Repeat Coolness: Emotiv Systems @ GDC

By Gina Bovara (Intel) (34 posts) on March 31, 2009 at 3:41 pm

Adjusting the headset

Adjusting the headset contacts

Getting calibrated

Getting the headset calibrated

Discussing the interface

Discussing the Emotiv interface

Gina with Emotiv co-founder, Tan Le

Gina with Emotiv co-founder, Tan Le

After making big news at the GDC 2008 show, Emotiv Systems made GDC 2009 a repeat performance with a big splash in our Intel Lounge area!

Emotiv Systems is part of the Intel Software Partner Program and took the opportunity in our Lounge to showcase the Emotiv mind control headset, allowing attendees to control objects with their minds.  I had the unique opportunity to watch attendees use the headset all week; the reactions ranged from shock to bewildered looks of awe.  Some users looked as if they were straining to move objects physically because they were concentrating so hard with their mind, which was quite comical.

As GDC was ending on Friday afternoon, I finally got a chance to try the headset for myself after watching attendees play with it all week. I put on the headset and after a few adjustments, I could see my brainwaves lighting up the little brain icon on the screen. I was instantly amazed.

First, I attempted to 'push' a block off the edge of a cliff. In my mind, I envisioned the block moving off the cliff and disappearing, and IT SUDDENLY DID! Unbelievable. I did it again and again and all I needed to do was think "push". Next I tried to spin the block in a clockwise motion, boom, it spun around. I got goosebumps and chills because it was so cool! I was effortlessly moving things with my mind!

After trying several other manuevers and successfully completing them, my mind was lighting up (sans headset) trying to imagine the incredible possiblities of this device. Could you imagine shutting down your laptop at night and then just thinking "lid close" and having it close itself up? Or what about glancing at your front door and thinking "lock deadbolt" and having it move to the lock position? What about "lights on", "garage open", "oven 350" and a host of other applications? And we're just talking about home automation! What about driving a car ... video games ... typing ... using a cell phone ... and all the cool things disabled folks could use it for? The possibilities for this device seem endless indeed!

Make sure you check out the Emotiv website; click the Contact link at the top to email the company and let them know what you think about the product. Better yet, join the Emotivated Facebook group and start discussing the device today!

Categories: Events, Gaming, Intel SW Partner Program, Visual Computing

Comments (4)

April 2, 2009 9:22 AM PDT


Tom		 I tried this piece of hardware at a show in 2008 and really liked it also; I can't wait until they hit the store shelves!
April 13, 2009 11:46 AM PDT


Chris		 You can download the SDK and start integrating it into your games.
October 22, 2009 6:47 PM PDT


Ken Koenigshofer		 I am interested in applications of the Cognitiv Suite to selection of letters from an array off of a computer screen to operate speech synthesizer software. Any ideas to help (including a clinical trial for an ALS patient) realize this would be much appreciated. Please post but also email any comments to kkoenigsho@aol.com
Thanks.
December 21, 2009 6:02 PM PST


Anon		 There is a smart team of folks at InteraXon with a brainwaves project set to launch in early 2010: http://web.interaxon.ca

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