Brainwave Control – Video Games – Generation 1

There’s not a lot out there yet, but as the hardware gets developed and the SDKs get released, we will be seeing more and more pop up.

 There are two companies currently working hard to break into the videogame ‘mindspace’ with brainwave recognition technologies, Emotiv and Neurosky.

There are a couple of videos floating out there from each of these companies. Emotiv shows a guy demoing a game that involves rearrangeing stonehenge pieces with his thoughts and Neurosky has a First Person Shooter type demo where each player attempts to crush the opponent with flying objects that are propelled and lifted into the air with the thoughts of each participant.

If the hardware is even somewhat affordable, gamers everywhere would be willing to be even the most simplistic of games for the chance to move objects with their thoughts. With the gamers of the world pouring money into the industry, the technology would advance extremely quickly. Most of the money for brainwave recognition is still being poured into medical use programs through grants and not yet being taken mainstream yet.

Often there is backwards business thinking with technologies that involve some kind of ethical concern (such as mind control). Although pure capitalism through corporate profit taking would provide a much faster path toward medical advancement of this technology, it’s often easier to get the public on board if you are trying to cure a disease or disability rather than make a buck.