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If you're one of the computer users who think that controlling your computer via voice commands is sexy, think again, because you're at the risk of getting obsolete. A new trend in controlling the computer is setting in, and it promises to be just what science-fiction movies always touted:
let's give a proper welcome to tomorrow's mind-controlled devices.
Unless you are a computer expert, controlling the computer the way you want can be at least frustrating. Thinking of an action you'd like your computer to perform is much more comfortable than actually instructing your machine. For instance, you'll have to think of a movement while playing the game, and the virtual character will render it on the screen.
It might sound a little before its time, yet the technology I am talking about here is already on the market. Moreover, it comes at faint prices that makes it extremely affordable and will tremendously contribute to its popularity. At least two companies have come up with viable solutions, while others are constantly working in order to achieve the new technology.
Emotiv Systems has just unveiled their consumer-oriented headset that will hit the shelves later this year at a faint price of only $299. The Emotiv EPOC neural device allows the user to control the in-game environment using their thoughts alone.
The headset is capable to detect more than 30 different mind states, such as gaming immersion, tension, frustration or excitement. The facial expressions the device can understand are smiling, laughter, winking, crossed eyes, shock, as well as grimace, smirk and pure anger. The miracle does not stop here, as the EPOC is also aware of the cognitive aspect of gaming: it can translate actions such as push, pull, lift, drop and six-axis rotations, as seen in the video below. Last, but not least, the helmet introduces a "completely new category of action based on visualization, the first of which is the ability to make objects disappear."
The game character will be entirely capable of translating player's emotions dynamically. This means that the human can better and more accurately control different actions and expressions; the headset will also allow them to get enhanced control over the objects in the game. Additionally, the headset is a direct interface between the human player and the gaming environment that enhances the game immersion.
The other "player" on the neural battlefield is NeuroSky Inc, that recently unveiled its MindSet neural device, that will wirelessly send the neural impulses to game consoles, PCs as well as cell phones. The company has not announced a selling price for the device, although the MindSet can be purchased in large amounts by resellers only.
"The use of BCI technology represents a potential breakthrough in human-machine interfaces, changing the realm of possibilities not only for games, but in the way that humans and computers interact," Paul Ledak, vice president of digital convergence at IBM, said in a statement.
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