So you think that the Nintendo Wii is one revolutionary piece of hardware? Think again. Emotiv is an Australian start-up that has successfully developed a game controller that manipulates the characters you see on screen not with an analog stick or buttons, but rather, it harnesses the power of your mind instead. Yes, you read that correctly - the Emotiv is actually a head-based controller that is capable of translating the power of thought into actual, in-game impressions. I always knew I could best Jonathan “Fatal1ty” Wendel in a deathmatch, it is just that my synapses are a wee bit slower due to my high intake of caffeine on a daily basis. With the Emotiv, my pro-gaming dreams could finally come true!

How does this work in reality? For starters, the headset comes with a bunch of sensors that are tuned into your brain’s electric signals, processing various thoughts, emotions, and expression. It is capable of connecting wirelessly across multiple gaming platforms (whether via WiFi or Bluetooth, we’re not sure) - which means disabled gamers can now enjoy the privileges of next-gen gaming as well as complex PC games from the comfort of their bed.

A commercial version still doesn’t exist, so we’re keeping our fingers crossed on seeing one in the near future. Imagine a truly global gaming village that does not discriminate against the type of chair you seat in - it all depends on the speed of thought. It would be interesting to see how RTS gamers duke it out, as the brain is much more efficient checking out various parts of the map when compared to the traditional hand-mouse combo. Who needs limbs anyways? Telekinesis is the way of the future.

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