EPOC Headset Will Revolutionise Computer Gaming
by Liam Bailey
2008-02-21 19:10:00 ****
In one of the biggest advances in the computer game industry, Emotiv will launch a headset later this year that lets users think or do what they want their game character to do. Currently the headset can read facial expressions, and simple thoughts such as lift or drop.
One of the best things for me is that it can detect emotions from your facial expressions, like happiness after killing a character in the game, "If you laughed or felt happy after killing a character in a game then your virtual buddy could admonish you for being callous." explained Tan Le, the president of Emotiv.
So far, the headset can read over 30 different emotions, actions and expressions, including: smiling, raising eyebrows, winking, shock and laughter. It can also detect more raw emotions like frustration and excitement. But perhaps the most incredible feature - gamers can command a character to do something simply by thinking about it.
"We've created a brain/computer interface that reads electrical impulses in the brain and translates them into commands that a video game can accept and control the game dynamically," Ms Le told the BBC. "It doesn't require a large net of electrodes, or a technician to calibrate or operate it - and it doesn't cost tens of thousands of dollars,"
Scientists have been measuring brain-waves in a similar way for almost a century, but experiments to use the measurements, what is called EEG to interact with computers began in the 1970's. Emotiv said their headset is to be the first consumer-oriented EEG games controller.
The EPOC headset, which connects with Sony Playstation, Xbox360 and all other major games consoles, as well as PC, has 16 sensors on the players head, and is wireless ready. It uses a gyroscope to measure the user's movement, technology first mastered by Nintendo in controllers for the Wii console. The EPOC headset is to be released later this year and will cost $299 (£153).
