Relying on an Electroencephalogram

So here's where we land at the most innovative gadget of the year (as far as I'm concerned). It works... I tested it myself, and I was so skeptical about it. It's not easy to learn though. OCZ has released its "Neural mouse". The device is essentially a brain controlled controller slash mouse, relying on Electroencephalogram (EEG) readings of the brain's alpha and beta waves and your muscle movement. In very bold wording, the device is capable of reading neuronal discharges in the brain, muscular signals and retinal movements. OCZ have marketed the device at gamers, as a kind of brain-powered-joystick or even mouse to compliment the conventional keyboard or mouse during gaming.

The NIA is one of the most original devices in a long time to make its way onto the shelves of retailers.

A random exhibit visitor @ CeBIT & Dr. Michael Schuette with the early prototype.

These readings, combined with muscle movement and glance (eye movement) allow for a very effective interface to assist you in your gaming experience. First off, that's not me in the photo above, but the guy on the right we recently met. That is Dr. Michael Schuette, OCZ's VP of Technology Development and he talked me through the entire technology.

The concept behind the device you see above is this; the headband has a three-fold of sensors across the front, and those sensors read electrical impulses in various frequency ranges, which equate to a number of different facial movements andso it would seem, at leastpatterns of thought.

The headband is easily connected to a USB port (original idea was the outdated serial port) and OCZ has developed a new, multi-threaded software layer that uses DirectX to process inputs. And yes, you assign a certain brainwave to a gaming function after you have calibrated and set up the device.

But first let's have a look at the product, then the software and lastly obviously my (subjective) gaming experience.

We'll start with the packaging. The NIA is offered to you in a sterile plain white box with a picture of the unit on the front. It's simple but straight to the point with a line of mystical text on there, "Advanced BioTechnology for Gaming" printed up the right-hand side.