IEEE brain-machine interface workshop opens in Bellevue

The IEEE SMC Workshop on Brain-Machine Interface Systems opened in Bellevue, Washington, starting a four-day programme focused on brain-computer interfaces and human-machine systems. The event is part of the IEEE Systems, Man, and Cybernetics Society's 2026 flagship conference and runs through October 7.

Its first day centred on the BR41N.IO BCI hackathon. The programme included sessions on real-time BCI development across hardware, APIs and deployment, along with practical coverage of common neural-control paradigms and open datasets for motor imagery, P300, steady-state visual evoked potentials and electrocorticography. The workshop combines peer-reviewed technical work with hands-on system building.

The format reflects how neurotechnology development increasingly spans signal acquisition, decoding software and deployment rather than treating them as separate research problems. The hackathon continues into October 5, while the broader workshop moves into technical presentations and paper sessions.