Biofeedback Gaming

runningwater writes "A new kind of game was debuted at the E3 expo. It is called Journey to Wild Divine. The game features a biofeedback USB interface designed to allow a player (or players) to navigate through the game using their mind power, breath, and heart rate. This is a wild and visionary concept which works so fluidly you can blow on the screen and objects move as if propelled by your breath. The game features an awesome soundtrack, including Grammy-nominated artists and spanning many genres. This is the new generation of gaming, and you have never seen anything like this before." Their site has a page with more information about the biofeedback aspect.

Comments

Has to be done

[BabyDave]

Obligatory MegaTokyo link

Look ma, no hands!

[SYFer]

I see a huge synergistic opportunity for the good people at Parks Medical Electronics, manufacturers of Penile Plethysmographs (be sure and scroll down to see a photo of your future "interface"):

Plethysmographs

Re:Look ma, no hands!

[doublesix]

They are simply the best instruments for studying arterial flow to the penis non-invasively.

I'm not so sure about that ... These may work a little better

The New Generation?

[Trent Polack]

So, the new generation of gaming involves blowing on a screen while listening to grammy-award winning music? ... Right. If you'll excuse me, I hear my Super Nintendo calling my name.

Game or Path to Inner Peace?

[Snowpony]

This certainly sounds like interesting technology but I guess I am skeptical until I get to see it first hand. The website itself gave me an impression of one of those 'enlightenment' cults. Is it a game or a stress-relief tool? A way to inner peace and tranquility perhaps? It's hard to say.

The testimonials are what you would expect from a new product but with no mention of an estimated release date or where to purchase it makes me wonder if this could just end up being a marketing tool without an actual release.

I guess I'm going to have to wait until I see something more tangible.

Re:Game or Path to Inner Peace?

[Annon Kaies Zi]

Actually, it does give a estimated date: "The Journey to Wild Divine, produced by The Wild Divine Project, based in Boulder, Colorado, and scheduled for release in September 2003, is a ground-breaking interactive computer journey that integrates the power of the spiritual quest with an innovative biofeedback interface and high-end multimedia production."

i wonder...

[bongobongo]

...what kind of in-game effect urination will produce? :D

An interesting project.....

[Daffy]

Ignoring the fact that this is being proposed as a game, its environment appears to be one that allows the mind to manipulate an environment.

The environment itself is rendered (hopefully in real time!) with apparent triggers throughout the game. For example wondering up to a waterfall where your heartrate increases by a small factor could trigger a dolphin jumping in the water....

This type of biofeedback is definately useful! If any folk have ever attempted meditation and reaching towards understanding of self, the lack of instant-feedback makes this process extremely difficult for the uninitiated.

Overall I see this project as a very good idea that is hopefully implemented well. Ultimately, however, I don't see this catching on as society isn't designed around relaxation and exploring ones own self.

And a shame....

-Just some crazy duck.
(wow, userid 1599 and i think this is my first post ever to /.)

Re:An interesting project.....

[JaredOfEuropa]

"The environment itself is rendered (hopefully in real time!) with apparent triggers throughout the game. For example wondering up to a waterfall where your heartrate increases by a small factor could trigger a dolphin jumping in the water...."

Just what I need... the likes of me will probably end up downing three double espresso's before visiting the waterfall just so I can see that god-damned dolphin.

Nice Ad

[Anonymous Coward]

I give the authors of this game +5 for creative advertising. That last sentence "is the new generation of gaming, and you have never seen anything like this before" gave it away as an advertisement though.

Still, good job of slipping it past the /. "editors"

Neurofeedback is coming too

[FrankoBoy]

I've been working in some psychology research labs for some time now. One the professors I've worked with studies neurofeedback, i.e. monitoring the electrical activity of the brain with electrodes attached on the head. I've actually helped training a bunch of kids to move a cursor on a screen simply by getting them to be concentrated on moving it wherever it had to be at that moment. ( some info here and here. It's not excluded at all that in the near future, we'll be able to gain control of computer interfaces with a little help from such devices. It's my first post on /. , nice ;)

Interesting...

[Annon Kaies Zi]

Well, I must say this seems very interesting. I am hoping this will be as good as it sounds. Hell, this might start a whole new genre in gaming. Can you imagine this technology being placed in a First-Person Shooter? Where your calmness actually affects your accuracy in using a sniper rifle. Or where being able to move faster depends on how your heart-rate is reacting. I think this could be the next step in a new generation of gaming. Where how you act effects your game play, and how focused you are. Imagine being in Unreal and being able to "know" if someone is near you, and (because of the senses) being able to react so fast you can aim at them and head shot before they can notice...

The Matrix game

[MacFury]

The Matrix Reloaded game has a "Focus" bar which allows your character to do matrix like moves, slow down time and such. It would be cool if you really had to calm yourself down and focus with the bio feedback device.

Re:Its not teh controller that matters.

[pixelgeek]

Making an AI smell the average gamer?

Isn't there a law of robotics that deals with this sort of thing?