OMG, we're on our way to a frakking Holoband! OK, so we're a ways away still from the Holoband, but controlling a computer through thought is an important step towards virtual world-creating technology like the Holoband, the "headspa" or whatever it was in Minority Report, and similar sci-fi gismos (I'm not so sure about the holodeck, since I think the person actually walks around in a holodeck, but you get the idea). This Emotiv EPOC seems like something out of science fiction, but here it is right now.
Holoband.
Some of you may remember how excited I got about the Kinect. This seems considerably harder to use (so much concentration), and it doesn't have as many current applications as the gaming system will have once it comes out, but IT READS YOUR BRAINWAVES! It's one thing to wave your arm and have an image on screen move in front of you. That's pretty cool, but it's pretend telekinesis, since it's your arm movement and not your mind directly controlling it. But to be able to make it move with just a thought? Real telekinesis. In a virtual world, sure--unless you then have another application on the computer that will move an actual physical object. And there's something appealing and satisfying about having to concentrate and train yourself to control the program. Using the Force takes focus and practice, after all.
I definitely see there being applications for handicapped people, particularly as the technology is further improved. But I am awfully tempted to buy one just because. Just because my old-fashioned brain is having trouble believing it exists. And just because I've always wanted telekinesis.
8 comments:
First of all, I LOVE Ted talks. I've spent a lot of time listening to them and appreciating the ideas that some of these amazing people spread.
On that note: OMG future! I'm very much ready for a holodeck! As much as it's an interesting device for people with disabilities I can't help but wonder how much use they would be for the majority of people. Not the holodeck, the current visor they showed. It just makes my mind wander...
That is a GOOD find! Oh wow...totally like a holoband.
But, like Angel said...I am ready for a holodeck.
Honestly...I'd settled for a hover car though.
Simply amazing! Can't believe we have that kind of technology already! Wish I'd see what my grandgrandchildren will see!
On telekinesis, I'd sure like to play Jedi and pull my lightsaber from a distance, just for a start! ^^
Seriously, I'm still amazed about kinnect and now this!
Angel - I've seen a few TED talks before when other people have embedded them in their blogs, but this was the first time that I searched the archives myself. I was looking for ones tagged as "jaw-dropping". The first couple I watched were people essentially doing magic tricks (very good ones, of course), which was cool, but not really mind-blowing in the way this one was when I saw it.
Yeah, as a gaming system, it needs to work on the immersion. Controlling an avatar with your thoughts doesn't really seem worth it as long as you're still looking at the avatar on a screen--they really just need the Holoband. The other thing they need to work on is ease of use. The point of a system that lets you use your thoughts to control it is to make it natural and easy to use. This seems to take a lot of concentration. Still cool though.
DarkShinobi - I know the 3DS has technology that makes it 3D without glasses, but they really need to work on the hologram projection part of the holodeck. I wonder how that technology is coming along.
Vanessa - I know what you mean. We're lucky that we're alive to witness the technology that we have today, but as cool things keep being developed you have to wonder what we're going to miss. Space travel? Holodecks? Ah well, I guess it's a problem every generation has to face.
Jedi powers are awesome. I really hope the planned Star Wars game for the Kinect does it justice.
I totally blogged this before you!
But yeah, it's fantastic -- and it's already being used in real-world applications!
The wheelchair example at the end is so, so cool. Imagine if forward was controlled by smiling...
Sigh... *flails about*
Sorry, I must have missed that one. You are good about combing through the TED talks, though, so I imagine it's something you'd find and like.
Um, what is the flailing for?
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