OCZ's Neural Impulse Actuator gets reviewed, mice everywhere safe for now

We tried to take OCZ's Neural Impulse Actuator seriously, we really did. But unable to suppress those recurring images of Geordi La Forge, we simply couldn't help ourselves from having a laugh at this thing's expense. Nevertheless, the way-more-solemn dudes and dudettes over at HotHardware managed to give this brain-computer interface a fair shake, and overall, it was pretty impressed. Still, the bottom line is this: "the NIA is a very unique input device and possibly the first true brain-computer interface to hit the retail market," but it's not "a replacement for traditional input methods." Granted, critics did point out that it would supplement current devices quite well, but only after "slogging through" hours upon hours of training. The hardcore among us may be willing to put in the time necessary to really get a lot out of this; for everyone else, just continue to point and laugh while masking your ignorance.

[retro77 @ Jul 21st 2008 6:18PM]

In Soviet Russia the computer controls your brain....

[broli @ Jul 21st 2008 6:28PM]

Joking aside. There has been quite some research in the reverse process. Namely altering brainwaves. Now that is more scary.

Check this:

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9506EFD81538F931A15755C0A9659C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1

[Flashpoint @ Jul 21st 2008 7:29PM]

YAYYYYY


No I can control these robotic snakes attached to my back.

AND KILL SPIDERMAN.

[MojoKid @ Jul 21st 2008 11:47PM]

Hahahah! I liked that. Good one mano. :)

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Jul 22nd 2008 12:05AM]

In Soviet Russia, "the Party" Controls the computer..

[neofolklore @ Jul 22nd 2008 7:48AM]

AHHHHHHH that was funny till I saw it was Flashpoint's comment.

If it was someone random I have never heard of, it would still be funny.

[kal326 @ Jul 21st 2008 6:18PM]

And you wonder why they still used voice commands in Star Trek.....

[Chuckles McGee @ Jul 21st 2008 7:57PM]

Star Trek isn't real. Surprisingly, it was actually filmed in a television studio during modern times and the characters' technologies were based on what writers imagined the future could be like. So the writers didn't think of it.

[neofolklore @ Jul 22nd 2008 7:48AM]

THANK YOU Captain Obvious.

[Artie Lange @ Jul 21st 2008 6:20PM]

It may seem silly now, but this technology is a game-changer. No more mice, no more touch pads, no more remote controls. We'll be telling our children about the days when you actually had to press buttons to change the channel or open files.

[Podaman @ Jul 21st 2008 6:34PM]

You mean you have to use your hands?

That's like a baby's toy!

[dieselbt @ Jul 21st 2008 6:46PM]

Back to the Future reference FTW!

[jason @ Jul 21st 2008 6:49PM]

wild gunman FTW...

Elijah Wood sucks tho

[Prasand J. @ Jul 21st 2008 6:23PM]

Just tell me when I can get a port in the back of my neck. Thanks.

[broli @ Jul 21st 2008 6:26PM]

This is what we call first generation my friend. Remember how those huge room filling computers where like...well an Eee pc can beat one of those. Give it some more time. Before you know it, it'll become more responsive more brainwaves will be picked up and the super lazy age begins.

[Farris @ Jul 21st 2008 6:43PM]

Dude, a 4 function calculator can out-perform one of the room-filling computers that you are talking about.

As far as this piece of tech goes, it would be fun to try out, but I don't think I could ever get used to it on a daily basis.

[neofolklore @ Jul 22nd 2008 7:49AM]

An EEE pc? Broli fails at product placement.

[Artie Lange @ Jul 21st 2008 6:27PM]

From the article:

"Don't get us wrong, controlling the computer hands-free with our mind sure sounds neat, but we really like our mice, keyboards and gamepads. Perhaps we're old fashioned but there is at least one member of the HotHardware team that thinks the keyboard and mouse are the only input devices you will ever need, well at least for the foreseeable future."

And there was a time when people wondered who could ever possibly need 1g of memory.

[Lowest Ranked @ Jul 21st 2008 6:36PM]

I think you mean 640Kb.

[Ricardo @ Jul 21st 2008 6:35PM]

People with physical problems might benefit a lot from devices like this.

[Casper42 @ Jul 21st 2008 7:39PM]

I was thinking along the same lines.

Combine this with the Voice Recognition built into Vista or other 3rd party ones and you could actually have a chance at a keyboardless environment. Not perfect of course, but you have to start somewhere.

[BigD145 @ Jul 21st 2008 7:43PM]

Your new robot overlords will be controlled by frustrated paraplegics.

[delvach @ Jul 21st 2008 7:44PM]

Exactly. If you've ever met someone with severe MS, Cerebral Palsy, Parkinson's, etc., you realize this can be a life-changing technology, versus the gimmick it'll be for most of us.

[Charlie @ Jul 21st 2008 6:35PM]

I think this could become big in the future, I mean the fact that this ACTUALLY works, despite the long learning curve to me is amazing.

[Tom G @ Jul 21st 2008 7:20PM]

You need to actually move muscles to activate the 3 sensors it has, people think you can just "think" something its not true you need to tense certain facial muscles for it to work.
its crap.

[A.C.E.R. @ Jul 21st 2008 8:11PM]

Actually there are 3 triggers controlled by thought in addition to the facial muscle and eye ones. Your reading skills are crap.

[Adam Reineke @ Jul 21st 2008 8:36PM]

The article said the muscle sensor was just one of the ways to control it. RTFA.

[neofolklore @ Jul 22nd 2008 7:50AM]

did you actually read the Obama article in the New Yorker? ME NEITHER. shut up and act normal.

[GenBanks @ Jul 21st 2008 7:32PM]

"very unique"

Ahem. 'Unique' is an absolute, nothing can be 'very' unique.

[jason @ Jul 21st 2008 9:45PM]

but they are soooooooooo out of style
:P

[ebola! @ Jul 21st 2008 10:46PM]

Creepy. D:

[BatteryAcid @ Jul 21st 2008 10:57PM]

I wonder if the device would be more effective if the user was trained at a young age.

[tundraboy @ Jul 22nd 2008 12:17AM]

Okay. Can it distinguish when the weapons officer is thinking "Launch the ICBM" from when he's just "thinking about launching the ICBM"?

[The Apple @ Jul 22nd 2008 4:36AM]

I Don't want to think about using this to control a real war...

"NO!!! I was only thinking about blowing up Washington, Ohhh, Heck, The Presidents going to be on my back for this one."

[neofolklore @ Jul 22nd 2008 7:51AM]

It would be good for an Israel Lebanon kind of dispute though.

[shrdlu @ Jul 22nd 2008 3:59AM]

"The hardcore among us may be willing to put in the time necessary to really get a lot out of this"

Disabled people, who don't have faster means of data entry, might be happy to have another input channel opened.