Muse mind-reading computer device to hit the market in 2013 (video)

4 Dec 2012

Muse, a headband device that reads a user’s brainwaves to control computer devices using electroencephalography (EEG) and developed by Toronto start-up InteraXon, is to go on sale next year for just US$199.

The headband device will be used mainly for gaming and responding to emails.

The start-up has already exceeded its goal of raising US$150,000 on Indiegogo and has amassed support of US$233,220 with just four days to go to deadline.

CEO Ariel Garten announced the device will go on sale in 2013 at the influential LeWeb conference in Paris today.

According to CNET, the device demoed by Garten had potential productivity benefits – an app called Emotype changes fonts according to the moods of the writer.

How InteraXon’s Muse works

mUse

The device interacts with other computers using Bluetooth. It uses four electroencephalography sensors to read brainwave patterns.

Each device will come with games and a software development kit that will let people write their own apps.

InteraXon’s technology works by converting the user’s brainwaves into digital signals that can be fed into a computer. Eventually furniture, audio and visual devices, toy cars and more will be controllable without a touch of a button.

 

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com