GDC 07: Project Epoc brings mind control to games

  • By Candace Lombardi, News.com
  • Posted Mar 7, 2007 11:22 am PT

Emotiv Systems introduces new helmet that could allow gamers to leave behind joysticks and buttons in favor of thoughts and emotions.

From News.com

Emotiv Systems today unveiled a brain/computer interface system with a helmet and software applications at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. The Project Epoc system can move objects based on a gamer's thoughts, reflect facial expressions, and respond to the excitement or calm the gamer mentally exerts, the company said.

Sensors in the helmet pick up on electric signals in the brain. The system software analyzes the signals emitted by the brain and then wirelessly relays what it detects to a receiver. The receiver is plugged into the USB port of a game console or PC, according to Randy Breen, Emotiv's chief product officer.

As with handwriting or voice recognition, the machine itself has a learning curve, improving as it better understands what the player is thinking, but there is also a skill level involving visualization on the part of the gamer.

Anecdotally, the system seems to work best with children and others open to believing in their capability, according to Breen. It seems that gamers who believe in their ability to manipulate the virtual world with their brain--the kind of people who are skilled at using their imagination, in other words--are better at using the device.

"The detection works best when you think about that action in a particular way, repeating that thought pattern," Breen said.

"We have had a number of kids try the equipment, and they often get the best results right away," Breen said. "Part of that is because the kid doesn't have the same kind of barriers as an adult does. Lots of kids can fantasize about moving a cup and believe it."

Adults, on the other hand, are more definitive in their thinking and thus have a barrier to believing that they can do something out of the ordinary, Breen said.

While almost anyone can do at least one action with the device, Breen said some adults require practice to master up to three simultaneous actions.

The helmet shown at the show is only a prototype to demonstrate to game developers what can be done with the technology. While Emotiv is not yet ready to announce any partnerships, Breen did say the product will be coming to market in 2008.

In conjunction with Project Epoc's debut, the company launched a kit for game developers Wednesday. Emotiv also announced that it is developing its technology for use in other industries, including medicine, security, market research, and interactive television.

Emotiv, which was founded in 2003, has offices both in Sydney, Australia, and San Francisco. The company counts among its investors the Australian government. One of its four cofounders is Allan Snyder, director of The Centre for the Mind, a joint venture of the Australian National University and the University of Sydney. Steven Duvall, the director of technology for Intel Capital's International Sector, serves as an adviser to the company.

73 Comments

  • Agulf

    Posted Feb 21, 2008 5:27 pm PT

    2007? More like 2008. How did I miss this story in 2007? Hmpf

  • cjcr_alexandru

    Posted Mar 10, 2007 8:17 am PT

    This sounds a little strange to me. More info is needed.

  • HostileEffect

    Posted Mar 10, 2007 2:28 am PT

    I would dominate with this thing! I day dream a lot and I'm exploring lucid dreaming... dude, its the only way to fly!

    Pictures plz!

  • anamnawshad

    Posted Mar 9, 2007 12:36 am PT

  • theKSMM

    Posted Mar 8, 2007 2:15 pm PT

    This makes me think of someone trying to master his psychokinetic powers. "Move the cup with your mind, Mr. Jones." Seconds later the spoon goes flying off the table.

  • spelledarn

    Posted Mar 8, 2007 1:23 pm PT

    Sounds awesome. Looking forward to true VR games.

  • rossjaxom

    Posted Mar 8, 2007 12:20 pm PT

    http://www.emotiv.com/2_0/2_1.htm

    image of the device/ flash needed

    has anyone watched the movie "strange days"- it reminds me of a squidee

    I think its a great idea, huge learning curve, not only stimulation of playing a game, but having to visualize at the same time. The theory as to it's function is sound, but the time needed to generalize it for the mass consumer is huge!

  • chutup

    Posted Mar 8, 2007 1:11 am PT

    ABSOLUTELY SWEET
    now stephen hawking can play games too.

  • AuthenticM

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 9:00 pm PT

    Wow, just wow.

  • botanisk

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 7:51 pm PT

    Why all the negative comments. And mind control helmets, come on an leave your conspire theories at home. This is innovative. I mean compared to this, the Wii control scheme is stoneage. I say hurray

  • xronc

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 7:46 pm PT

    Im interested but afraid, id like to see some people try it out and see if any secondary effects ahppen before even getting close to this

  • pencilpusher69

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 7:06 pm PT

    "hitomo "Part of that is because the kid doesn't have the same kind of barriers as an adult does. Lots of kids can fantasize about moving a cup and believe it." how can one talk such BS.... "I'm more excited about actually using my body to become part of the interaction of the games"

    there's a great barriere-less thing clled life, wich you are already part of by using your body... games only using ur brain for interaction, the opposite of this is called life.... check it out"

    I'm not even sure what it its you're saying.

    Books, check'em out.

  • RaiKageRyu

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 7:03 pm PT

    Hmm, a little too early.

  • bum_boy

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 6:57 pm PT

    I smell brain cancer!

  • epormada

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 5:37 pm PT

    *steps up to counter* Uh yeah, I'll take one of those mind control helmets and a flying car please, Thank You.

  • epormada

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 5:34 pm PT

    Why oh why didn't I take the blue pill!

  • Pete5506

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 5:23 pm PT

    cool

  • Dirk13

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 5:22 pm PT

    first of all, where is the picture to this crazy prototype helmet? does it look like the crazy thing doc brown was wearing in Back To The Future?

    also, i can predict the actual release date for this magic technology right now. Roughly around the third quarter of NEVER!!!

  • Endrance

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 4:58 pm PT

    Soon we'll be able to log into, "The World"...

  • Surllio

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 4:53 pm PT

    Repent, repent, for the end is near. The end is very near.

    Just what we need. Seriously, this is a very dangerous thing to be venturing into.

  • hexmarkXXV

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 4:45 pm PT

    I desperately want to see a picture of this gadget.

  • santaman64

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 4:38 pm PT

    "Use the force, Gamers" Move your x-wing out of the swamp yourself!!!!

  • Mikazukinoyaiba

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 3:41 pm PT

    Sorry but .hack/ scared the idea of having anything attached to my head in order to operate or play in a virtual world.

    When games start hacking into my brain, that is when gaming and the sake of "immersion" gets to be too far.

    We already have people that are addicted to MMORPGS like WoW and forsake responsibiliteis and reality for it, that number will increase and grow more dangerous with something like this happening in the most likely distant future.

  • evry1snice

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 3:37 pm PT

    holy crap.... that is all

  • BadMunky

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 3:29 pm PT

    sounds awsome but i bet it's gonna cost a lot!

  • Enginwolf04

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 3:27 pm PT

    The future is here...... I can't wait to see how this killer app will be instituted into the games of tomorrow.... this'll be very interesting

  • R3DN1N3

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 3:26 pm PT

    If that ever happens that's gonna suck. I don't like the idea of computers handling everything. Computers will one day drive us from point A to B, computers will detect emotions, computers will do surgury, computers will fight wars, computers computers COMPUTERS! All I have to say is HELL NO. I'm never giving up the ability to play games by pushing buttons and joysticks. If we all just did everything through thought alone, not only will it get boring fast but it would be like watching TV.

  • Gigatron

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 2:44 pm PT

    seriously, think about this helment combined with a VR visor. Equip yourself with a motion sensing thingy, and voila! Total interactivity.

  • Timotht

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 2:41 pm PT

    Awesome, next step total immersion video games

  • Maleorder

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 2:37 pm PT

    A short time ago there was a news article reporting that Nintendo was entertaining the idea of a console without a traditional controller, but a VR system. Could this be a part of the Next Nintendo console? Along with the Wiimote this could change gaming forever.

  • LiliShake

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 2:18 pm PT

    I BELIEVE!!!

    (Can I try?)

  • Lord_Guan_Yu187

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 2:11 pm PT

    I guess that cuts out all the gamers who have ADD.

  • Max_Hydrogen

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 2:02 pm PT

    This could lead to telekenesis.

  • rokkuman09

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 1:59 pm PT

    Now that is bizzare. It would be cool if this works out, but if it does it will probably be a while before it's widely available.

  • JSharpe_187

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 1:53 pm PT

    I would be bad at that, my mind wanders too much, my character i nthe game would be doing some pretty weird stuff

  • 6icks_tea_4hoar

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 1:51 pm PT

    gimmick.

  • Lord_Guan_Yu187

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 1:40 pm PT

    "As with handwriting or voice recognition, the machine itself has a learning curve, improving as it better understands what the player is thinking, but there is also a skill level involving visualization on the part of the gamer."

    So where is the part about the Chosen One coming out? Is his name gonna be Neo too?

  • dukerav

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 1:31 pm PT

    Creepy? Yes. Interesting? Most definitely. I wonder if/when this technology will be developed for use in games and how it will be utilized? This makes the Wii-mote seem like, forgive me, but... crap.

  • Gigatron

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 1:28 pm PT

    this combined with some sort of motion sensing would be amazing

  • Game-o_O

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 1:24 pm PT

    Angelic Layer~ Woot, I would love to try one of those. Ps. Are their any videos of this in action? I want to see how well it performs.

  • Waskallywabbit

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 1:18 pm PT

    This is exciting news...in a creepy sort of way.

  • Gigatron

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 1:18 pm PT

    there is no spoon!

    A digital world you can manipulate?

    Pretty mind-blowing stuff.

  • hitomo

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 1:11 pm PT

    "Part of that is because the kid doesn't have the same kind of barriers as an adult does. Lots of kids can fantasize about moving a cup and believe it." how can one talk such BS.... "I'm more excited about actually using my body to become part of the interaction of the games"

    there's a great barriere-less thing clled life, wich you are already part of by using your body... games only using ur brain for interaction, the opposite of this is called life.... check it out

  • Lord_Regnier

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 1:01 pm PT

    Pointless

  • UnknownPerson55

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 12:58 pm PT

    when i get the $300million ill buy one.

  • vaejas

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 12:53 pm PT

    Cheers for the Minority Report pic!
    I love GameSpot News.

  • pencilpusher69

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 12:51 pm PT

    Considering that they just got one of these things to play Space Invaders, I'm skeptical about the claims that this company is making.

    Not to mention, I'm more excited about actually using my body to become part of the interaction of the games. Sitting on my butt, making things happen with a mere thought has very little interest to me.

  • gamecube120

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 12:49 pm PT

    I'm thinking that headaches will result from this machine. Lots of them.

  • danof76

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 12:35 pm PT

    Boo.

    Just boo.

    Somehow I like the physical medium required to play games, I don't want any electronic to ever interface directly with my body like this. I don't care if it's the standard in 30 years, I'll never adhere to it.

  • dmn_link

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 12:35 pm PT

    It's just a matter of time before will all become Professor Charles Xavier.
    ( X men )

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