Developing a consumer guide on direct-to-consumer neurotechnology

Direct-to-consumer neurotechnology is widely depicted as "mind-reading" technology, which can potentially mislead users and the general public about its capabilities and appropriate use. This project was a research proposal I presented to a popular consumer advocacy organization. The aim was to make buying guide focused on dispelling myths and informing users about the capabilities, limitations, and basic science behind neurotech. I ultimately took up another research fellowship, but I personally believe some of the work discussed in this proposal is very much needed in the consumer advocacy space.

Goals

Design research goals

Create a consumer guide on neurotechnology, focused on dispelling myths and educating potential consumers
Understand what other technology- and consumer-focused research organizations have similarly accomplished, and determine how to improve

Methods

Market review

Crucial insights

Neurotechnology is widely promoted as "mind-reading" technology, which is potentially misleading to consumers and the general public
There are adjacent efforts in the nonprofit space to educate consumers, and provide buying guides of this and adjacent technology, such as those labeled as "AI"
The formation of a consumer neurotech consumer working group is also of high interest in consumer advocacy spaces, and development of the guide could work in parallel to the formation of that working group

Research impact

This was a research proposal for a non-profit consumer advocacy organization. The impact of the project landed primarily on me, although were the project carried through it could have potentially affected the group's supporters and subscribers.

What I learned

Nonprofit spaces are full of highly passionate folks, and I love sharing my passions with them
Don't reinvent -- often all the pieces you need for your project already exist and they just need a little adjusting to make them work