Tan Le's wireless neuro headset is cheap, easy to use, and doesn't look like a torture device. Her company (Emotiv) also claims to have developed software that can 'unfold' cortical differences between individuals, vastly improving the accuracy of signal source mapping. We're talking about a commodity priced neuro interface that plugs into your USB port. EEG meets wireless mouse.
An optimist would look at this and say the golden age of neuro research is nigh. Not so fast. Someone still needs to develop software that can reliably translate EEG signals into research results; that kind of development requires ubernerds and we don't have any... but market forces will eventually birth a competent, if uninspired, solution. Then we will have to convince ordinary people to let us read their minds; that's where we will fail. Why? Because we won't put any effort into creating a positive and meaningful experience for participants.
3 comments:
If it doesn't look like a torture device how insightful can it be? ;)
http://www.tomhcanderson.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/waterboarding_cartoon3.jpg
andrewjeavons.blogspot.com read and enjoy.
There's already a headset system built specifically for market research. You can't close your curtains with it though, unfortunately. (Disclosure: I work for a company which partners with them).
http://www.emsense.com/
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