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Justine: Doctors have been reading human brainwaves
in laboratories for almost a century.
With headbands like the NeuroSky MindWave Mobile,
we're now able to monitor our own brainwaves
and have fun in the process.
(up-tempo music)
I came to NeuroSky headquarters here in San Jose, California
to learn more about my brain and how it functions.
Greg, how did you develop this mobile devices able to monitor brainwaves
without all those uncomfortable suction cups?
Greg: We derive our technology from the medical world
from EEG technology which is electroencephalograph.
The technology itself is harmless.
It's a passive reading device.
All it does is listen to your brainwaves through the electrical signals.
Justine: Now, what was your main focus when you guys were working on this?
Greg: We narrowed it down to two.
One is in health and wellness areas.
Stress management, pain management,cognitive disorder therapies.
The other is in the entertainment market and toys and video games.
Justine: Now do you guys have anything here that I can try out?
Greg: Yeah, we have a game called Throw Trucks with your Mind
and we can set you up right here.
Eric: Products like the NeuroSky Mobile MindWave are in their infancy
but as we see developers step forward to build on top of this technology
all sorts of new products will emerge.
Justine: So, I've used other headsets for gaming before
but something tells me this is a little bit different.
Johnny: This is one better.
This headset will read your brainwaves.
And so, in this game you have the super power to throw
different objects with just the power of your mind.
There's throwing, lifting, super jumps, negating, pulling.
These different super powers are tied to different mental, emotional states.
Justine: So, do we use controls to do this
because what do I use my mind for.
Johnny: You still move around the world
with traditional first person shooter controls
but the only way to manipulate any of the objects is through mental powers.
Let's both turn our power to lift
then we can both try to lift this car together.
Justine: Okay.
I'm going to pull it and get you.
(laughs)
Johnny: Traitor.
Justine: Sorry.
(laughs)
Oh no!
Throwing Trucks is really cool to see this working in a virtual environment
but I would love to see something more tangible.
I mean, what is this little helicopter here?
Johnny: This is the Puzzlebox orbit
and this was a kickstarter collaboration with Puzzlebox and NeuroSky.
And what it is, is a helicopter that you can float with the power of your mind.
Justine: How does that work?
Do you just think, I want this to go higher?
Johnny: MindWave Mobile headset reads your brainwaves
and then it transmits those brainwaves via bluetooth to your mobile device.
The mobile device then sends in infrared signal to the helicopter.
Justine: As I'm thinking these things this will change?
Johnny: All that information will change in real time
and everything is just tracked and controlled.
It's almost like magic.
Justine: The real question is can I please try this?
Johnny: Most definitely.
Justine: So looks like we have enough room out here that I won't break anything.
So, can you demonstrate it first and then I'll give it a shot.
Johnny: By concentrating enough,
I'll be able to drive up the height of this helicopter.
Justine: There it goes!
It was amazing.
Do you think I'm ready to try it?
Johnny: I think you are.
Justine: Okay.
Johnny: So let me give you the headset.
Put it around your ear like that
and then we lower the arm like that.
There we go.
Justine: All right.
Johnny: Then I'm going to
Johhny: connect and start to read your brainwaves.
Just think about one single idea.
(gasps)
Look!
(laughs)
Justine: This is awesome!
Dr. Garni: I think we're just starting to enter the world
where brainwaves or EEG signals can be accessed to control what's around you.
There's certainly types of patients
that could benefit from this type of technology
such as paralyzed patients, patients in locked in states.
Eric: While this technology originated in the medical sector,
it's become faster, cheaper, smaller, more accurate
and you can imagine a future where it's implanted
in a variety of consumer devices.
Justine: With the technology employed by mobile brainwave monitors,
the possibilities are truly endless.
But with these possibilities come the question of access.
I just want to make sure that no one else is reading my mind but me.
(upbeat music)