Brain Control Headset

Via Slashdot, Emotiv has a new Brain control headset for gamers scheduled to come out later this year:

• Sensors respond to the electrical impulses behind different thoughts; enabling a user's brain to influence gameplay directly
• Conscious thoughts, facial expressions, and non-conscious emotions can all be detected
• Gyroscope enables a cursor or camera to be controlled by head movements
• The headset uses wi-fi to connect to a computer

I've discussed this type of Mind Reading Software before (and here).

Interpreting motion and/or motor signals (facial expressions) is one thing. I'd love to know what type of EEG processing will be used to detect conscious thoughts and non-conscious emotions. At the very least, this type of quantitative EEG analysis has to begin with high quality EEG signals. I don't know how this can be done from an unprepared scalp and electrodes that are applied without gel.

UPDATE (3/2/08):

Via Slashdot, here (and here) is another game controller from OCZ (the Neural Impulse Actuator (NIA) is not currently a listed product). The NIA works by "... reading bioptentials. These include activities of the brain, the autonomous nervous system and muscle." You can't help but be skeptical about the value of this technology for these purposes.

UPDATE (3/22/08):

More information on the Emotiv device: 'Mind Gaming' Could Enter Market This Year.