Will we soon be playing video games without a controller, simply by thinking? This question, once relegated to the realms of science fiction, has recently become the focus of a number of scientific and technological research projects. Companies such as Neurable and university laboratories in Switzerland are developing brain-machine interfaces that integrate neural control into the videogame experience. This technology relies on electroencephalographic (EEG) sensors and machine learning algorithms that interpret brain signals into usable commands.
The first concrete trials of thought-controlled video games date back several years. In 2017, start-up Neurable presented Awakening, a virtual reality game compatible with the HTC Vive headset. In it, the player takes on the role of a character detained in a government laboratory and must use telekinetic abilities to escape. The direct neural interface enables objects to be selected and manipulated solely through concentration and visual attention.
According to Upload journalist Ian Hamilton, who tested the experiment,"the object I was thinking about moved by itself in front of me". Meanwhile, as reported byEuronews, Swiss researchers at the SwissFederal Institute of Technology in Zurich have developed a system enabling people with paralysis to play video games using a headset fitted with EEG sensors.
The integration of brain-machine interfaces into video games opens up a number of prospects. For gamers, these systems could offer enhanced immersion by enabling them to interact with the game world in a more natural way. They also represent an interesting accessibility solution for people with disabilities, particularly those with severe motor disorders.
By developing adapted interfaces, researchers hope to offer tetraplegic gamers a new way of enjoying video game entertainment. However, current devices remain limited in terms of precision and fluidity, and their mass adoption in the video game industry is still uncertain.
While there is growing interest in these technologies, their widespread commercialization remains a challenge. For the time being, games incorporating thought control are still at the prototype or laboratory demonstration stage. Ramses Alcaide, CEO of Neurable, describes these interfaces as"the next brain mice" of virtual reality, but bringing them to market will depend on developers' ability to improve reliability and reduce cost. Public acceptance may also depend on the evolution of user interfaces, which will need to be more intuitive and accessible. But who hasn't dreamed of moving objects, even virtual ones, by thought? ?
While neural control of video games is a promising innovation, there are still hurdles to overcome before it becomes an industry standard. Recent advances demonstrate a definite potential, but it will be some time before these technologies are fully operational and widely available. For the time being, they remain mainly confined to laboratories and technology demonstrations. Hope springs eternal, as the saying goes.
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