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NeuroGaming Conference Profiles the Rise of Brain-Computer Interfaces
kkleiner writes "The first NeuroGaming Conference and Expo took place at the beginning of May to showcase the convergent technologies that are paving the way toward gaming with your mind. Tech news has been dominated with stories about Google Glass and the Oculus Rift, which was on display for attendees to test out. Other technologies that utilize EEG are opening up possibilities of a controller-free gaming experience into virtual realities with unlimited potential. 'Deeper questions surrounding the morality of neurogames will be sure to stir debate. As virtual reality technology inches closer to lifelike resolution, should gamers simulate themselves as characters engaged in acts of violence or criminal activity? It’s unpredictable what these games could uncover about the user as neurogames gain insight into a users’ psyche and how they respond to stimuli at a subconscious level. For instance, a game could uncover how its user particularly enjoys shooting at civilians in gameplay. Games might even become expert at diagnosing psychiatric disorders. As computers become exponentially more powerful, game resolution could fully mimic our ever-present reality.'"
WTF is wrong with these humans? It's like they learn nothing about the Universe at all. I can see this type of technology accenting controller play, but not replacing it. Why? Because you do have hands! Yes, Look, I'm not lying! Many of you are using a direct mind machine interface right now, albeit a bit slower than thought, but clearly more refined than the control these helmets allow. Why, for a proficient typist the words spill right onto the page, and even auto-correct without explicitly thinking to hit the backspace key, or navigate the cursor and selection.
Hundreds of Millions of years of evolution have bought humans highly sensitive dexterous appendages for multiple simultaneous Input and Output channels; Yet their "advancements" in "intuitive" user interface are to just leave the most amazing "controllers" on the planet dangling at your sides while they try to detect brain waves? That's so similar to voluntarily grunting as a mode of communication instead of speaking that it lacks humor.
Don't get me wrong, I love new technology, but no you're not replacing the hand held controller. It's how humans have evolved to manipulate the Universe. Thought input doesn't give you the necessary tactile feedback to modulate your input. This is Elementary Cybernetics folks: Sense, Decide, Act.... SENSE. You need sensory feedback in order to decide to act, and thus converge on the proper input level. A keypress, button, or trigger informs you directly by way of near instantaneous immediate sensory feedback in a way that waving your arms about in front of a camera, or wearing a brain-wave detecting hat just can't.
The place for these things is perhaps to pull up and navigate on screen huds or issue commands to squadmates, or select weapon groups, or reactive-paint colors, Minecraft materials, etc. while you continue to control the game with hands and feet. I have pedals for my steering-wheel controller. The steering-wheel has force feedback -- The wheel fights back (it gives me feedback about the game-world). I was never able to compete in racing games until the day after I got that controller. I purchased it to develop games with, not because I enjoyed racing games or ever expected to be able to play them with skill, and yet I now do. The point is that there is plenty of room left for innovation in tactile response controls too. There's no false dichotomy. Hands-free controls can be used along with hand-held controls to give you more control.
It's really like they're not even observing the same damn species, I swear.