Emotiv Systems, the pioneer in brain computer interface technology, has revealed the Emotiv EPOCTM, a neuroheadset that allows players to control game play with their thoughts, expressions and emotions. The Emotiv EPOC is the first high-fidelity brain computer interface (BCI) device for the video gaming market and will be available to consumers via Emotiv's web site and through selected retailers in late 2008.
The neuroheadset is a lightweight, sleek and easy-to-use wireless device, featuring sensors that detect conscious thoughts, expressions and non-conscious emotions based on electrical signals around the brain. Emotiv's technology processes these signals, enabling players to control their in-game character's expressions or actions and influence game play using their thoughts, expressions and emotions.
“Being able to control a computer with your mind is the ultimate quest of human-machine interaction,” said Nam Do, CEO of Emotiv Systems. “When integrated into games, virtual worlds and other simulated environments, this technology will have a profound impact on the user's experience.”
The Emotiv EPOC detects over 30 different expressions, emotions and actions. As a result of these detections, players will enjoy a more immersive, lifelike experience. Games will be able to respond dynamically to player emotions, enabling, for example, more sophisticated dynamic difficulty adjustment. Players can more easily simulate the aspects of gaming by controlling certain actions and expressions and manipulating objects in the game using their brains instead of a keyboard or controller.
In addition to these detections, the Emotiv EPOC incorporates a gyroscope, which enables the camera or cursor to be controlled by head motions. Emotiv and IBM announced that they intend to explore the potential of Emotiv's BCI technology beyond the gaming market, into more strategic enterprise business markets and virtual worlds. IBM and Emotiv plan to explore how to make these environments more personal, intuitive, immersive and ultimately more lifelike. IBM also intends to explore how the Emotiv headset may be used for researching other possible applications of Emotiv's BCI technology, including virtual training and learning, collaboration, development, design and sophisticated simulation platforms for industries such as enterprise and government.
“The use of BCI technology represents a potential breakthrough in human-machine interfaces, changing the realm of possibilities not only for games, but in the way that humans and computers interact,” said Paul Ledak, vice president, IBM Digital Convergence. “As interactions in virtual environments become more complex, mice and keyboards alone may soon be inadequate. BCI is an important component of the 3D Internet and the future of virtual communication.”
The brain is made up of approximately 100 billion nerve cells, which are called neurons. When these neurons interact, an electrical impulse is emitted, which can be observed using non-invasive electroencephalography (EEG).
