OCZ Prepares Neural Impulse Actuator for Shipping
An anonymous reader writes "Technology review site Overclock3D has received word that OCZ Technology is putting their neural impulse actuator (NIA) into mass production for shipping next week. The device, aimed at gamers, works by reading biopotentials. 'These include activities of the brain, the autonomous nervous system and muscles — all of which are captured using embrace sensors located on the NIA's headband, amplified and sent to the PC via USB 2.0.' Users of the NIA will be able to control their in-game movements using only the power of mind. The device is priced at around $600USD"
Not necessarily. There have been devices like this for paralyzed people for years. The big innovation would be making it small and cheap enough to sell, which they say they have done.
A more detailed review might help.
Not a sentence!
The article says the device will cost an estimated $300, not $600.
The part that was quoted had the word mistyped. The word is later correctly spelled as biopotential.
Looks like they may be beating http://www.emotiv.com/ 's "EPOC Neuroheadset" to market by several months. The claim for the EPOC was that it would be available for the holidays at the end of 2008. Interesting that they are also planning to sell for the same $300 price as this OCZ one.
Will they put the specifications out under a free unencumbered licence?
... WOW.
... WOW.
It is real and the technology exists. I have had past PERSONAL experience with computer control via neural feedback.
--side story to explain: I have ADD and aspergers. When I was about 8 (I think) I saw for some time a particular specialist and one of the activities I did was to be hooked up (with electrodes on my head) to a computer and navigate a 2D map with a little dot.
Not quite the level of control that you'd need however I can tell you with practice it gets easier.
This is amazing stuff. I'm so getting one.