Mind Over Matter

A couple of days back, I happened to stumble upon a video article about using your brain signals to control computers. No, I haven't been reading sci-fi, nor have I been glued to Terminator 3; in fact, I don't like either. But, it's true and it hit me in the face and left me feeling like I was in the Twilight Zone for a long time.

The company I am talking about here is NeuroSky. Based in California, USA, these little devils have come up with a method/technology that can read and convert your brain waves into commands for electronic devices. For example, you can now play a game, or use a mechanical instrument, things like that, using nothing but your thoughts. And here comes the best part, it will increase the cost of the devices by only US $15 (Rs.600 approx). Hmm interesting, I say.

The concept, though simple, is a little difficult to implement as it varies from human to human and depends on the person's concentration level and other attributes. But, heaping laurels on the people at NeuroSky is not the real purpose of this article, nor do I want to talk about some mind control mumbo jumbo, no way.

The reason why I'm taking time off from my reviews to pen this article is to talk about the endless possibilities, and the effect it will have on us (read humans, for now).

Think about a day when you get up in the morning and you want some strong brewed coffee, and there goes your coffee machine into action. You want your shirt ironed and you have it. Forget your iron, the shirt might just iron itself. The list is endless, or rather restricted only by the limit of individual creativity. For now, all these things are only in thought, but I am sure it won't take long before these things become reality and make their way into our lives.

Obviously, these things are meant to considerably improve the quality of our lives, but will they really?

For all you know, I might just stop using my keyboard (in effect, my fingers) to write reviews. I'd rather 'think and think' than 'think and write,' but they will get written. This is of course, applicable to all and sundry. Eventually, we might have an army of couch, chair, and bed potatoes; maybe even more types of potatoes will be coined. Even with such an enormous boost in our quality of lives, we'll have cases of under developed hands, feet or even brains, just because we won't be using them as much as we used to.

For now, use your brain and let your imagination run wild, and then use your hands and keyboard to let us know about your thoughts on the same.