Brain-reading headset is gamer's dream come true
Hands cramping up from too many video games?
Later this year, Emotiv Systems Inc. plans to start selling the $299 EPOC neuroheadset to let you control games with your thoughts instead.
The headset's sensors detect conscious thoughts and expressions as well as "non-conscious emotions" by reading electrical signals around the brain, says the company.
The headset can detect emotions such as anger, excitement and tension, as well as facial expressions and cognitive actions like pushing and pulling objects.
The headset will be sold with a game developed by Emotiv, but it can also be made to work with existing PC games, the company said. Users will also be able to access an online portal to play more games, chat or upload their own content such as music or photos.
Emotiv plans to work with IBM Corp. to explore applications beyond video gaming. The "brain computer interface" technology could transform not only gaming, but how humans and computers interact, said Paul Ledak, vice president of IBM's Digital Convergence business.
-- The Associated Press
Hotspot finder fits in your pocket
Canary Wireless has just introduced the Model HS-20, the next generation of its Digital Hotspotter, designed to locate places with Wi-Fi access.
Like its predecessor, the HS-20 detects the presence of a Wi-Fi signal, tells you whether it is open or locked, its name (its SSID), the strength of its signal and what channel it's using.
The new model is slightly larger but slimmer than the HS-10, it weighs 2.5 ounces and it offers several new features.
The first and most noticeable is that its 96x64 pixel LCD screen is now backlit. The signal strength indicator offers five vertical bars, giving you a more accurate measurement of the Wi-Fi signal's strength.
The unit performs a single scan for any and all available Wi-Fi signals at the same time. On the side of the device is a scroll button that lets you easily access multiple access points from the single scan. You just highlight an access point's name and you instantly see all of the network's details such as its type, security and channel configuration.
Another nice touch is the addition of a battery strength indicator. The HS-20 Digital Hotspotter is now available from the Canary Wireless Web site. Go to: www.canarywireless.com
-- McClatchy Newspapers
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