Bio-feedback training from a toy for $100 - wow!

[JohnWxy]

http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/2009-01-06-force-trainer-toy_N.htm


Toy trains 'Star Wars' fans to use The Force

Destiny with fun: An aspiring Jedi concentrates on making the ball in the tube rise.


By Mike Snider, USA TODAY

Could The Force be with you? A toy due in stores this fall will let you test and hone your Jedi-like abilities.


The Force Trainer (expected to be priced at $90 to $100) comes with a headset that uses brain waves to allow players to manipulate a sphere within a clear 10-inch-tall training tower, analogous to Yoda and Luke Skywalker's abilities in the Star Wars films.

No, you're not tapping into some "all-powerful force controlling everything," as Han Solo said in the movies. But you are reaching out with mind power via one of the first mass-market brain-to-computer products. "It's been a fantasy everyone has had, using The Force," says Howard Roffman, president of Lucas Licensing.

Mind-control games may be the coming thing: Mattel plans to demonstrate a Mind Flex game (also due this fall), which uses brain-wave activity to move a ball through a tabletop obstacle course, at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on

[AntiFascist]

1. This is what we need to take on the Church of Scientology! n/t

[sam sarrha]

5. you have no idea what they are capable of

[AntiFascist]

7. Yes I do!

I am attempting to crush Tom Cruise's ego with my thoughts right now!

[ColbertWatcher]

8. You're both being glib. n/t

[AntiFascist]

9. I'm serious...

behold:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=221&topic_id=114106&mesg_id=114364

[The Straight Story]

2. I move my balls with my brain all the time - just have to have the right image

:rofl:

[Ian David]

3. I don't know why, but I find this creepy.

"Work Yoda's balls, you will. Train you I must."

I'd rather have a buttonless mouse, that you click with your mind.

Or a keyboard without a caps-lock or shift key, that uses this technology.

[Salviati]

4. Don't worry, I'm sure you're "Too old, too old to begin the training..."

Yoda likes 'em young I guess...

[Ian David]

6. "Yoda policy too late it is after eight." n/t

[customerserviceguy]

11. On the other hand

it could be a boon to quadriplegic people. Imagine being able to use such a device to move one's wheelchair, etc.

[Ian David]

12. More useful than playing with Yoda's balls. n/t

[silverweb]

10. Not the first of its kind.

I have the _Journey to the Wild Divine_ game, which uses biofeedback in a similar way to progress through the game. It's fun, relaxing, and positively addictive.

I'm glad to see similar games coming out that will appeal to more people.

[AntiFascist]

15. So did the Next Generation crew...

in that Star Trek episode. :scared:

[silverweb]

16. I'd have to see the episode.

I'm well familiar with all the original Star Trek episodes, but not so much with Next Generation.

The episode you're referring to made biofeedback scary?

[AntiFascist]

17. **SPOILER** Yeah, they kind of looked like goggles or something...

and interfaced directly with the brain. After a while it seemed like everyone playing the game was practically having orgasms (kind of like in GDP), and they became so addicted that eventually they were brainwashed and wanted to turn the ship over to the enemy, who then wanted the devices distributed throughout the Federation.

[silverweb]

18. Yikes!

That sounds more like virtual reality than biofeedback, though, what with the goggles and all.

My little game doesn't have goggles, just thingies you put on your fingers that measure things like pulse, which amazingly can allow control of "objects" in the game.

[Ilsa]

13. My son had some ADD therapy using biofeedback/EEG leads to

train his brain to work a certain way to manipulate objects on a screen. It was really neat. $100 for this is a drop in the bucket compared to the cost of therapy. Not as good as the therapy, but it's a start. I can't get that kind of therapy here.

[Marr]

14. The power to destroy a planet is insig... well... apparently it's quite a bit better than

the power of the Force.

I'll be sure to keep the Jedi Academy on speed dial in case I drop a golf ball down my kitchen drain.