Star Wars Force Trainer teaches children to kill... with their minds
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted Jan 13th 2009 10:26AM
posted Jan 13th 2009 10:26AM
Toy maker Uncle Milton has introduced Force Trainer, a game that utilizes NeuroSky's brainwave-controlled gaming technology. In a manner similar to the Mind Flex we got our heads on at CES, the young Jedi dons a wireless headset that communicates with a simplified EEG. If you focus well enough, the "training sphere" rises in a 10-inch tube. Seems pretty harmless, no? At least until your humble child starts lifting rocks and choking people by simply furrowing their brow and gesturing menacingly. If you find this an acceptable risk (or you feel the need to work on your own mental prowess) the thing should be available this fall for just under $100.
Engadget:
Pedojarjar Approved.
I didn't realize JAR JAR's tongue was sticking out until you said that.
BTW that thing looks like a toy hookah. Tube sold separately.
CRAPGADGET
That kid looks EMO
CRAPGADGET
That kid looks EMO
@Moderator
What exactly you want to stick up your butt? The tube with a ball or JAR JAR's tongue? Don't want to be disrespectful, but I'm really confused and can't help imagining the latter.
Hey, if this keeps the little rug rats still for a half hour instead of running around swinging the plastic light saber braking stuff, then I'm all for it.
Damn kids have it TOO GOOD nowadays. Back in my day, we'd have to beat our smaller, less fortunate siblings into submission and force them into various kinds of slavery in order to get stuff done, but today's kids get The Force in a box. Frig.
What I want to know is how Engadget knows Vader was furrowing his brow to choke people.
Your writing style works well with your icon. Also, smartpeopleplaytuba: in Episode III Vader furrows his brow whilst strangling Padmé. Before he has a helmet.
@ John
That wasn't Vader. That was some punk kid pretending he was Vader. Vader had a mask . . . and he didn't say things like "I truly... deeply... love you."
Actually look like part of the plastic learner from Forbidden Planet. So where is the 3d imagizer?
Exactly! but with the Battlestar Galactica insignia on it? Too many references...
Uh, Mark, that's a Jedi (Clone Wars era) logo, not a BSG one. Hand over your geek card, I'm cutting a corner off.
LOL...I was just remembering Forbidden Planet when I saw the article. What will happen when the child sleeps after using this for a while. Invisible monsters being unleased ???? Oh the horror......
It looks like one of those lung capacity testers.
Well, can't drink and Jedi ya kno
I'm still sort of amazed by the concept of this thing. Of course it's not really like using the force, it's more like becoming the Lawnmower man.
...or the Karate Kid.
I find your lack of faith disturbing.
WARNING: will not function if you have insufficient midichlorian levels.
or as long as mummy and daddy provides batteries or this game appears on the nintendo wii...
Wouldn't it be easier to just reach over and lift it up by hand?
I know, I know: Technology for technologies sake.
Not with childhood obesity nowadays
This is cool and all but I'm still waiting for an official "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes" chemistry set.
Hey whats the young Harry Potter doing with this? he's a wizard. I call shenanigans
I swear, I'm gonna pistol whip the next person that says shenanigans...
hey farva, what's that restaurant you like to eat at with all the crap all over the walls?
I am so buying this when it's available! Or better yet, the Mind Flex, which is cheaper ($80).
I have already missed the proper lightsaber training in my childhood, so I will try to catch up with Force training now, plus it is very affordable.
BTW, the kid on the picture looks much more like young Anakin than the actor playing Anakin in Star Wars I.
I'm trying to figure out how to sneak this into a purchase order at work for uhm.. research and whatnot.
Oh I can't wait till people start to hack into that thing... Forget about Wiimote hacks... we need some mind control!
How about mind control Wii remote hacks? Then you can pretty much just sit on your couch and cut out all that physical exertion nonsense.
You're on to something there. Mind control remote controls... I dig it.
Girlfriend: "Honey, the TV seems to switch channels all by itself."
Me: "Really? That's odd."
Girlfriend: "Yeah, and it always ends up on the Playboy ch... and none of my interior design shows will come on."
Me: "Hmmm, well, I guess we'll just have to put up with it."
Girlfriend. lol
So... the tech is cool and all, but once you've raised and lowered the ball a couple dozen times, what else do you get for your "just under $100" investment. It's sort of a one trick pony.
1. Replace ball with kitten.
2. ???
3. !!!
4. Do not profit.
One trick pony? Sure.
But that one trick is one that everyone you know (except maybe your parents) will want to try out.
I know it would get boring once you mastered it. But I still want one.
Move along, move along, these aren't the toys you're looking for.
These aren't the toys I'm looking for.
Looks like a Star Wars bong.
One you might see at Mos Eisley Cantina.
The Force is strong with this one.
I sense a disturbance in the Force...
How long until we can utilize this technology for a real life Angelic Layer?
Don't be too proud of this technological waste you've constructed...
To puff. Nice Mall Rat ref.
Soooooo this is a variable speed fan controled by a cheapjack version of that brain controller?... for $100....... id rather pay for the "OCZ NIA Neural Impulse Actuator".... at £100. (Granted, GBP vs Dollars, but still id rather pay the extra $50 & get the real deal)
That's probably the most horrifying picture I've ever seen on this website.
...or i can ask my friend to hide under the table and blow the pipe so the ball will rise, cheaper
Blow the pipe? Raise the ball?
Is that what you youngsters are calling it now days?
omg!!! jar jar is attacking that kid!!! and it's all the fault of violent video games!!
I find the lack of playability, disturbing.
And you thought WoW addiction was bad? Wait until the hard-core Star Wars fanbois get ahold of this...
Children with frekin laser beams attached to their heads!!!
Anyone remember the Krell "educator" device from "Forbidden Planet"?
I mentioned that on another website.
What makes you automatically assume we don't WAN T an army of superpowered children. Anyone read Ender's Game?
hey yeah that book is awesome!
oh good memories
Sounds like basic Bio Feedback systems that have been around for decades. It simply measures stress in the muscles in the head by how much electrical impulses are running through the muscles. Then relates that to a high or low input to the "game" (I use the term loosely)
Medical practitioners and psychologists have used the technology for years to teach folk how to relax muscles and even help quit smoking. Hardly anything revolutionary.
Actually it's even fine then....
Unless they start wearing contacts!
Yeah, I can see playing this for hours on end... NOT!!! Geez, make the ball go up and down, how freakin' lame is that!