Wow I knew that brain control technology was advancing but never realized how far along it is. At the recent Emerging Technology Conference at Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers reveal what could be the next in hands free video game controllers. The technology presented allows gamers to play games with their brains.
The researchers concluded that when a gamer plays a video game subconciously he is emitting brain waves that actually can be read to interpret his actions. The technology has been used in a variety of manners such as being able to tell how loud someone's music is without actually listening to the music at all, instead using the brain's waves to indicate volume level. The technology has even gone so far that it can tell what your saying in your head (To a degree) it can tell if the words you are thinking sound like Ohh and ah!
The technology is so advanced that Wadsworth Center research scientist Gerwin Schalk showed the Conference video evidence of a test subject playing Doom with his mind. At the moment the technology isn't complete it can be improved, the player still needed a joy stick to control movements left, right, up and down. However the gun control was entirely controlled by the subjects brain allowing the user to fire his weapons with pinpoint percision and accuracy.
Gerwin Schalk wrapped up his demonstration with a brave and bold procomation. "What I'm here to tell you is that this is not science fiction. This is an emerging reality,"
So could this be the next Kinect? Its really early but if the system can see how high the volume is on the music your listening to, or what sounds the words you think make. How hard is it to believe that within the next ten years we could see video games entirely controlled by a gamers mind?
-JC7
"In God We Trust - In Games We Play " - Joel Reimer
