Brain-computer interface (BCI) allows direct communication between the brain and an external device. It differs from other interfaces in allowing bidirectional information exchange. The history of BCIs began with Hans Berger's discovery of electrical brain activity in the 1920s. Testing on monkeys in the 1970s showed voluntary control of neuron firing, while the first prototype for a human was implanted in 1978. BCIs can work through electroencephalography (EEG) or direct implantation. Current applications include assisting disabled individuals, but challenges remain around signal accuracy, information transfer rates, and cost.