GDC: Gaming And Mind Control

Emotiv Systems, a developer of 'brain computer interface technology', is due to launch 'mind control' technology for games at GDC today. Dubbed the Emotiv Development Kit (EDK), the technology is aimed at providing a more immersive environment for gamers than the market currently offers.

The equipment has two primary applications: conscious manipulation of game objects and the relaying of unconscious communication into a game.

Manipulation of game objects pretty much does what it says on the tin: you'll be able to move stuff in games around with the power of your mind. Say you're Darth Vader in Lego Star Wars II: you can hurl large pieces of equipment at that annoying brat of a son you spawned without the use of a joypad, keyboard or Wii Remote. If you were hoping to make your character run and jump just by thinking about it, however, you'll have to hope a bit longer.

The other application involves the EDK picking up on your emotional state and relaying it to your on-screen avatar. The most obvious application at the moment would be for something like Second Life where users have little to do other than gab at each other.

Emotiv's chief executive Nam Do elaborates, stating:



The EDK works by reading electrical activity in your brain and processing it so that computers can read it. It all sounds a bit sinister to SPOnG.

If at this point you're feeling a bit worried that you've stumbled into a 1930's pulp sci-fi novel... well, fair enough. But they're serious.

Don't chuck out your Wii nunchuck just yet, though. Emotiv has not announced any details about when the EDK might start to be incorporated into games, nor has it indicated what the kit would cost. With that in mind it's probably going to be quite some time before we see any serious application of the technology in games. In other words, you don't need to worry about the internet reading your mind just yet...


^{†Source: Sydney Morning Herald}