technabob » biofeedback

hims brain hubi claims to relax your mind, improve your memory, help you concentrate, end world hunger, visualize whirled peas

technabob — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 20:53:15 +0000

This little USB gadget from Korea makes some pretty lofty claims. Not only will it help you chill out, it could help you memorize Pi to 100,000 digits, or might turn you into the next Rembrandt. Or Obama.

The HIMS Brain HUBI biofeedback device plugs into your computer, and interactively monitors electrical impulses from your fingertips to help you control your brain into the proper state of mind to accomplish nearly anything. Now how it does this without actually attaching to your scalp, I have no idea. I’ll leave that to the scientists and snake oil salesmen to explain.

The included software lets you choose from a variety of profiles including relaxation, creativity, memory and concentration. Unfortunately modes for Jedi mind trick, levitation and that head-slashing thing that Sylar does with his fingertips aren’t included. Maybe they’ll get those working in a future model.

As you think, you do your darnedest to coordinate your brain waves with the graphs displayed on the screen. Think of it like mind-controlled Guitar Hero. Damn, that sounds like a good idea for a game – I’d better patent that.

If you want to find out exactly how much the HUBI lives up to its promises, you’ll have to exchange aboutt $206 (USD) cash for KRW 290,000 then order one from Korea to try one out. At this point, there are no plans to bring the device to North America or Europe.

[via Early Adopter]

the brain machine will make your head spin

technabob — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 20:23:03 +0000

The guys over at MAKE recently showed visitors how to make a “Brain Machine”, a trippy looking device which reaches into your mind and helps you to chill out. Now, thanks to the miracle of modern science, you can buy one in kit form and try it on for yourself.

The Brain Machine Kit comes from the mind of Mitch Altman, the same guy responsible for the deliciously devious TV-B-Gone remote control.

Just slip on the Brain Machine’s meditation glasses and headphones, close your eyelids, tune in, turn on and drop out. A hacked version of Adafruit’s Mini-POV microcontroller kit pulses the Brain Machine’s LEDs and sound generators to sync your noggin up with beta, alpha, theta, and delta brainwaves.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

As the device and your brain get on the same page, you be lulled into a trance-like state. (or maybe an acid-trip-like state, depending on how you feel about these things). Ready to take a trip? The Brain Machine Kit is now available from the MakerSHED for $34.99.

brain controlled synthesizer plays what you’re thinking

technabob — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 00:10:28 +0000

I found this photo over on Flickr today, and I was so captivated, I had to mention it. Apparently, this guy decided to see what would happen if he hooked an old analog synthesizer up to his brain.

By connecting a biofeedback helmet to a 1970s E-mu matrix synth, the device should able to generate sounds just by thinking about them. Given the age of the synthesizer, I’m pretty sure that it ignores thoughts of anything besides Tangerine Dream or Wendy (Walter) Carlos.

Now comes the bad news. While it sure looks cool, it seems that Krischall’s image is actually just a good bit of Photoshoppery, based on this original image.