Mindflex
{{short description|Toy by Mattel}}
Mindflex is a toy by Mattel by which, according to its description, the operator uses their brain waves to steer a ball through an obstacle course. Brain waves are registered by the enclosed EEG headset, which allows the user to control an air stream by concentrating, thus lifting or lowering a foam ball that is that trapped in the airflow due to the Coandă effect.{{citation|url=http://mindflexgames.com/|title=MindFlex Games|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116123850/http://mindflexgames.com/|archive-date=2009-01-16}} The game was released in the fall of 2009,{{citation|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10274050-1.html|author=Scott Stein|title=Moving objects with Mattel's brainwave-reading Mindflex|date=June 26, 2009|work=CNET News}} and uses the same microchip as the MindSet from NeuroSky and homebuilt EEG machines.{{citation|url=http://ericmika.com/itp/brain-hack|author=Eric Mika|title=How to Hack Toy EEGs|date=April 7, 2010|work=Frontier Nerds Blog}}
Controversy
Despite the science behind the technology developed by Mattel, outside scientists have questioned whether the toy actually measures brain waves or just randomly moves the ball, exploiting the well-known illusion of control.{{citation|url=http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/0,1518,679480,00.html|author=Hilmar Schmundt|title=Aberglaube im Kinderzimmer|date=February 22, 2010|work=Der Spiegel}} (In German){{citation|url=http://www.spiegel.de/wissenschaft/technik/0,1518,761169,00.html|author=Hilmar Schmundt|title=Wenn der Ball nicht macht, was der Kopf will|date=May 11, 2011|work=Der Spiegel}} (In German) However, despite the John-Dylan Haynes experiments, supporters of the game stand behind the research that went into the development of Mindflex, and believe that the headset does indeed read EEGs.
See also
References
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External links
- http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20151026-a-teens-mind-controlled-arm-could-make-prosthetics-cheaper
{{Mattel}}
Category:Electroencephalography
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