Dubbed the "brain mouse," the Neural Impulse Actuator (NIA) is OCZ Technology's partial answer to Emotiv's EPOC neuroheadset, and the brain control interface (BCI) control peripherals set to be released soon for the PC. The enthusiast and extremist hardware provider hopes to revolutionize the way gamers will interact with games, but the NIA is capable of so much more than just gaming.
OCZ revealed that the NIA uses our brains' electroencephalograph (EEG) and converts them into custom keystrokes or mouse input. Just like any gaming input peripheral, the NIA will also come with its own control calibration software as well as a training and test utility.
This is because the device will need to be trained and calibrated to your physiological and EEG activity before acting like a natural extension of your controls. But perhaps its nickname isn't exactly accurate - the Neural Impulse Actuator would replace your entire keyboard when it comes to control rather than replace your mouse in whole.
In fact, you'll probably need the mouse so that the actuator can detect that you intend to move the mouse up, down, left, or right - that is if the current technology demo at the ongoing CeBIT 2008 tech-con in Hanover, Germany is using the final prototype.
OCZ promises that mass production of the USB 2.0 product will kick off this year, but at a price that only enthusiasts will probably be willing to shell out. If you fancy bleeding edge tech wrapped in pretty metal to replace your gaming Saitek, Razer, or Logitech keyboards and mice, then US$ 300 (right on par with the Emotiv equivalent) is your only hurdle to revolutionary, consumer grade interactivity.
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