The rise in popularity of the Wii system and games like Guitar Hero and rock group points to an emerging trend in video games: the death of the normal controller. Whereas games were once played primarily with the thumbs, they now are played with the whole body. a replacement invention takes this trend even further, enabling users to play games with their minds.
The Emotiv EPOC(TM) may be a headpiece that permits video-game players to regulate the actions and emotions of characters through their thoughts. instead of moving the hands, an individual can just believe how they need a personality to maneuver and it'll happen on screen. If a player smiles, their on-screen counterpart also will smile. The EPOC is meant to figure with PCs and every one game consoles - though a game must be created specifically to be used with the device. To encourage integration of the headpiece, the corporate behind the EPOC, Emotiv Systems, has released free tools to game developers to assist them incorporate the new technology.
Emotiv Systems was started by a few of entrepreneurs, a chip designer and a neuroscientist with the goal of "introducing thought to the human-machine dialogue". they assert that while they're concentrating on applying the technology to the computer game industry immediately, they believe eventually the technology are going to be used for a good sort of purposes - from television to plug research to security. consistent with Emotiv, their patent-pending neural processing technology makes it possible for computers to interact directly with the human brain.
The EPOC has three categories of detection: expressive, effective and cognitive. By expressive, Emotiv claims the EPOC can read and understand facial expressions (e.g. - smile, laugh, wink, crossed eyes, shock) then recreate them on a personality onscreen. By effective, they assert the sport adjusts dynamically for every individual's experience - meaning music or sound can change supported how the headset reads an individual's emotions. And, by cognitive, they ask an individual's ability to regulate actions on screen just by brooding about them.
Though it won't be available until the top of the year, interested gaming enthusiasts can reserve EPOC headsets online at Emotiv's internet site. The device goes for $300 and comes bundled with a game that puts the headset to use. Early adapters also get access to Emortal, a web portal that permits people to access and knowledge content through the headset. Designed as a spatial representation of a cityscape, users can walk though the town and find out games and other applications. they will also upload their own content, like music or photos, and knowledge them through the headset.
Though the EPOC technology is crammed with intriguing possibilities, it also may have an unexpected downside. While many are applauding the Wii technology for transforming video games into a more physical activity, the EPOC (if successful) may have the other effect: people won't even need to move a thumb to play a game.