Mind reading headset

With a click of a mouse or a tap of a screen, this blog appears before you. The machine readily responds to physical touch or mechanical commands. Now, imagine simply staring at your computer or phone, envisioning a song to change, or your email to appear, and in a matter of seconds, it does.

This is exactly what Tan Le, the co-founder and president of Emotiv Systems has in mind with her breakthrough development of the human-machine interface Emotiv; a headset that takes input directly from the brain.

As the Emotiv website states, “The Emotiv EPOC is a high resolution, neuro-signal acquisition and processing wireless neuroheadset.”

The headset decodes a set of electrical signals produced by the brain that signify emotions, facial expressions, and thoughts. The headset holds the promise of essentially being life-changing. Wheelchair users will be able to make a left turn with one thought. Music lovers and artists alike will be able to create color, songs and art through feelings and emotion. Market research analysts will get real-time feedback and insight about how people feel and respond about material presented to them.

EEG measurements typically cost tens of thousands of dollars, are time consuming to use, and are not the most comfortable process. During her presentation, Tan Le demonstrates that the device is wireless and simple to use and said “[…] this headset only costs a few hundred dollars.”

Thinking about starting an emotional relationship with your digital device? Don’t hurt your brain, you might want to save all that thinking power.