February 20, 2008
Brain Control Headset For Games
A neuro-headset which interprets the interaction of neurons in the brain will go on sale later this year. It works by picking up electrical activity from the brain and then sends wireless signals to a computer. It has been created by a company called Emotiv and will allow the user to manipulate a game or virtual environment naturally and intuitively.
The headset implements a technology known as non-invasive electroencephalography (EEG) to read the neural activity. The brain computer interface reads electrical impulses in the brain and translates them into commands that a video game can accept and control the game dynamically.
The technology can also be used to give authentic facial expressions to avatars of gamers in virtual worlds. For example, if the player smiles, winks, grimaces the headset can detect the expression and translate it to the avatar in game. It can also read emotions of players and translate those to the virtual world. According to the manufacturer, the headset could 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.
Emotiv is working with IBM to develop the technology for uses in strategic enterprise business markets and virtual worlds.
See how the headset works
Source: BBC News