Play video games with your muscles
25
Sure, you use your muscles during a 12-hour Skyrim marathon and we're sure your phalanges are extremely trim, but that's not the same as using your muscles to play a game. Biomedical company Advancer Technologies has created the USB Biofeedback Game Controller, a device that reads the electromyographic output of unique muscles to move (in the above demo video) Mario through level one of Super Mario Bros. 3.
In the demo, this man's bulging right forearm controls the classic A button to jump, his right bicep moves Mario right, up and down, and his left bicep moves him left. Advancer sees applications for the USB Biofeedback Game Controller in treating patients with neuromuscular disease or injury, but we see it as a welcome break from those old-school, non-muscle-stimulating controls you've been using for so long. Don't ask how we know the type of controller you use -- we just know.
Advancer has provided instructions to build your own USB Biofeedback Game Controller, so there's really no excuse not to.
Reader Comments (25)
Posted: Dec 17th 2011 8:08PM pally321 said
What if all you have is half muscle/ half flab?
Posted: Dec 17th 2011 8:08PM TitaniuIVI said
How about I use my muscles to control my fingers then use my fingers to play video games? I know I'm adding an extra step in, but it just sounds alot easier.
Posted: Dec 17th 2011 11:49PM TaintedKane said
@TitaniuIVI
Just like the future kids in Back the Future, "you play that with your hands? That's a baby's toy."
Reply
Just like the future kids in Back the Future, "you play that with your hands? That's a baby's toy."
Posted: Dec 18th 2011 3:36AM Esposch said
@TitaniuIVI
I don't think this technology will ever become big in video games. But imagine connecting up the outputs to a mechanical arm and then giving it to people suffering from degenerative muscle conditions. Our if they had tech that could read the impulses that control speech, it would be possible to give burns victims a natural sounding voice again.
This is nothing more than a tech demo.
Reply
I don't think this technology will ever become big in video games. But imagine connecting up the outputs to a mechanical arm and then giving it to people suffering from degenerative muscle conditions. Our if they had tech that could read the impulses that control speech, it would be possible to give burns victims a natural sounding voice again.
This is nothing more than a tech demo.
Posted: Dec 17th 2011 8:09PM kilroy214 said
Stop trying to make me exercise, Society!!!
Posted: Dec 17th 2011 8:14PM ArtificeDrake formerly known as said
"Strongbad can beat me up with his muscles"
Posted: Dec 18th 2011 10:26AM QuintonFlynn said
@ArtificeDrake formerly known as Still ArtificeDrake. Homestar Runner references have been everywhere lately. What are the Brothers Chaps up to? They can't honestly have such widespread popularity and decidedly ignore their fanbase, doing shitty stunts on kids shows and whatnot.
Reply
Posted: Dec 18th 2011 1:53PM KirbyCommando said
@QuintonFlynn
I did love HSR... Still do, but i think of the site as dead and never watch the old toons
Reply
I did love HSR... Still do, but i think of the site as dead and never watch the old toons
Posted: Dec 17th 2011 8:36PM Churrotastic said
If this keeps going on, we're on the verge of seeing headlines like:
"Next up: Activision announces Air Guitar Hero for Kinect."
...and that will be the day I play Russain Roulette solo with a fully loaded gun.
"Next up: Activision announces Air Guitar Hero for Kinect."
...and that will be the day I play Russain Roulette solo with a fully loaded gun.
Posted: Dec 17th 2011 8:42PM arucious said
Um, not to troll or anything, but what's the difference in this and Kinect? Muscles instead of movement?
Well... it would provide a more accurate motion control, so I guess this IS good news
Well... it would provide a more accurate motion control, so I guess this IS good news
Posted: Dec 17th 2011 8:46PM JGGiant915 said
This technology is going to make professional gaming really uncomfortable to watch
Posted: Dec 17th 2011 8:46PM tecnicrow said
You mean I could play with my "guns"?
Posted: Dec 17th 2011 9:12PM Jhoalot said
I failed already.
Posted: Dec 17th 2011 9:26PM TitaniuIVI said
Now I can masturbate and play video games at the same time. YES!
Posted: Dec 17th 2011 9:30PM grgry said
First we played with our hands, than our bodies, than our muscles... THAN our eyes! Right eye blinks to move forward, left eye to move back, both eyes to jump. DO ETT!
Posted: Dec 18th 2011 1:35AM The Nasty Nick said
Does the barbed wire wrist tattoo come with the kit or is it sold separately?
Posted: Dec 18th 2011 8:16AM CrabBattle said
This could help disabled gamers
Posted: Dec 18th 2011 10:54AM Andrew12h said
Well, at least I can beat Batman Arkham Asylum now that I can use my middle stick.
Posted: Dec 18th 2011 12:59PM gangcar said
They hooked Chuck Norris up to this and he automatically beat every game ever made.
Posted: Dec 18th 2011 2:30PM Puertoricarious said
The phalanges is a term for the specific bones in the fingers/toes, not an interchangeable term for the fingers. It's not really appropriate to refer to phalanges as trim, that's like saying your vertebrae are sore when you really mean to say your back is sore.
Posted: Dec 18th 2011 11:23PM AFATALERR0R said
Everyday is like playing an FPS with these guns ::Flexes:: skadooosh!





