mind games

Gamers will soon be able to interact with the virtual world using their thoughts and emotions alone. Emotiv has created a brain computer interface that reads electrical impulses in the brain and translates them into commands that a video game can accept to control game play. The headset can detect more than 30 different expressions, emotions and actions. They include excitement, meditation, tension and frustration; facial expressions such as smile, laugh, wink, shock (eyebrows raised), anger (eyebrows furrowed); and cognitive actions such as push, pull, lift, drop and rotate (on six different axis). Gamers are able to move objects in the world just by thinking of the action. BBC News: "Brain Control headset for gamers" by Darren Waters.

Is this the next wii attachment? This is cool, but kinda scary at the same time. Think of the gaming possibilities. This headset can detect more than 30 different expressions, emotions and actions. Example scenario: so like you are about to be attacked by crazy zombies but their flaming arrows and grips of death are deflected when you smile big and fast enough. Maybe your avatar just gets an extra confidence boost when you smile a lot during game play and this makes the battles go more smoothly.

It doesn't just detect facial expressions. It can sense meditation, frustration, tension and excitement. Will there be a game designed to improve your meditation skills? Your ability to stay calm in a stressful situation? A prayer warrior game? LOL - I'm such a dork. Maybe some form of cognitive or emotional therapy can be developed through engaging in these not so factitious neural exercises.

See Ken's blogs on neuroscience - the praying brain