Abstract
Recent advancements in brain–computer interface (BCI) technology suggest that the potential for wide-spread introduction into society is rapidly approaching. Therefore, it is timely to consider how they can be designed to ensure that safe, high performing, and commercially viable technologies are developed. Considering the BCI system development lifecycle, key processes range from the marketing of regulatory approved BCIs, the mitigation of safety risks, and providing appropriate and long-term support to users to name a few. Systems thinking theories and methods are uniquely suited to analyze the BCI development lifecycle and identify design insights to influence such considerations. This chapter describes the analysis of an envisioned future invasive BCI system using a systems hierarchical task analysis, the development of a model of BCI safety and performance risk sources, and the identification of design insights using sociotechnical system design principles. The subgoals or system functions throughout the BCI system lifecycle and their operations were identified. Sources of BCI risks were identified and themed into broad categories, including BCI design, BCI application, the user, user support, and society. BCI system data and risk sources were applied alongside sociotechnical system design principles to identify a variety of system-wide design insights. These insights may be applied by BCI organizations to evaluate their performance on proactive safety and performance measures and to prompt the mitigation of shortfalls.