Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Review: Emotiv EPOC, tough thoughts on the new mind-reading controller]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/27/review-emotiv-epoc-tough-thoughts-on-the-new-mind-reading-cont/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/27/review-emotiv-epoc-tough-thoughts-on-the-new-mind-reading-cont/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/27/review-emotiv-epoc-tough-thoughts-on-the-new-mind-reading-cont/#comments We live in exciting times. You can, today, right now, actually buy in real life the kind of sci-fi gear you only expect to find in a video game. Controlling things -- anything but your own body, really -- with just your thoughts is a fantasy and sci-fi staple, whether it be Darth Vader force-choking some mouthy Imperial admiral or Professor Xavier commanding the X-Men from the comfort of his wheelchair, finger pressed to temple in grim concentration. But that fantasy is now reality, and you can control things (well, a thing) with just the power of your mind. Think it and your computer does it, no more pesky mice or keyboards or even voice commands.

Or so the people at Emotiv would have us believe. Being the kind of guy who absolutely cannot wait for the day when, as Jonathan Coulton sings, "the things that make me weak and strange get engineered away," I pre-orded Emotiv's thought-controlled EPOC mind-computer interface device as soon as I thought I had $299 to spare. As it turned out, being the first on your block with the new toy comes with a real risk: you might end up buying a frustrating experimental prototype for the cost of five new video games.

Gallery: Review: Emotiv EPOC

Continue reading Review: Emotiv EPOC, tough thoughts on the new mind-reading controller

JoystiqReview: Emotiv EPOC, tough thoughts on the new mind-reading controller originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EmotivEmotiv-EPOCEPOCJedimind-controlperipheralspongtelekinesistelepathyWed, 27 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Emotiv Epoc brain controller is supposedly out now ... did you get one?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/23/the-emotiv-epoc-brain-controller-is-supposedly-out-now-did-y/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/23/the-emotiv-epoc-brain-controller-is-supposedly-out-now-did-y/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/23/the-emotiv-epoc-brain-controller-is-supposedly-out-now-did-y/#comments Project Natal aims to revolutionize video games by doing one simple thing: removing the controller from the video game equation. The Emotiv Epoc aims to revolutionize video games even harder by removing the entire human body from the video game equation ... well, except the brain. The would-be mind-control device made an inauspicious debut at the 2008 Game Developers Conference where it failed to sway a skeptical live audience (including us!) -- the company later pinned the blame directly on interference from the sound crew's fancy wireless headsets.

Now, a year-and-a-half later, Emotiv is finally shipping the $299 device this week, which means, if you pre-ordered the device (alas, that first shipment is all sold out) it should be in your hands (and on your head) this week. We're not sure what to make of the lack of press outreach, but we'll be at CES in January and hope to give the Epoc another trial. In the interim, if you want to drop $299 on the thing, "orders placed will be shipped within 2 weeks." If you've got one already and want to share some pictures and feedback, you know where to find us.

Gallery: Emotiv Brain Computer Interface

JoystiqThe Emotiv Epoc brain controller is supposedly out now ... did you get one? originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EmotivEmotiv-Epocmind-controlWed, 23 Dec 2009 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Emotiv mind-control device shipping December 21 for $299]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/11/emotiv-mind-control-device-shipping-december-21-for-299/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/11/emotiv-mind-control-device-shipping-december-21-for-299/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/11/emotiv-mind-control-device-shipping-december-21-for-299/#comments Wait, you guys are still playing video games with your hands? What, are they baby games? For babies? We've been using Emotiv's EPOC human-computer interface for months now, allowing our cerebellums to play our games for us, completely cutting our appendageal middle men out of the equation. You'll have the same opportunity on December 21, when Emotiv ships limited quantities of the device to customers who decide to pony up for the $299 price tag.

Of course, it doesn't work with all your games. Actually, from what we've seen, it's only capable of making boxes spin around and disappear. What it's really great at, however, is creating super awkward press conferences.

[Via Engadget]

JoystiqEmotiv mind-control device shipping December 21 for $299 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brainemotivEmotiv-Epocepocgadgetmind-controlscienceWed, 11 Nov 2009 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC08: 'Brain control' Emotiv headset, round two]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/22/gdc08-brain-control-emotiv-headset-round-two/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/22/gdc08-brain-control-emotiv-headset-round-two/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/22/gdc08-brain-control-emotiv-headset-round-two/#commentsFiled under: ,

Though their press conference on Tuesday night was ... well, it was a disaster (watch our video to relive every cringe-inducing moment), that didn't stop the electroencephalographers at Emotiv from demoing their technology on the GDC show floor to, evidently, better effect. Mahalo Daily's Veronica Belmont donned the cephalopodic contraption and, using nothing more than the power of her mind, managed to make a box disappear. While the technology appears to work well enough (now), we're still not sold on it as a real gaming interface and not a novelty.

*concentrates on finishing post*

JoystiqGDC08: 'Brain control' Emotiv headset, round two originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Feb 2008 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EmotivEmotiv-EpocGDCGDC08Fri, 22 Feb 2008 16:45:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC08: Watch Emotiv's 'performance anxiety']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/gdc08-watch-emotivs-performance-anxiety/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/gdc08-watch-emotivs-performance-anxiety/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/gdc08-watch-emotivs-performance-anxiety/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Emotiv's press conference was less than stellar (if you recall). Technical problems plagued the presentation, making us walk away saying "wow" ... but for all the wrong reasons. We were skeptical about brain controlled gaming, and Emotiv's conference did little to change our jaded expectations. The test subject utterly failed to produce the results the company expected, much to the dismay of the presenters. Watch the awkward silence that fills the room as we wait (and wait) for the test subject make a block disappear with the power of his mind!

Afterwards, the company was forced to continue with a brave, but awkward presentation where we're encouraged to use our imaginations in lieu of a working demonstration. Ultimately, the company blamed the "very high power, frequency-hopping, spread-spectrum technology" headsets used by the sound crew for all the technical glitches. Hmm. Whatever caused the problems Emotiv faced, the night ended up being rather surreal, and we hope this video can capture a little bit of the awkwardness that filled the theater.

Continue reading GDC08: Watch Emotiv's 'performance anxiety'

JoystiqGDC08: Watch Emotiv's 'performance anxiety' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Feb 2008 22:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>emotivEmotiv-EpocEpocGDCgdc08PCWed, 20 Feb 2008 22:45:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC08: Emotiv 'brain control' headset shows its kinks]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/gdc08-emotiv-brain-control-headset-shows-its-kinks/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/gdc08-emotiv-brain-control-headset-shows-its-kinks/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/gdc08-emotiv-brain-control-headset-shows-its-kinks/#commentsFiled under:

bci
"I think we found a bug," mocked an audience member during an embarrassing lapse in the presentation, one of countless hiccups that marred Emotiv's would-be grand unveiling of the "world's first consumer 'Brain Computer Interface'" (not "Brain Control Interface," as the press invite alluringly stated). Spunky CEO Nam Do kicked things off with a burst of energy, firing off adjectives like "super cool" and "uber-cool" to describe his company's 'next generation human-machine,' a conscious and non-conscious processor with a three-part 'total communication' interface: affectiv, expressiv and cognitiv. Clearly, something was missing.

Nam explained that the machine could read feeling and emotion, things that "distinguish us from humans ... er, computers!" An assistant, Marco, entered stage right sporting Emotiv's neuro-headset, a mess of tentacled sensors wrapped around his temple, as Nam introduced Marco's virtual counterpart, Emobot. A robot head with a cute, round face began to mimic Marco's facial expressions on a large screen behind Nam. "Look cute, look cute," goaded Nam, and Marco and the Emobot responded, blinking their eyes and pursing their lips. Emobot followed along for a few more moments before freezing up -- and it was onto the next demonstration.

Nam pressed Marco to "think of something, and make it happen" by manipulating a three-dimensional cube now occupying the center screen. A simple 'zoom' command seemingly worked, but when told to mind-push the cube along multiple axes, Marco failed. "Weak mind, weak mind," teased Nam, warding off the inevitable tension. He filled the pause with pseudo-science, something about electrical impulses converted into an image of thought within a roughly 90,000-dimensional space. (90,000 dimensions? Had we heard that right?) Marco was still squeezing his eyes shut, carefully molding thoughts with his hands. Still nothing ... and then ... the cube spun briefly to life.

"You feeling okay to do the risky one?" Nam asked. (No, it was not a question.)

Gallery: Emotiv Brain Computer Interface

Continue reading GDC08: Emotiv 'brain control' headset shows its kinks

JoystiqGDC08: Emotiv 'brain control' headset shows its kinks originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Feb 2008 04:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bcibrain-computer-interfaceemotivEmotiv-EpocepocGDCgdc08Wed, 20 Feb 2008 04:30:00 EST