UCalgary researcher hopes to make video game experiences better for neurodiverse kids

It is a struggle for neurodivergent children to feel seen or be active with their peers.

Even in activities like video games, they are often watching from the sidelines as other kids have fun.

Dr. Eli Kinney-Lang, PhD, has dedicated his research work to improving brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) for children living with complex needs. 

After joining the University of Calgary as a postdoctoral researcher in 2019, he founded BCI Games and became co-director of BCI4Kids.

Kinney-Lang’s efforts haven’t gone unnoticed, as he was recently named the new Azrieli Accelerator Assistant Professor in Inclusive Biomedical Engineering Technologies for Neurodevelopment.

“I’m a big game advocate, as games offer some incredible, immersive and diverse experiences,” says the new member of the Department of Biomedical Engineering. “They are one of the biggest draws for people of all ages while creating supportive and meaningful communities and friendships.”

Through the lens of inclusive engineering and game development, Kinney-Lang says he looks forward to expanding the impact and reach of BCI systems for children.

Pressing the ‘start’ button

Neurotech and neurodevelopment weren't on Kinney-Lang’s mind when he first began his undergraduate studies in mathematics at the University of Wyoming.

He found himself in a neuroscience lab working on fundamental questions about how the brain organized early in development, but he admits he didn’t make the connection to focusing on neurodevelopment at that time.

After working in another lab as a junior specialist in southern California, Kinney-Lang moved to Edinburgh, Scotland, to explore BCIs.

That’s where his supervisor encouraged him to pursue something he had a particular interest in.

“Throughout my undergrad, my wife got a job as a kindergarten teacher and worked with some amazing kids with complex needs in an integrated classroom,” Kinney-Lang says. “Then, when we moved to Edinburgh together, she joined as a teacher for a special school focused on supporting non-speaking children on the autism spectrum.”

The many daily conversations about their day-to-day lives helped him set his PhD focus: improving the engineering behind BCIs for children.

Taking it to the next level

As Kinney-Lang finished up his work in the U.K., he was at a BCI Society meeting when he met Dr. Adam Kirton, MSc’97, MD, a professor at UCalgary’s Cumming School of Medicine.

He eventually reached out again for collaboration opportunities and joined Kirton’s lab in 2019.

“From there, I was able to translate some of my experiences to build up the newly formed BCI4Kids Lab,” Kinney-Lang says. “I’ve since been able to continue growing and focusing on how to better drive engineering developments of BCIs in partnership with families and children interested in the technology.”

He says relationships with a variety of stakeholders are key, ranging from kids, families and clinicians to engineers, computer scientists and game developers.

A real-life multi-player game

Kinney-Lang says the Azrieli Accelerator Assistant Professorship, through the Schulich School of Engineering, will allow him to continue the important work of building up the technology.

He says some of the advancements have already included better personalization options to support persons with low-vision, hearing impairment and physical disability.

“There is some amazing work happening to make games more playable and accessible for different needs,” Kinney-Lang says. “By using activity in the brain to directly manipulate a game, it offers brand-new ways for everyone to experience the game.”

He says it’s also an opportunity for all stakeholders to work together so that all kids can play together.