Futuristic headband knows when you've had too much PC

For those who just can't call it quits, a team of researchers at Tufts University has developed a head adornment which can determine when you've been overly stressed, bored or simply numb to the world around you when using your computer. The crew is studying functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) technology, which "uses light to monitor brain blood flow as a proxy for workload stress a user may experience when performing an increasingly difficult task." The band itself utilizes "laser diodes to send near-infrared light through the forehead at a relatively shallow depth," after which it can purportedly judge how intense one's workload is (or isn't). 'Course, we'd guess the most of us wouldn't need a machine to tell us that, eh?

[Via InformationWeek]

[Matthew Hilario @ Oct 12th 2007 5:28PM]

yay now i won't look as nerdy as the naruto people! not.

[oshean @ Oct 13th 2007 12:26AM]

Believe it!!!!

[Jack @ Oct 15th 2007 5:22AM]

Habeeb it!!!!

[waiownsyou @ Oct 12th 2007 5:29PM]

Sweet. Too bad the constant monitoring of your brain by infrared gives brain tumors.

[Bobs @ Oct 14th 2007 6:00AM]

yeah, and looking at microwave ovens microwaving your soup will either give you eye cancer, or nuke your nuts

[neverender @ Oct 12th 2007 5:34PM]

yeah, im sure my employer will be buying these by the truckloads to ensure im not overworked or no longer productive.....

[Typhoid Mary @ Oct 12th 2007 5:36PM]

I'll stick to my tinfoil hat.

[EBone @ Oct 12th 2007 5:41PM]

Not only will it keep you from getting overloaded on computer work, it will keep you from the possibility of ever having sex too.

[rzlmlchm009 @ Oct 12th 2007 5:51PM]

Will it blend? Does it play Doom? I for one welcome our new headband overlords. Apple ripoff!!! Ah crap! My head band just blew a fuse....

[Josh L @ Oct 12th 2007 5:53PM]

I certainly don't need a machine to tell me how overworked I am, but my boss sure does.

[Waruwaru @ Oct 12th 2007 6:54PM]

All employees will get one, and your salary and bonuses will be proportional by how often yours beep.

[Zhalfim Deyn @ Oct 12th 2007 8:50PM]

so now they are putting frickin' laser beams on my computer? what happened to the sharks?

[Jhongerkong @ Oct 13th 2007 7:07PM]

now all we need is a "get a fucking life" headband and a "lose some damn weight" one.