Toys Read Brain Waves in the Newest Gadgets

Holodecks, here we come. A whole new area of toys is beginning to open up. Gone are the days of actually using your hands.

Engineers working at NeuroSky are testing prototypes for brainwave-reading toys and video games. The first example they are currently testing is a Darth Vader mask. The mask works by a sensor that is behind the mask, which lays on the users forehead and picks up the brain's electrical signals. The signals are then transmitted to a wireless receiver inside a light saber that goes with the costume, which works by the users concentration. The player must maintain his focus on the sword to keep it lit up, by keeping his thoughts fixed on the idea of it being lit. If their mind wanders from that train of thought, the sword goes off.

The idea behind this new technology is to create games that are more mind controlled. They want to be able to let players control a video game and its characters in a virtual world setting simply by thinking about it. Additionally, the more calm you are physically, the better you are able to play, since these signals will be aimed at picking up on your emotions and adrenaline.

The way this prototype works is simple. It measures a person's baseline brain-wave activity, and focuses on the signals that relate to concentration, relaxation, and anxiety. It will rank performances in each category on a scale of 1 to 100, and those numbers will change depending on the persons thoughts and distractions.

Researchers are hoping that these types of toys can actually help kids who are hyper-active, or have attention-deficit-disorder. They aim to boost mental focus and clarity, and raise concentration levels, because you must maintain a sharp focus to play these games to their fullest.

The basics of many brain wave reading games is electroencephalography, or EEG. EEG is the measurement of a person's brain's electrical activity which are monitored through electrodes that are placed on the scalp.

Most of us are probably thinking that these games will be expensive. But according to NeuroSky's CEO Stanley Yang, their headsets will not require gel to pick up on the senses, and they may be able to sell those headsets for as little as $20.

The company is still somewhat quiet about their plans, but an international toy manufacturer plans to release an inexpensive sensor toy with an embedded NeuroSky sensor at the Japan Toy Association's trade show late June of 2007. A U.S. version is to be shown in October at the American International Fall toy Show.

courtesy of RACHEL KONRAD, AP Technology Writer
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070430/ap_on_hi_te/mind_reading_toys
and
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070429/toy_brain_070429/20070429?hub=SciTech