Let the Mindgames Begin

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Posted by michael on Tuesday July 20, 2004 @04:59AM from the a-jedi-uses-the-force-for-knowledge-and-defense-never-for-attack dept.

chienr writes "Like Pong, but instead of paddles, you use your brainwaves to control the ball over to the opponent's goal, that's Mindball! This apparatus was previously an experiment under the name Brainball, and is now commercially available - here's another link with video."

28 of 244 comments (clear)

Controlling balls by the power of your mind? by Anonymous Coward · 2004-07-20 05:04 · Score: 5, Funny

At last, a computer game for women.
Seems ripe for... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-07-20 05:05 · Score: 4, Funny

doping scandals.
Comment removed by account_deleted · 2004-07-20 05:05 · Score: 5, Funny

Comment removed based on user account deletion
Take a nap by srleffler · 2004-07-20 05:08 · Score: 5, Funny

It seems to me, that the best way to win would be to just close your eyes and ignore the ball. Better yet, take a nap.
1. Re:Take a nap by marnargulus · 2004-07-20 05:20 · Score: 5, Interesting
  
  Actually, brain activity would likely be at a peak during a dream stage. Hypnosis would be much better, where you can be told to basically "think of nothing" and come as close as possible.
2. Re:Take a nap by 3Suns · 2004-07-20 05:39 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  You're pathetic! My grandmother could beat you at this game, and she's in a coma!
  
  --
  
  -3Suns
  
  ~~~~
  The Revolution will be Slashdotted
3. Re:Take a nap by Omerna · 2004-07-20 05:49 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  Only if the game lasted a few hours. You don't start to dream right when you fall asleep; it's something like increments of 90 minutes after you fall asleep. For instance, fall asleep at 12:00 and you'd dream at 1:30, 3:00, 4:30, etc.
  
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  No sig for you.
Nothing new by i8urtaco · 2004-07-20 05:08 · Score: 4, Funny

Atari was going to put out a similar device for their 2600 way back when.
1. Re:Nothing new by dr_dank · 2004-07-20 05:35 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Atari was going to put out a similar device for their 2600 way back when
  
  That doesn't compare to the disappointment of finding out that feeding pictures of models into your printer, hooking up a Barbie to jumpercables and waiting for an electrical storm with a bra on your head to make Kelly LeBrock emerge from your bedroom closet was bunk too.
  
  --
  Where does the school board find them and why do they keep sending them to ME?
This reminds me oddly of 2001 by LeahofRivendell · 2004-07-20 05:09 · Score: 5, Interesting

It's funny how in all of these futuristic shows we show people playing games and controlling cars with our minds. Now it's becoming a reality on a much quicker timescale than we imagined.

It's just like how the book 2001 predicted we'd have space travel, and land on the moon, then we did, way before 2001. It's nice when technology moves faster than fiction.

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I are winner
1. Re:This reminds me oddly of 2001 by kisrael · 2004-07-20 05:16 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  Uh, you're kidding, right?
  
  About 2001. Where we had a moon base, commercial space station, regular commercial space travel, and a big ol' manned trip to Jupiter by this point?
  
  If this is a troll color me hooked...
  
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  SO YOU'RE GOING TO DIE: The Comic for Dealing with Death
The most relaxed player wins. Interesting. by Anonymous Coward · 2004-07-20 05:09 · Score: 5, Funny

So, in order to play you have to almost *not care* if you win or lose...

This may have uses in anger management courses, but I can't see it popping up in bars and arcades any time soon. :)
Obligitory Star Trek Reference by Omega1045 · 2004-07-20 05:10 · Score: 5, Funny

They had something like this on TNG's episode "The Game", where Wesley and Ensign Robin Lefler are the only ones on board that have not been taken over by a game you control with your mind. I am sure if Wil Wheaton is reading this he will have an Ashley Judd comment ;-)

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Great ideas often receive violent opposition from mediocre minds. - Albert Einstein
1. Re:Obligitory Star Trek Reference by dotwaffle · 2004-07-20 05:31 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  My god, I AM a geek. Not only did I know what you were talking about, I was thinking the same thing!
2. Re:Obligitory Star Trek Reference by Anonymous Coward · 2004-07-20 05:44 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  I always figured the reason why Wesley didn't fall for the game was because Ashley's *cough* charms were too distracting for him to concentrate on directing the ball into the funnel. I mean, how many geeks would be playing a stupid-ass videogame like that when you're sitting right next to Ashley Judd?
Mindgames? by CajunArson · 2004-07-20 05:10 · Score: 4, Funny

I thought the real mindgames were all the 503's Slashdot has been throwing as part of a guerilla marketing campaign for the Manchurian Candidate or something.

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AntiFA: An abbreviation for Anti First Amendment.
Yawn by Anonymous Coward · 2004-07-20 05:15 · Score: 4, Funny

Wake me up when they are playing with a bottle of Janx Spirit.

"Oh don't give me none more of that Old Janx Spirit/ No, don't you give me none more of that Old Janx Spirit/ For my head will fly, my tongue will lie, my eyes will fry and I may die/ Won't you pour me one more of that sinful Old Janx Spirit").
I Can't Really Play... by bfg9000 · 2004-07-20 05:16 · Score: 5, Funny

... I don't have the minimum system requirements...

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I'm not normally an irrational zealous dickhead, but I figure "When in Rome..."
Chevy Chase would say... by Wizzy+Wig · 2004-07-20 05:20 · Score: 5, Funny

"Be the ball, be the ball....."
Lot of other stuff on this by joeldg · 2004-07-20 05:21 · Score: 5, Interesting

That table looks like something from a pizza parlor circa 1985.

Lot of other stuff on this:
http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,58193,00. html

and this one which is funny..

Cheers

--
anime+manga together at last.. in real time.
Hehe. I thought the same thing. by SatanicPuppy · 2004-07-20 05:22 · Score: 5, Funny

Seems like the ideal stoner party game.

Duuuude, I am soooo much more relaxed than you.

Talkin smack bitch? Watch my total relaxation crush your total relaxation.

Whoooooaaaaaa

--
ad logicam Claiming a proposition is false because it was presented as the conclusion of a fallacious argument.
AAAaaakirrrrraaaaa! by j_d · 2004-07-20 05:31 · Score: 4, Funny

you kids with your cheap jedi references. pah.
Re:Forgive my absolute ignorance.... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-07-20 05:48 · Score: 5, Funny

WTF is an Ashley Judd comment?

A Linux user kissed Ashley Judd. Yes, it's true (Wil Wheaton uses Mandrake). BEAT THAT YOU SMUG BSD SNOBS!
Control with your Mind != Detects Relaxation by Spankophile · 2004-07-20 05:51 · Score: 4, Insightful

There is an art installation in Toronto called Deconism that asks people to sit around tables, each wearing similar "brainwave detection" devices. Your brain activity contributes to some computer generated music, thus you're doing musical improv with your MIND!!

In actuality though, the difference between YOU CONTROL IT WITH YOUR MIND and "you take a few deep breaths, and your levels change" is quite a big dissapointment.

This sounds no different.

What I *really* want to see is something that you calibrate: i.e. Think "left," and the pattern is recognized, likewise for think "right." Then you can control an actual game of Pong or Arkanoid with your mind. That would impress me.
Move the Ball by Prince+Vegeta+SSJ4 · 2004-07-20 06:01 · Score: 5, Funny

Do not try and move the ball, that's impossible. Instead, Only try and realize the truth. You have no balls.
ummmm. wait, that didn't come out right
Re:Rather steep price by Not_Wiggins · 2004-07-20 06:14 · Score: 4, Informative

$19k for a simplistic, albeit technically interesting, game seems rather steep.

Was thinking exactly the same thing.

Instead of directly reading brainwaves, one could rig up a similar game using those cheap "bio-feedback" devices (you remember... the ones that attach to your finger and generate a tone? The "more relaxed" you are, the "lower" the tone goes).

Sure, it wouldn't be *exactly* the same, but it would be a similar concept... and for under $50.

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Diplomacy is the art of saying, "Nice doggie!" until you can find a rock.
Real Multi-Axis Mind Control by spun · 2004-07-20 06:14 · Score: 4, Informative

Check out these guys. Full multi-axis control, even a brain controlled mouse with clicking. Hell, they even piloted a sailboat with it. I saw it years ago on some science show, and they are still around. Much more advanced than the expensive showpiece in the article.

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- None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
Mindball? by Dyolf+Knip · 2004-07-20 07:51 · Score: 4, Funny

Is it happy? Can we taunt it?

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Dyolf Knip