Usually wearing a silly hat and staring at the computer doesn’t do anything besides make you lonely, but now with BCI 2000, that’s going to change. You’ve probably seen some of the really great videos of researchers playing pong, typing words, and controlling robots using just their thoughts. But did you know that they all relied upon the same software program to work? Brain Computer Interface 2000 is a software tool that facilitates reading brain signals in real time. That means EEGs and ECoGs can work better and faster. Why do you care? BCI 2000 lets you control computers with your mind.

“Four applications using the properties of the OpenViBE programme have already been developed by scientists. Three prototypes involve virtual reality and video games. The user, wearing helmets equipped with electrodes, will be able to pilot a space ship, play handball or move around in a virtual world, depending on the application. A fourth prototype, designed as a communication aid for people with reduced mobility, makes it possible to write on a computer simply by using thought.”

“An elaborate electronic helmet that allows the wearer to control a robot by thought alone has been unveiled by researchers in Japan. Scientists at the Honda Research Institute demonstrated the invention today by using it to move the arms and legs of an Asimo humanoid robot. To control the robot, the person wearing the helmet only had to think about making the movement. Its inventors hope that one day the mind-control technology will allow people to do things like turn air conditioning on or off and open their car boot without putting their shopping down.”