The world’s 1st Cybathlon takes place in the SWISS Arena in Kloten near Zurich. A contest in which persons with disabilities compete against each other in a sports competition supported by machines. The Arena is restlessly sold out – 4,600 people are watching live and ensuring the right atmosphere. Radio and television are besieging the area and there are a total of 150 journalists at the location. Massive interest!
Alpine horns signal the start
Yesterday we inspected the Arena and the preparation rooms. We tested our equipment for the last time – everything’s ok for now. We have an early beginning today – getting up, breakfast and then we’re off. Inside, the feeling of expectant anticipation is palpable. Everywhere you can see acquaintances and fans of the respective teams, who have come from all over the world. 30 nations are represented here, 66 pilots with their own teams. And we’re here, too. Amazing! A highlight to make you grin – the opening ceremony with Alpine horns. Yes, we’re in Switzerland! Then the first competition begins. Arm prostheses show their skills at hanging out the washing and their strength at carrying boxes. Wheelchairs overcome steps and ground obstacles. Exoskeletons help paralysed persons to walk upright again. And then our race materialises: it’s time for the BCI racing teams.Just think of NOTHING
Our pilot Gerhard Kleinhofer impressed us greatly in the last few months. A tough stroke of fate took away almost all his motor skills and forced him into a wheelchair. But the competitive spirit of the former natural track luger is unbroken. He has to be in a highly concentrated state and properly “in the tunnel” in order to give the thought commands clearly and precisely which our brain computer interface can convert into control signals. Dear readers: just try thinking exactly of NOTHING. Or do mental arithmetic in the middle of a hall with over 4,000 cheering spectators! And couple that with the unbelievable excitement and anticipation involved in a competition of this size. Almost impossible not to be distracted.
The pilot Gerhard Kleinhofer and the team Mirage 91 highly concentrated at the Brain-Computer Interface Race.
Person to person
It doesn’t run altogether according to plan and we finally achieve 11th place. We held our disappointment within limits though, since what place you get in this competition is incidental. We students learned so incredibly much. And not only about brain computer interfaces and what international exchange between research and application can be like. But about interpersonal relationship.
Experience beats placing: cheerful faces at TU Graz' team Mirage 91.
