Control Video Games With Your Mind
February 21st, 2008
Before the end of this year, you'll be able to strap on a lightweight piece of headgear and control video games with nothing more than your thoughts. Emotiv's new EPOC neuroheadset brings us one step closer to Matrix-esque control over our environment. I can't wait to give this gadget a try.
Emotiv has also created software that allows you to map any keystroke pattern to a specific thought or emotion detection in the neuroheadset, meaning the EPOC can be used to control any PC game. Have you ever wanted to cast a spell, hit a homerun, or blast your alien enemies just by thinking about it? The technology to make it happen has finally arrived.
In a recent BBC News segment, Emotiv president Tan Le announced plans to release the EPOC later this year, just in time for the holiday season. If the headset works as well as they claim, it could forever change the gaming industry, and I'm sure it won't be long before other industries find innovative ways to make use of the product too.
Did I mention how much I can't wait to give this gadget a try?
Robert says:
Woot !
When I saw this one the nightly news, I wondered if you might get a kick out of this new 'brain toy'!
It also made me wonder…. if it is 'nothing more' than pickups to catch electical stimuli from the muscles in the scalp (??? and brain function ??? ) —- is there a chance some reverse form of this ( electro magnetic ? ) might be used to stimulate specific areas of the brain?
Feb 21st, 2008 at 9:45 pm
reality shifter says:
After reading about it on Emotiv's web site and watching the BBC News segment, I got the impression it detects electrical activity in the brain the same way an EEG would. (Tan Le talked about sensing electrical activity in the neurons of the brain, which is what an EEG does.) I think the headset also detects facial movements and head movement.
My concern is about how accurate the brain activity readings will be. Body movement can result in artifacts in the data recorded by an EEG. It's difficult enough to get a clean EEG reading when the person is sitting still, so I'm not sure how they'll avoid artifacts in the data recorded by the headset's EEG sensors when the wearer is moving around while playing a video game. Also, the electrodes used for EEGs are usually attached to the scalp with conductive gel or paste that helps them detect the electrical activity in the brain and send those signals to an attached device. It looks like the sensors in the EPOC just rest on the scalp. That will reduce the amount of brain activity they pick up, but maybe that's all they need for gaming purposes.
Either way, I'm eager to try it. My mental reflexes are much faster than my hands on a video game controller will ever be.
~ Kris
Feb 22nd, 2008 at 11:05 am
Robert says:
IF it does work with some mild concentration and 'stillness'….
I can see this being an incentive for parents. A device that helps their kids learn to concentrate and 'be still'…. even if it is for playing a game.
Though, some may complain. At least the kids get 'some' movement burn with their frenetic hand devices. Now, they can sit immobile for hours — still killing all the bad guys and barely twitching their muscles.
Feb 22nd, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Ben says:
Fantastic! I can't wait to read about your experience with this device … and try it myself at some point too.
Feb 27th, 2008 at 3:15 pm