With the emergence of so-called
Sixth Sense technology,
mind-control devices are moving to the forefront of the digital realm. While some of these
neurological tools are being used in marketing endeavors, others have more immediate implications for media such as games,
apps, and even movies that react not to words or movement, but to thoughts, feelings, and minute neurological responses. Indeed, the
singularity is near.
MyndPlay: Touted as the first-ever mind-controlled media player, the
MyndPlay system relies on
real-time brainwave tracking to garner info about a viewer’s emotional state, and modifies media content in response. The MyndPlay headset uses EEG technology to cull brain data, which corresponding software interprets to determine a viewer’s neurological reaction to a movie or game. The progression of the story at hand depends on that response, so that viewers can mentally navigate through alternate plot lines and endings, ultimately controlling the trajectory of the content via their thoughts. The
headset is now available through the MyndPlay site, along with a handful of choose your own adventure-style
movies and games.
NeuroFocus: Berkeley, CA-based research firm
NeuroFocus specializes in using brainwave analysis to access consumers’ neurological responses to products in order to determine what they desire most. Founder/CEO A.K. Pradeep promises clients a type of science-based consumer research that accesses the inner-workings of the brain to provide never before accessible insights. As
reported by Fast Company, NeuroFocus recently introduced a portable, wireless EEG scanner called Mynd, which allows for the effortless “mind reading” of consumers as they go about the daily business of interacting with products and brands. This new neurological approach is sure to appeal to the current cultural
obsession with all things scientific.
EPOC: Mind-control technology has major implications in the world of gaming, where players are already accustomed to commanding action via movements and gestures rather than handheld controllers. Emotiv’s
hands-free, wireless neuroheadset, called
EPOC, uses saline sensors to tune into electric signals produced by the brain.
This technology enables the headset to process and interpret players’ expressions, thoughts, and feelings over the course of game play. The headset
retails at $299, and a range of compatible games are available in the
Emotiv App Store. Both within and beyond virtual worlds, this neuro-technology platform’s ability to gather candid emotional insight through neurological behavior is poised to make, well, waves.
