Virtual Reality makes you feel like you're in a totally different world - a virtual world where the possibilities are nearly limitless.
Depending on the game, you could encounter fantasy creatures, explore ancient times, or have superpowers.
But what if Virtual Reality could give you an actual superpower - telekinesis?
What if you could play the VR game without a controller - but instead, only with your MIND?
The tech startup Neurable has now released the very first mind-controlled Virtual Reality game!
Neurable develops brain-computer-interfaces (BCI's), which means they're working on tech that's only controlled with our mind.
The concept itself is not entirely new - there are already several mind-controlled gadgets out there, and one of these will actually be featured in a future post soon!
But this is the first time that a Brain-Computer-Interface is being used to control a Virtual Reality Game.
We foresee an ecosystem of control inputs that will combine to make AR/VR environments incredibly responsive and adaptive to user behavior. Great strides have already been made with motion capture, haptics, eye-tracking, and natural language processing. What has been missing is a serious effort to link mixed reality to the ultimate computing platform — the human brain.
Neurable develops brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) for next-generation computing platforms. Our revolutionary technology allows people to interact with AR/VR environments using only their brain activity.
How does it work?
Neurable has created an add-on to the existing HTC Vive VR headset.
It replaces the strap at the back of the regular headset, and instead puts electrodes in specific areas that measure certain brain signals called “event-related potentials.”
Unlike other Brain-computer interfaces that usually work with EEG signals, these event-related potentials are tiny electric changes in the brain that are linked to sensory experiences, movements, or thoughts as they occur.
Neurable’s BCI platform uses machine learning to classify EEG control signals in real time. By combining our proprietary algorithms with unique neuroscience insights, Neurable achieves levels of performance that far exceed traditional BCIs.
Take a look at the GIF below.
This woman is controlling a photo album in VR only with her mind.
As her gaze wanders across the different areas of the screen, individual pictures are being highlighted.
Neurable can detect and analyze changes in brain activity that let the device know which photo the woman wants to select - in this case, the parrot. And this is just one of many examples that show how user interfaces for VR can function as "natural extension" of brain activity.
About the game
Neurable isn't a gaming company - they're a team of scientists.
They have teamed up with the spanish gaming developer Estudiofuture to create "Awakening" as the first game to demonstrate Neurable's Technology for VR.
The game was presented last week at the computer graphics conference SIGGRAPH in Los Angeles.
The storyline of "Awakening" is similar to the TV show "Stranger Things":
The player is a child that wakes up in a science laboratory operated by the government. He discovers that he had undergone experiments which resulted in him getting telekinetic powers!
Now, the player has to escape from their cell, fight his way past the robotic prison guards, and find a way out of the lab.
Neurable is encouraging other gaming developers to cooperate with them and create new games using their technology in the future!
The future of Brain-Computer-Interfaces and Virtual Reality
BCI's offer many different benefits for Virtual Reality gaming. For one, it can make tasks easier and faster that are nearly impossible when you can't see your body, for example typing text. You could just think what you want to write!
Additionally, BCI's could eliminate the learning curve in VR - you just think about what you want to do instead of getting used to a controller.
Although this concept won't replace physical controls completely, it still shows that a future without controllers.
But despite VR games being fun and exciting, Neurable has much larger ambitions for their technology.
Their BCI's could be used for much more widespread applications, for example tracking brain activity, neuroscience research, mind-controlled web development or brainwave-based marketing.
Another revolutionary use case would be to help those with locked-in syndrome (being unable to move or talk) to communicate with the outside world through their thoughts.
Gaming is an exciting forum for experimenting with new technology, but the applications for BCIs extend far beyond entertainment. As AR/VR devices move from early adopters to broader use cases in health, education, industry and more, interfaces will evolve to support more complex tasks. In the long run, we expect that AR/VR headset companies will integrate brain sensors directly into their products. They will do this because BCI systems radically empower users in mixed reality. Recent announcements and other publicly-available information confirm that major tech companies are actively developing BCI technology for commercial applications.What the touch interface became to smart phones, BCIs will become to mixed reality headsets.
© Sirwinchester
Don't you think technology is going too fast, loved the news and yeah an upvote and a follow from my side :)
Yes it does seem to be moving quick. I guess thats' because it is. Old folks like me are often saying "wow time is moving so fast" and that comment is to be expected from oldsters. Then I recently heard my 11 year old son say it. Is this no longer just a saying but an actual fact? I believe it is and I think technology is the driver.
Advancements in technology and tech that follows Moore's Law tells us that our processing power doubles every 18 months. According to this Source link Human knowledge is doubling every 13 months and according to IBM, " the build out of the internet of things will lead it to double every 12 hours .
The tools that we presently use to record time, like most of our tools are becoming obsolete. We will eventually need to upgrade not only our money but our time recorders (calendars and clocks) in order for us to stay relevant in the universe.
Yes I sometimes still can't believe moore's law, and how accurate it was / is!
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It sure is interesting to watch how technology is driving our evolution to higher level.
Thank you @sirwinchester for sharing this post and a place for us to discuss it.
tip!
Wow!! really a great explaination, Bring us some future posts just as incredible like this and if you don't mind please check mine too :)
@sirwinchester, that is really cool... I wonder how long till we have it fully production ready. That would do wonders for people with motor skills disabilities
Right!! Apart from it being fun, there are countless use cases in the medical field.
VR is the new era of videogames for sure.
I hope people dont get to crazy "living" in this virtual reality.
Good post as always, upvoted!
I used to have an Oculus DK2 and got nausea all the time after 30 minutes of usage, so I sold it on eBay and never looked back. Haven't tried the newer VR equipment yet.
That is bad, 3d screens do that too i think
Which is why I think the whole VR craze will be confined to a small subset of techies and enthusiasts.
Nice, i like it the your post, thanks. @ahlawat
Sooner than we might think, these gadgets will be usual buy for most of people!
I cant wait!!! VR is relatively new to consumer market and i fell in love with it since first viewing. Its amazing!
Wonder how far it will go in 5yrs along with AI tech?
upvoted, did you play it already master @sirwinchester?
Every technology keep growing fast
wow this is great stuff, the world is really going metaphysical with technology.
Insane mentality
Amazing techno. it maybe really fun to play games like this... 😳
work on poetry hope you like :)
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Looks pretty cool. I wonder if this could help children with autism. In either case, it would be cool to play a game with just your mind although I am curious as to how heavy the final prototype would be.
Thats kinda creepy.... reminds me a bit of black mirror
but i assume everything is heading that way anyway
Had the same thought :D Let's hope it won't end like there...
You're right, this is totally black mirror style!
But yes I think BCI's will develop much more in the future and will probably be integrated in a lot more tech.