control a PC with your mind - without a headset
North Carolina– based Freer Logic’s new biofeedback device, the Bodywave, trains you to become aware of your brain function, so you are better able to regain focus when you drift off at work, lose your steam on the back nine, or nearly fall asleep at the wheel. It’s the first brain-wave scanner to be worn on an arm or leg, forgoing clunky headgear.
The Bodywave works by tracking your brain-wave activity as you play games or engage in virtual-reality simulations. When synapses fire, they release electrical pulses that move through the body. The system is currently used to help coach kids with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and has also been adopted as a virtual-reality training tool in nuclear power plants. In the future, expect similar sensors in real-world scenarios. A Bodywave-equipped golf club could help players stay centered on their shots, or a steering wheel could alert a drowsy driver to keep his mind on the road.
A bio-feedback armband called BodyWave is the first of its kind to measure brainwave activity through the body, not the scalp. Instead of an EEG headset recording a user’s concentration level, the Bodywave reads brainwaves at the arm by measuring the electric current given off by neurons firing in the brain. Bundled with an interactive software package called Play Attention, it reportedly enables interactive feedback and training towards peak mental performance. Apart from the obvious potential in sport, its ability to train attention and teach stress-control in mobile situations (much less obtrusively than wearing a headset) opens up wider potential. It has already found applications in education, industry and the military as well as in improving the lives of people with disabilities like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
The BodyWave uses three dry carbon sensors (no pastes or gels required) that rest directly on the skin of the arm, wrist or leg. These sensors search for brainwave activity, measured in beta-level waves, and the arm-band then sends the feedback wirelessly to a mobile device or PC. The fact that the user is not hindered by headsets and wires allows for much more physical applications such as sports and military training.
For example, football coaches can analyze the physiological data of their players while they’re on the field, therefore knowing exactly when focus and concentration are dipping and when to substitute players during the game. In military applications, an army commander could measure the stress levels of soldiers in a combat environment, and make strategic adjustments dictated by the data being sent back. Applications have already been devised for, and used by, organizations like the U.S. Womens Bobsled Team and the U.S. military. As for educational use, the technology is currently being used in over 600 school districts in the U.S.
The Play Attention software includes mind-controlled 3D games and interactive virtual reality simulations. In one simple game, the player moves a fish through the ocean according to their level of concentration. If concentration levels dip, the game ceases to function properly until the user engages more fully with the task. An “Attention Meter,” a small bar at the top of the screen, is used to monitor the user’s concentration, filling completely red when “full concentration” is achieved, and emptying when the user loses focus.
The virtual reality simulations range from simple tasks to the operation of a nuclear power station. Once again, the BodyWave device constantly monitors the brain activity of the user, with a sufficient performance state activating the simulation. Avatars can be used within the program as teachers to provide instruction, or as a surrogate student to participate in the lessons or simulations.
Freer Logic is currently working on another bio-feedback device, this time in the form of a wristwatch.
- BodyWave lets you control a PC with your mind - without a headset (gizmag.com)
- New brain-controlled computer trains people to stay alert (news.bioscholar.com)
- Sensics Smart Goggles Android 4.0 Virtual Reality Helmet (netbooknews.com)
