Emotiv's EPOC plays head games
Today Emotiv Systems unveiled the EPOC neuroheadset, a device that will allow gamers to control their actions with their minds. According to Tan Le, president of Emotiv, they have created a "brain computer interface that reads electrical impulses in the brain and translates them into commands that a video game can accept and control the game dynamically." With time, this could potentially revolutionize not only the gaming world, but a variety of other applications as well.
Currently the game consists of manipulating a cube on the screen by pushing, pulling or rotating it. You are first required to calibrate the headset, which consists of a short six second test in which you just relax and then concentrate on an action such as 'push'. Next you attempt to manipulate the cube by reproducing whatever you were thinking during the calibration. Basically during the calibration you associate a thought or emotion with an action such as pull or push. When you recreate that emotion you should see the associated action occur on screen. You don't just think 'pull' and it happens.
The EPOC neuroheadset uses a set of sensors to tune into electric signals naturally produced by the brain to detect player thoughts, feelings and expressions. The headset can even pick up facial expressions and mimic them on an on-screen face. It can also read emotions and translate them to the virtual world. The headset can detect over 30 expressions, emotions and actions including excitement, tension, frustration; facial expressions such as smile, wink, raised or furrowed eyebrows; and cognitive actions like push, pull, drop and rotate.
Neuro-signal reading headsets are not a new technology - they have been around since the 70s. However, Le says "[the EPOC] is the first headset that doesn't require a large net of electrodes, or a technician to calibrate or operate it and does require gel on the scalp... it also doesn't cost tens of thousands of dollars."
The EPOC should be available late in 2008 for $299. It will supposedly be able to connect wirelessly to all game platforms from consoles to PCs. You can reserve a headset and sign up for Beta-testing that will take place in March and April at Emotiv.
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