German scientists develop nerdiest brain-computer interface yet

Brain-computer interfaces have been popping up left and right lately, but the latest system from Germany's Technical University of Braunschweig, might be the silliest one we've seen so far. While the system doesn't involve the careful placement of electrodes, it does require you to don a large metal helmet fitted with sensors, which can even detect brain activity through hair -- and makes you look like Magneto on a bad day. The system is solid enough to allow test subjects to control an RC car and researchers say the tech is similarly applicable to wheelchairs and prosthetics. Yeah, that's great -- we'll stick with the dangerous neurosurgery implantation over this contraption, guys. Video after the break.

[thedesolate1 @ Jun 21st 2008 2:34PM]

This is great for controlling media playback so you don't get the remote, keyboard or mouse sticky after watching pr0n.

[lance @ Jun 21st 2008 2:34PM]

just hook up a flux capacitor to that thing and were all good in the hood!

[phanbouy @ Jun 21st 2008 2:47PM]

TROLL MOAR PLEEZ

[Fusion Fuzo @ Jun 21st 2008 2:48PM]

nice

[Shadowise @ Jun 21st 2008 2:57PM]

Hellraiser 8: Nerds From Hell

[Cody @ Jun 21st 2008 3:01PM]

I have to say if you're joking, that's funny...otherwise, I sincerely feel sorry for you.

[Guy Martin @ Jun 21st 2008 3:04PM]

This guy looks like Kazoo, the little Martian guy from "The Flinstones". Can he fly and grant our wishes?

[Conor Kirkpatrick @ Jun 21st 2008 3:06PM]

We need a caption contest with this :)

[Matt E. @ Jun 21st 2008 4:07PM]

"And next I'll create a robot girlfriend to control with this awesome helmet."

[Cody @ Jun 21st 2008 3:06PM]

Now, if they could use this as a controller for games, I would buy it, no matter the looks, and yes i know I'm a geek. :P

[Adam @ Jun 21st 2008 5:12PM]

There is one like this called Emotive. They demo'd it at GDC this year and I got to play around with it and at the time it was underwhelming. I did the usual thing like lift rocks with my mind, bend trees, move pillars and then I lifted a mountain. It was difficult, and I can imagine that tuning it would be a challenge, and that it wouldn't be very good for most gamers.

But then about a week later, I was thinking about it some more, and suddenly it hit me... HOLY CRAP! I lifted a freaking mountain with my mind in a computer game. Freaking amazing!

[John @ Jun 21st 2008 3:21PM]

It's weird how we're already taking for granted the fact that this technology is nothing short of amazing.

[Cletus Cook @ Jun 21st 2008 3:47PM]

Agree 100%. I was told when much younger that the future home would allow us to turn the lights on and off with a thought. At the time I thought "When monkeys fly out of my butt!" BRB Feel as though I need to visit the bathroom.

[thedesolate1 @ Jun 21st 2008 4:51PM]

I dont think we are taking it for granted it's just that we are accustomed to seeing so many amazing new technologies on engadget and we know better than to get our hopes up too high since it takes ages before any of it becomes consumer grade.

[PCIV @ Jun 21st 2008 3:29PM]

This would look great controlling a segway!

[Andrew @ Jun 21st 2008 3:29PM]

Nilay Patel, seriously, you do understand this is how prototypes are made?

The finished commercial product probably won't be a stupid looking helmet - but it beats using millions of Euros on developing a cool looking product BEFORE you have a working technology!

[thedesolate1 @ Jun 21st 2008 4:52PM]

I second that....

[John @ Jun 21st 2008 5:50PM]

You realize that Engadget writers get fired if they don't write in their signature cheeky tone? It's not their job to present straight news; it's their job to take news, found media, and press releases, then process them into a zesty literary goo that paints the image of the editors as quasi-nerds with cool kid edginess. If you need more proof, note that one of the requirements for working at Engadget requires writing three articles in the "Engadget style". It really comes as no surprise that the writer would take a (relatively) groundbreaking piece of technology and highlight something as arbitrary as its prototypical design.

[KilgoreTrout @ Jun 21st 2008 3:36PM]

I love it.
I would just replace the little antennas with pointed spear tips and sharp blades, improve the design a bit with some nasty graffiti and add mirror googles or vizor and I'm sure it would be a hit with the wheelchair set, and maybe not only with them.

[Cletus Cook @ Jun 21st 2008 3:47PM]

Pinheads unite! But seriously, Many of the latest and greatest things have to go through evolutionary change. Now we have step one; much like Edison's phonograph. Sometimes these things even devolve. Take the step we are taking to go back to records for music due to the real life feel they provide to the audiophile.

[Jarhead2012 @ Jun 21st 2008 4:12PM]

I think it's time for the mediators here at www (dot) engadget (dot) com to pull the banhammer out of its case and use it on mr. Ocean. Do you folks agree? I mean, this is the third post today i've seen Ocean's Apple loving a$$ on.

[Jeff Haynes @ Jun 21st 2008 4:17PM]

Do you know what this means? It means that this damn thing doesn't work!

[crazypenguin @ Jun 21st 2008 5:46PM]

cool, i can't believe you think this thing sucks! its nerdy yeah, but its a step in a much liked direction, the most laziest a person can be...wait, you have to think...ok, lazier if something could think for you.

[highjumpman @ Jun 21st 2008 6:23PM]

At least it scores in terms of safety. Which is great if you're actually sitting in the car that you're controlling with it. Seriously, when will we have that brain-car interface?

[Echo1 @ Jun 21st 2008 10:43PM]

I thought that title was held by cyclists who tend to wear their helmets in the car

[nemrut @ Jun 21st 2008 6:26PM]

..what's with the flashing checkered bars? is it supposed to enhance your brain's telekinetic powers..

[RichardBronosky @ Jun 21st 2008 9:52PM]

I was wondering if anyone else noticed that. That flash checker board gave me a headache from only the few seconds it was on screen.

[xor24 @ Jun 21st 2008 6:30PM]

awesome but I'd still rather this http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/21/takara-tomys-rpg-piggy-bank-level-up-by-saving-up/

[xor24 @ Jun 21st 2008 6:30PM]

awesome but I'd still rather this http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/21/takara-tomys-rpg-piggy-bank-level-up-by-saving-up/

[Ricky Bobby @ Jun 21st 2008 8:48PM]

Being German and all, you'd think that they'd hook it up to a faster toy car. Hell, I'd be blown away watching a demolition derby where the drivers sit around drinking beer and smoking hash using mind control to blow stuff up. 100% awesome.

[kidcanuck @ Jun 21st 2008 9:03PM]

I like OSX, and everything, but it is absolutely the last thing I would want interfacing with my brain. Aside from maybe windows, or linux, or any operating system or device. I like my brain au natural.

[buttabean @ Jun 21st 2008 10:30PM]

I'm surprised noone has mentioned spaceballs

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j205/miked1104/Spaceballs.gif

[dtreese @ Jun 21st 2008 10:46PM]

What people don't realize is that's the same angry German kid who beat his keyboard to smithereens. Think what'll happen when he can do that with his thoughts. It'll be just like Trancers, but in Deutsch.

[steven.ryland @ Jun 21st 2008 11:01PM]

are you for serious with that?

[Taylor @ Jun 22nd 2008 1:35AM]

This troll embarasses Apple fans like myself.
I don't have a problem with linux or windows to be honest (my PC is running Vista!)

[lee @ Jun 22nd 2008 2:05AM]

Wouldn't the helmet make your head sweaty and thereby interfering with any electrical potential?

[Gilbert King @ Jun 22nd 2008 2:39AM]

This helment looks just like "the Teacher" in the original star trek episode Spocks brain. This alien woman beams about the enterprise and steals spocks brain so they can use it to control their base. Mcoy used it to get the knowedge to put spocks brain back in his head. Neat.

[Christy McGrory @ Jun 22nd 2008 8:51AM]

mediators = moderators?

[aboriginal @ Jun 22nd 2008 8:53AM]

"Brain, brain! What is brain?" Name that Star Trek episode.

[jonathan @ Jun 22nd 2008 9:36AM]

"Oh, and one more thing, try not to think of metal."

[Craig @ Jun 22nd 2008 1:21PM]

Your comments disparaging technology obviously bred in a lab for not being fashionable is about as useful as chicken mittens.

I'm sure any quadriplegics hoping to use this to resume some semblance of a normal life are more than willing to overlook that minor issue.

[brain researcher @ Jun 23rd 2008 2:46AM]

The fluctuating squares on the sides create a clear EEG signal which can be used to tell if the subject is looking left or right

In other words, this is just a fancy system to track binary eye movements. Any quadriplegic who can move his eyes would be better off with a simple off-the-shelf eye tracker.

All in all, its better that Engadget present these tech items in a comical way than have them endorse something that's no more useful than a magic trick.

[Holger @ Jun 23rd 2008 4:25AM]

Hm... seems nice... though I wish they had demonstrated it more... I mean... you don't really see any "brain cotnrolling*" going on (not that I doubt they did it, but an explanation would've been nice).