Brain Controllers

 

 

 

 

        OCZ Impulse Actuator                                                            Emotiv EPOC

 

The following articles and manufacturer websites discuss a new video game technology. The devices use brain waves to control video games instead of facial expressions or manual controls. What are the implications in "training the brain" to play video games? Are they recording your existing brain waves when you do certain tasks and programming it to video game controls, or does each person have to learn how to change their brain frequency in order to control the game? Would this change your all-around brain frequency? Regardless if it takes your existing frequencies or not, it is a new way for the brain to react and control a device.  Could it change the way your brain functions; how the synapses fire?  No studies have yet been done or released with this technology to report on the implications and consequences to Consciousness.

 

 

OCZ Impulse Actuator

http://www.overclock3d.net/news.php?/input_devices/ocz_prepares_neural_impulse_actuator_for_shipping_next_week/1

 

This article claims-- "NIA's 'user-friendly software is calibrated based on the individual's physiology and personal preferences. Each of the Actuator's signals can be assigned to a specific keystroke on the keyboard or a mouse button..." 

http://www.custompc.co.uk/news/602163/ocz-brain-controller-in-mass-production.html

 

Official website does not indicate any specifics on how the device is calibrated. The only information provided on their website was the following press release. 

http://www.ocztechnology.com/aboutocz/press/2008/273

 

 

Emotiv EPOC

"Using non-invasive electroencephalography (EEG), it is possible to observe each person's individual electrical brain activity.  At Emotiv, we've created a robust system and methodology for detecting and classifying both human conscious thoughts and non-conscious emotions. This revolutionary patent pending neural processing technology makes it possible for computers to interact directly with the human brain."

http://www.emotiv.com/corporate/2_0/2_1.htm

 

 

The Telepathic Joypad -- Telegraph.co.uk

"Unsurprisingly they were reluctant to tell me exactly how it works, only talking vaguely about 'unfolding the cortex' and detecting electrical activity.  It seems that there will be a period of calibration as the software maps the way your individual mind works, in the same way that you have to spend a few afternoons reading out parts of Alice in Wonderland to teach your computer how you speak."

 

 

 

Below are some videos demoing this and similar technology.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

History

 

Intended to release in 1984, the Atari Mindlink Systemwould read resistance from muscles in the user's forehead and interpret them into commands on the screen by way of a headband with Infrared Transmitter and Infrared Receiver.  According to the Atari Museum, "the controllers did not perform well and gave people headaches from over concentration and constantly moving their eyebrows around to control the onscreen activities."  The Atari Mindlink System never made it into production.

 

 

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