Just because I’ve been absent from posts for a short period of time doesn’t mean that I’ve stopped thinking about my favorite past time anymore than I did before I jumped off for a bit of a break. I’ve spent days sitting on this crazy topic, and after a pretty interesting article that ran this morning over on CNN, I figured it was time to share this crazy tidbit of information with all of you.

“BCI“, or “Brain-Computer Interfaces“, is the name of this wondrous innovation that is steadily bobbing its way out into the mainstream, and not just because of the potential this technology has for the handicapped, but for society in general.

Basically, it is just as the name reads. There are two methods, one being a hat like contraption with sensors lining the inside of it that can literally track the electronic signals across the top of your brain through your scalp, causing a reaction. Perfect example of this, is a simple board game out on the market titled “Mindflex” which is already on sale, uses simple electrons to control the movement of the ball by measuring the activity in your brain, and in turn uses those signals to manipulate a fan that raises the ball up or down!.

The second method is definitely much more invasive; a literal operation to install a port into your brain(“The Matrix” much?). Personally, that’s a bit much, the government however is already planning some pretty insane stuff with this technology. “Silent Talk” is basically telepathy, allowing you to transfer your THOUGHTS silently to another person with a viable implant. Could you just imagine the ethical and moral repercussions if this technology was utilized by everyone!?

I bring up “BCI” because in all honesty, this will be the next step in the video game industries evolution. “Natal“, “The Wand“, and “The Wii-Mote” are neat now oh yes; but instead imagine not having to wiggle at all, and imagine the increase in your reaction time that you’ll get because these controls will move at the speed of THOUGHT, which is a literal lightning strike.

This technology will not be out on the market for a while however; most experts in the field are worried about releasing the technology main-stream without it being cost effective, creating a rift in society between those who are technologically augmented elites, and those who would not be able to afford it.

I express some reservations in my personal opinion, because in all reality; Do I really want to change myself in a physical way for entertainment?

While still young in many respects, this is an amazing breakthrough that will aid many disabled individuals the world over, and I believe that this technology was created solely for them; to improve there quality of life. On the entertainment front, I think we can wait while this technology is implemented and given to the individuals who are truly in need of it.