Low-Cost EEG Head-Sets Promise Virtual Reality Feedback Loops (thestack.com) 35
An anonymous reader writes: Researchers from the University of Memphis have found that it's possible to use a low-cost EEG device such as the $300 Emotiv Epoc to understand how a user is feeling — opening up the path to genuine psycho-biological feedback in virtual/augmented reality scenarios. The Epoc has been used, in combination with the Razer Hydra, to give users control over VR/AR environments, but integrating emotional feedback into VR environments heralds many new possibilities in the fields of medical research, gaming — and, of course, marketing research.
From the people who brought you (Score:2)
What could possibly go wrong?
and I'm sure there will plenty of
Hey Earl...Watch this!
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LOL .. psychotic break induced by VR feedback loop via EEG ... wait, isn't that basically Total Recall?
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This screams What could possibly go wrong? and I'm sure there will plenty of Hey Earl...Watch this!
Actually it is a very good idea. The best games know when to dial up the action or horror, and when you've had enough action and are getting fatigued, give you a little break. Timing is everything. F.E.A.R. (the original one) had especially good timing with scary moments, as did Halflife 2 with action sequences. Valve put out a paper (PDF) [valvesoftware.com] which includes some information on how they were analyzing "emotional intensity" (page 77 of PDF) in Left 4 Dead and having the AI Director adjust the amount of action
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I have considered combining AR with the Emotiv EEG controller for some years now.
The EEG input device allows full hands-free operation of the embedded platform (but has several outstanding bugs related to signal noise, and user training). This means google-glass can now be used without having to, for example, touch the eyepiece to take a picture, or start recording video-- Or regions of the AR image can be enhanced/manipulated based on user attention focus.
A low-cost (300$ is not low cost, unless you live i
and of course (Score:2)
"integrating emotional feedback into VR environments heralds many new possibilities in the fields of medical research, gaming — and, of course, marketing research"
and of course, porn.
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Of course porn, people have been saying since at least the 90s that VR will never exist as a commercially viable thing without porn.
Apparently everything after the wheel and fire wasn't going to succeed without porn.
I'm surprised hybrid cars even managed a foothold without porn .. actually, wait, I'm sure rule #34 will come into effect, never mind.
So, maybe what we need to do is get the porn industry involved in all of those "Solve This Major Problem" things ... solve world peace and we'll show you our tits
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Porn always makes you feel better so there should be porn in everything. Problem solved.
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ST:TNG "Hollow Pursuits" wasn't a bad episode, once you get over all the technobabble.
http://www.tor.com/2012/01/24/... [tor.com]
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Funny, this story made me think of the TNG episode, The Game...
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Ah, yup, that was a great episode!
I don't want a headband or visor pickup. (Score:2)
I've been bald since I was 30. I've got all this bare scalp just begging for transducers. Give me a full skullcap array.
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You mean like this [nocookie.net]? ;-)
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I've been bald since I was 30. I've got all this bare scalp just begging for transducers. Give me a full skullcap array.
i've had a full head of hair for the past 30 years... and yet NOBODY FUCKING CARES.
Looking on the bright side, (Score:2)
...integrating emotional feedback into VR environments heralds many new possibilities in the fields of medical research...
Not to mention potential use in medical treatment, possibly including help for depression and PTSD.
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Well, it seems unlikely that it's going to get in through a bunch of EEG *sensors*. And if it can in through the eyes and ears then the EEG probably isn't necessary. In fact, I think quite a few memes might qualify already.
Strange Days (Score:1)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114558/ [imdb.com]
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