postproduction operations for digital animation. While living in Hollywood, she was active in LA SIGGRAPH. In Mississippi, as an assistant professor in a Graduate Program for Electronic Visualization, she taught brainwave controlled animation and gaming and founded OKSIGGRAPH for Oktibbeha County, MS. After moving to Northern Virginia, she was Director of Web Communications at George Mason University and co-chaired DCSIGGRAPH with Mary Higgins. Paras has published peer-reviewed articles on brainwave learning and gaming and has been an invited speaker to France, Australia, and the UK—where she presented a brainwave interactive gaming prototype at the Dana Centre Museum of Science in London. In the US, Paras has demonstrated brainwave technology at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage, the Corcoran Gallery of Art, the American Film Institute, Walker Art Museum (Minneapolis), National Qigong Association (PA), and at universities and convention centers in Los Angeles, Boston, Florida, Michigan, Washington State, Hawaii, and Virginia.  Currently, Paras is the Media Relations Coordinator for DC SIGGRAPH. She works at MindSpec, Inc., a nonprofit organization that utilizes innovative bioinformatics strategies to accelerate research on common neurodevelopmental disorders. She is part of GMU’s Healing Arts Ensemble and a Research Associate for the Music and Well-Being Program at the university.


LOCATION:
Torpedo Factory Art Center
105 N. Union St.
Alexandria, VA 22314
703-838-4565
http://www.torpedofactory.org

Directions:
The Torpedo Factory Art Center is located at the intersection of King Street and N. Union Street in Old Town Alexandria
http://torpedofactory.org/visit/directions/

Paid parking is available across the street from the Torpedo Factory or you can take the free trolley from the King Street metro center. Paid street parking is available in most areas of Old Town Alexandria. There is limited free parking in nearby residential areas, but it is restricted to two hours. There are several garages within walking distance of the Torpedo Factory Art Center, too. For real-time maps to locate parking in garages, visit the ParkMe website or download their free iPhone app. Parking regulations are strictly enforced by the City of Alexandria. Parking is free after 9 pm, on Sundays, and on state holidays. Persons with proper handicapped identification on their cars may park free at any meter and are exempt from residential parking sticker requirements.

Trolley Information:
www.dashbus.com/Trolley


Contact ACM SIGGRAPH Washington DC:
http://washington-dc.siggraph.org/
http://www.meetup.com/DC-ACM-SIGGRAPH/
https://www.facebook.com/DCsiggraph
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/dc-siggraph