http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/ Engadget Comments for Mattel's Mindflex coming October 1st for $99.99 http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/May 24th 2009 1:11AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/May 24th 2009 3:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/May 24th 2009 1:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/May 24th 2009 1:24AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/May 24th 2009 1:27AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/May 24th 2009 12:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/May 24th 2009 1:36AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/May 24th 2009 3:05AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/http://www.toymania.com/columns/spotlight/images/hpotterleviso.jpg
some of the parts moved and rotaed on the board.

i cant believe they displayed this at ces as new tech.

]]>May 24th 2009 4:44AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/http://southparkstudios.com/clips/153058]]>May 24th 2009 2:03AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/May 24th 2009 2:07AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/May 24th 2009 2:10AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/May 24th 2009 3:52AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/May 24th 2009 2:21AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/May 24th 2009 3:58AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/May 24th 2009 5:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/May 24th 2009 5:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/May 24th 2009 6:36AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/May 24th 2009 6:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/May 24th 2009 6:34AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/
Basically, all this thing did was have participants control a ball using what they thought was brain power. In reality, it was just getting them to engage in some basic biofeedback. When they concentrated, electrodermal activity was increased, which in turn affected the ball. Conversely, when they relaxed, EDA was reduced.

In effect, this gadget (for the life of me I forget the name, as this was the one and only time I had used it) was a basic Biopac. I'm assuming that this toy works by monitoring the pulse in the outer ear (vagal nerve), which will give you a similar measurement of arousal, without having to hook up electrodes to the fingers.

I've had little contact with neurological equipment, so you'll have to clarify. Squids?]]>May 24th 2009 7:14AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/May 24th 2009 8:32AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/
The real test is going to be when someone takes it home and clamps it to their junk. Yes you know it will happen. I personally suspect it will work just as well.
]]>May 24th 2009 8:32AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/
I guess if it was just the forehead you were aiming at, then a measure of forehead pulse would work. But whatever which way, yeah, putting it on your dork would give you similar readings.]]>May 24th 2009 8:45AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/May 24th 2009 8:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/May 24th 2009 9:22AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/May 24th 2009 10:31AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/
a) SQUID = super quantum interference device. These are used only on magnetoencephalographs (the brain scanner I use), and measure the magnetic fields emitted by the brain. They are not what MRIs used to be called, and they are not what are in industrial grade brain scanners, unless that brain scanner happens to be a MEG... which very few brain scanners in the world are. they're essentially 2 superconducting rings attached to one another, liquid helium cooled.
b) this toy uses several EEG electrodes - EEG standing for electroencephalograph - to allow the user to practice biofeedback, a phenomenon known in the field since the 70's, as the technology of EEG has actually been around since the turn of the last century.
c) these toys do work. there's a cool video on TED that shows a slightly more sophisticated version of this for retail, and can explain how in fact it works. they require training and practice.
d) EEG is completely non-invasive, as it only measures electrical output on the surface of the skull. there are no magnetic pulses, positrons, x-rays, or anything akin shot into you.

*now an interesting question would have been: how good are the EEG electrodes that sit on the surface of the skull with no conductivity gel, and a shitty amp? - remember: brain waves are tiny and you need to amplify the shit outta them. or... while these toys DO measure electrical skull conductivity, remember that eye blinks and muscle movement on the face also elicit electrical fields. how good are these things are recognizing that?]]>May 24th 2009 1:45PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/
An MRI and an fMRI are not the same. fMRI is also used for real time 3d brain activity mapping just like MEG, and since it so dominates the field it seems I got the two conflated. fairly easy to do, They both use superconducting magnets and the machines even look the same. Apparently MEG is now used as part of the fMRI process which my have made the problem worse.

]]>May 24th 2009 7:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/Awesome name.]]>May 24th 2009 5:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mattels-mindflex-coming-october-1st-for-99-99/May 28th 2009 5:17PM