Researchers create music... with their minds!

G-Tec's thought control hat has been out there making people look silly for some time now, but a group of researchers at Goldsmiths, University of London have now put it to a somewhat more unique (but equally silly-looking) use. As the BBC reports, they've effectively turned the device into a musical instrument, with the wearer only required to think about a note as they flash on a screen in order to play it. It's apparently not quite a foolproof solution just yet, with it currently only able to play the correct note about six out of eight times, but the researchers see plenty of potential applications for the system, including helping composers struck down with multiple sclerosis or other physical disabilities. Hit up the read link below to check out a video demonstration.

[Owen @ Jun 12th 2008 6:05PM]

I'd use it for Through the Fire and Flames on expert.

[Ian @ Jun 12th 2008 6:09PM]

thanks a lot ass hole now im at work with through the fire and flames stuck in my head...

[Owen @ Jun 12th 2008 6:16PM]

Dude, I've just been working on that song the past 2 1/2 hours. I'm pissed at that song.

[Ian @ Jun 12th 2008 6:29PM]

Owen

Doesn't your hand freaking hurt like a bitch for even playing the song twice in a row??? For me that is one of the best/hardest songs to play.

[Owen @ Jun 12th 2008 6:36PM]

not really. I have to play for more than 24 hrs for my hand to hurt.

[Ian @ Jun 12th 2008 6:44PM]

owen
holy shit man thats some crazy amount of time to be playing guitar hero..

[cantcount @ Jun 12th 2008 11:43PM]

2 1/2 hours playing guitar hero? Playing all day?

I'm sure guitar hero is an awesome video game, but if you spent that much time with a real guitar I think you'd be really awesome. I only do an hour a day of real guitar and I'm getting pretty good already.

[Ian @ Jun 12th 2008 6:07PM]

FAIL@!!!!!!11!!!11!!!!

[malikye @ Jun 12th 2008 6:09PM]

he looks like Joey Fatone

[Low Ranked @ Jun 12th 2008 6:43PM]

Speaking of which, did anyone catch the premiere of Celebrity Circus last night?

What an amusingly corny-ass show.

[John @ Jun 12th 2008 6:10PM]

dude looks crazy

[David @ Jun 12th 2008 7:09PM]

HE LOOKS JUST LIKE ME HE MUST BE MY EVIL/GOOD CLONE I MUST FIND HIM AND KILL HIM AM I GOOD OR BAD I DON'T KNOW I JUST KILL BY INSTINCT I AM DANGEROUS STAY AWAY STAY AWAY

seriously though he looks quite similar, especially since I'm sporting a rather fetching pair of Grado sr80s.

[John @ Jun 12th 2008 6:24PM]

finally, I can get an amp for my air guitar

[David @ Jun 12th 2008 6:28PM]

I've never been able to hold a note, And the stakes are a lot higher when you start playing mentally

I would be all like A-A-A-A-Fuckingmyfriend's16yosister-B-A-A-A

[Low Ranked @ Jun 12th 2008 6:44PM]

Then you'd be able to sing your own tunes in your head, you statutory rapist.

[David @ Jun 12th 2008 6:51PM]

Not in the UK!
anyway I'm only 18 myself *drinks cold beer*, so I don't see any moral issues.

apart from that stain on my grandmother's piano...

[Zachary Hinchliffe @ Jun 12th 2008 8:04PM]

that's horrible

[BlissX @ Jun 12th 2008 6:33PM]

Judging from his posture, I shall attempt to illustrate what he's thinking about.

*Que Opera Music*

Fiiiiiigaarroooooo Figaro Figaro Fiiiiiiggaaaaaaa ROOOOO!!!!!

[BlissX @ Jun 12th 2008 6:36PM]

Hope your friend doesn't visit Engadget.
Let alone, that his father doesn't work in the Police Agency... or Dateline's 'To Catch a Predator'

[BlissX @ Jun 12th 2008 6:38PM]

I seriously must've failed somewhere in life.

I swore I clicked on the little Reply button... but alas the system tells me otherwise. Fight the system!

[David @ Jun 12th 2008 6:47PM]

it's ok, i'm in UK so no worries its all legal

oh no wait, I meant 16mo
jk

seriously what's the deal with sex with 17yo being illegal in US? And not drinkin till 21?

A man can choose to join the army, and die in the service of his country, but he is not judged responsible enough to drink a beer.
fucked up

[Invisiblemoose @ Jun 12th 2008 6:50PM]

@David: Actually, 18 year olds are allowed to drink beer on military bases... For that reason.

[David @ Jun 12th 2008 6:57PM]

Join the army! Have a beer!

what I meant is that an 18yo can either join the army or not - this is a massive decision, that may get them killed.
However that same 18yo is not allowed the decision of whether to drink a beer or not (by law)

[Jiggily @ Jun 12th 2008 11:44PM]

@ Invisblemoose: Actually anyone under 21 can no longer drink on military bases. In fact if you are based in a country like England or Germany where you are legal to drink off base you can get in trouble if you come back on base while drunk....

[Reader @ Jun 12th 2008 11:01PM]

As if American (or any country's) law always made sense.

[Minilap @ Jun 12th 2008 6:39PM]

Can't wait for next generation synthesizers that only require the user to imagine the sound, and they do all the tweaking. Oh god in a few years I could even produce tracks with my eyes closed.

[David @ Jun 12th 2008 6:47PM]

*UK resident*

[David @ Jun 12th 2008 6:48PM]

uh... and therefore I'm proud to see such innovations from my motherland.!. *damn comment system*

[deyanimay @ Jun 12th 2008 6:56PM]

does it really bother everyone when someone says first just ignore it or chuckle to your self but don't actually go thought the trouble of flaming the person.

[Ian @ Jun 12th 2008 7:05PM]

but it helps when to flame someone when your bored as hell at work...

[pretol @ Jun 12th 2008 7:28PM]

6 out 8 times gets the note right... ????

In the complex world of statistics this is also known as "3 out of 4".

[cantcount @ Jun 12th 2008 11:59PM]

Ha, I love it. I was so distracted by the expression on the man's face I didn't even notice that. But maybe it was on purpose though....3 out of 4 seems kinda less appealing.

Scientists: "If we say 3 out of 4 no one will buy it! and we certainly can't say 12 out of 16, but 6 out of 8 is juuuuuust riiiiight. Now get Goldie Lox down here to finish testing this thing!"

[bolezhinkov @ Jun 12th 2008 7:52PM]

one of my favorite bands had a van accident - leaving one of their crew unable to move much of his body. he still contributes to the band via ableton live (which I am trying out for the first time, legally, this week).

Anyways, Subtle is the band, Dax Pierson is the guy and they/he are incredible.

So awesome - I hope this gets out to the world and more people become better at what they do.

[Mark @ Jun 12th 2008 7:58PM]

This still won't prevent musicians from pumping out shitty music..

[Josh L @ Jun 12th 2008 7:59PM]

That's telekinesis, Kyle!!

[bakacoriolis @ Jun 12th 2008 8:20PM]

...with mind bullets!

[David G. @ Jun 12th 2008 8:51PM]

Researchers creating music with actual instruments is much more news worthy than creating music with some thought control hat. :D

[Ryan Karolak @ Jun 12th 2008 9:27PM]

muuuhahaaaahaa!


Heh, sorry. That's the first thing that came to my mind after reading the title and seeing that picture.

[TheHunter @ Jun 12th 2008 10:40PM]

I'd like to see what would happen if someone used this while on LSD

[Some Kid @ Jun 12th 2008 10:48PM]

put this on a girl at a party and who knows what youll get!
i wonder.....

[keithwwalker @ Jun 13th 2008 3:02AM]

Why is that dude wearing a bra on his head?

WEIRD SCIENCE!!!!
(bits of) my creation--is it real?
Its my creation--i do not know
No hesitation--no heart of gold
Just flesh and blood--i do not know

[Wild Bill @ Jun 13th 2008 7:00AM]

Ha. The drummer from my band is one of the guys working on this. He's some kind of total genius. Unlike the rest of the band.

[iTroubleiShoot @ Jun 13th 2008 7:53AM]

Imagine the implications for quadriplegics.

[sully @ Jun 13th 2008 8:26AM]

They'll roll around in perfect harmony.

[Steven @ Jun 13th 2008 10:06AM]

"Researchers create music... with their minds!"

What else would you create it with? Your bowels? Erm, ok, bad example. Your metatarsus then?