Hatrack River Forum: Home biofeedback, brought to you by Star Wars

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Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

Use the Force, geek!

quote:
A simplified EEG-based game using the Star Wars license tricks kids into thinking they have Professor X-like abilities, when all they're doing is learning to activate one part of their brain.

This Force Trainer, priced at $90-$100, hooks up to your head via wireless headset and transmits your reading to the toy, which blows air and moves the ball up the chute.

Kind of cool, and yet... How about actually using that power for good instead of money? Biofeedback can be a powerful tool for controlling everything from anxiety to depression to asthma and beyond. But, where does it first come on the market for the general public? A toy, of course!

Posted by Orincoro (Member # 8854) on :

A good friend of mine has been working on his masters in electronic music, and he mainly focuses on using bio-feedback in live musical performance.

Posted by Strider (Member # 1807) on :

Why when describing a Star Wars Force Trainer would use the example of a Marvel superhero? They couldn't think of someone more apt?

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

Maybe because the power doesn't actually seem Jedi-like? [Wink]

Posted by HollowEarth (Member # 2586) on :

Yes because of course economic realities mean that there is money around for this company to just do good with.

I mean really how dare they just try to make money selling a toy.

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

I just find it strange that no one is developing a program to use at home to conquer anxiety through learning calming routines and mastery of one's brain waves, etc.

Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :

I'm disappointed in Gizmodo. Since when is Professor X actually telekinetic?

Posted by Jhai (Member # 5633) on :

But there are tons of biofeedback machines that you can use at home for exactly that purpose, kq. Just google "biofeedback machine" to see tons of them for sale

Posted by Nighthawk (Member # 4176) on :

quote:
Originally posted by TomDavidson:
I'm disappointed in Gizmodo. Since when is Professor X actually telekinetic?

I hate myself for not noticing that.

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Jhai:
But there are tons of biofeedback machines that you can use at home for exactly that purpose, kq. Just google "biofeedback machine" to see tons of them for sale

Okay. But are they really being marketed to the general public? I just haven't seen them, I guess, while this one popped up all over as soon as it was announced.

Posted by Sterling (Member # 8096) on :

My first exposure to biofeedback was a demonstration of a program with a copper sensor at our school that had users try to fly Icarus across an ocean (not too close to the sun or water.) 'Twas pretty neat.

The "Jedi hairdryer" isn't exactly the first consumer app, though:
Journey to Wild Divine
OCZ's neural actuator

Emotiv headset

quote:
Originally posted by Orincoro:
A good friend of mine has been working on his masters in electronic music, and he mainly focuses on using bio-feedback in live musical performance.

Ooh, bio-feedback connected to a thermin could be cool... [Smile]

(I know that's probably not what your friend has in mind, I just thought it was a neat image.)

Posted by Jhai (Member # 5633) on :

quote:
Originally posted by ketchupqueen:

quote:
Originally posted by Jhai:
But there are tons of biofeedback machines that you can use at home for exactly that purpose, kq. Just google "biofeedback machine" to see tons of them for sale
Okay. But are they really being marketed to the general public? I just haven't seen them, I guess, while this one popped up all over as soon as it was announced.

There used to be one or two different models available at The Sharper Image. I always used to wander in there to look at the gadgets, altho I never bought anything - just like everyone else, I guess.

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

quote:
Originally posted by ketchupqueen:

quote:
Originally posted by Jhai:
But there are tons of biofeedback machines that you can use at home for exactly that purpose, kq. Just google "biofeedback machine" to see tons of them for sale
Okay. But are they really being marketed to the general public? I just haven't seen them, I guess, while this one popped up all over as soon as it was announced.

Sure. Expensive ones, mostly. (Not without cause.) How do you get people interested in expensive gear? Add geek appeal. [Razz]