Pilot Study: The Use of Electroencephalogram to Measure Attentiveness towards Short Training Videos

Abstract

Universities, schools, and training centers are seeking to improve their computer-based [3] and distance learning classes through the addition of short training videos, often referred to as podcasts [4]. As distance learning and computer based training become more popular, it is of great interest to measure if students are attentive to recorded lessons and short training videos.The proposed research presents a novel approach to this issue. Signal processing of electroencephalogram (EEG) has proven useful in measuring attentiveness in a variety of applications such as vehicle operation and listening to sonar [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]. Additionally, studies have shown that EEG data can be correlated to the ability of participants to remember television commercials days after they have seen them [16]. Electrical engineering presents a possible solution with recent advances in the use of biometric signal analysis for the detection of affective (emotional) response [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27].Despite the wealth of literature on the use of EEG to determine attentiveness in a variety of applications, the use of EEG for the detection of attentiveness towards short training videos has not been studied, nor is there a great deal of consistency with regard to specific methods that would imply a single method for this new application. Indeed, there is great variety in EEG signal processing and machine learning methods described in the literature cited above and in other literature [28] [29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34].This paper presents a novel method which uses EEG as an input to an automated system that measures a participant’s attentiveness while watching a short training video. This paper provides the results of a pilot study, including a structured comparison of signal processing and machine learning methods to find optimal solutions which can be extended to other applications.