Mind-Controlled Toys

Can you think back to a time as a kid, when your toys just did not work the way you wanted them to?

Like, maybe you wished your wind up cars could drive in multiple directions rather than just forward.

Well, get your Christmas list out and make a new entry, because mind-controlled toys may be the next big thing! 

The next generation of toys could be controlled by the power of the mind, thanks to research by the University of Warwick.

"Led by Professor Christopher James, Director of Warwick Engineering in Biomedicine at the School of Engineering, technology has been developed which allows electronic devices to be activated using electrical impulses from brain waves, by connecting our thoughts to computerized systems".

Some of the most popular toys  today are remote-controlled cars and helicopters, toy robots and Scalextric racing sets.  But have you ever thought that these could all be controlled via a headset, using 'the power of thought'?.

According to research, this could be based on levels of concentration.  For example, we concentrate on a few things when we are in the moment of doing things like thinking of your favorite color or petting your dog.

Instead of a hand-held controller, a headset is used to create a brain-computer interface -- a communication link between the human brain and the computerised device. Sensors in the headset measure the electrical impulses from brain at various different frequencies -- each frequency can be somewhat controlled, under special circumstances. This activity is then processed by a computer, amplified and fed into the electrical circuit of the electronic toy.

Professor James comments on the future potential for this technology: "Whilst brain-computer interfaces already exist -- there are already a few gaming headsets on the market -- their functionality has been quite limited. New research is making the headsets now read cleaner and stronger signals than ever before -- this means stronger links to the toy, game or action thus making it a very immersive experience.

Mind Flex is a game in which users wear a headset that monitors their brain waves. Players have to concentrate on a ball and move it through an obstacle course with the power of their thought.

The coolest part about this is that we could potentially mind control other things like cars, video games, other people (jk).  The point is that the possibilities are endless!! Check out the video below.  It talks about mind waves and how they can be picked up through electronic sensors that monitor the brain.

Link for full article:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/12/161215105247.htm