Functional near-infrared spectroscopy analyzes the brain’s response to Google Glass

A novel  study demonstrates the potential of a portable functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIR) sensor developed by Drexel University (Philadelphia, PA, USA) in collaboration with George Mason University (Fairfax, VA, USA). The fNIR sensor uses near-infrared light to analyze the prefrontal cortex oxygenation levels during cognitive activities. The study aimed to use the fNIR sensor to determine which device (iPhone or Google Glass) was less mentally taxing to use. The researchers compared the mental workload and perception of environmental elements in a group of participants as they found their way around an outdoor college campus. One group used Google Maps on...