Ah, research! I love how it's listed as "Atari's" Space Invaders. Oh well.
In any case, consumer "mind control" has actually been experimented with and released as commercial products since the late 70's. Most of these devices I believe worked by receiving signals only from the frontal lobes (OK, right and left temples), meaning you could only influence movement left and right by thinking more on one side of your brain. Obviously this was not an ideal control scheme, but this didn't stop various products from coming out. I remember one ambitous attempt in the 1995ish timeframe for one such device for the PC along with about a half dozen software titles, ranging from skiing games to a type of first person shooter. There was a big marketing blitz and fairly elaborate in-store displays and demo kiosks, but it obviously never took off.
I'm as much for gimmick controllers as the next guy and always have been. Certainly what was demonstrated in the video has unique possibilities even beyond brain therapy/rehabilitation. I would however like to see such a "controller" put to use for something more than the typical action game. Just think of what innovative product could be developed designed around thought/impulse control? These are baby steps and only when the true implications of this alternative form of control can really be explored will I truly get excited. It's just like with the Wii - I'm not exactly enthused controlling the same types of games with a different control scheme. I'd rather see software designed to take advantage of the strengths of the control and minimize its weaknesses. Again, there's a reason why joysticks and gamepads have been the primary form of game control for as long as they have.
Ah, research! I love how it's listed as "Atari's" Space Invaders. Oh well.
In any case, consumer "mind control" has actually been experimented with and released as commercial products since the late 70's. Most of these devices I believe worked by receiving signals only from the frontal lobes (OK, right and left temples), meaning you could only influence movement left and right by thinking more on one side of your brain. Obviously this was not an ideal control scheme, but this didn't stop various products from coming out. I remember one ambitous attempt in the 1995ish timeframe for one such device for the PC along with about a half dozen software titles, ranging from skiing games to a type of first person shooter. There was a big marketing blitz and fairly elaborate in-store displays and demo kiosks, but it obviously never took off.
I'm as much for gimmick controllers as the next guy and always have been. Certainly what was demonstrated in the video has unique possibilities even beyond brain therapy/rehabilitation. I would however like to see such a "controller" put to use for something more than the typical action game. Just think of what innovative product could be developed designed around thought/impulse control? These are baby steps and only when the true implications of this alternative form of control can really be explored will I truly get excited. It's just like with the Wii - I'm not exactly enthused controlling the same types of games with a different control scheme. I'd rather see software designed to take advantage of the strengths of the control and minimize its weaknesses. Again, there's a reason why joysticks and gamepads have been the primary form of game control for as long as they have.
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Bill Loguidice, Managing Director
Armchair Arcade, Inc.
[ My collection ]
[ http://www.MythCore.com ]
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Bill Loguidice, Managing Director
Armchair Arcade, Inc.