The Emotiv headphones may be a pioneering device that allows a user to interact with a virtual environment by reading his/her ‘thoughts’. Essentially, the gadget records the brain’s electrical signals and translates your thought-orders into digital actions.

The Emotiv headphone works by using a device called an EEG, or electroencephalograph, to monitor the human brain waves (and emotional responses) of each gamer, virtually instantaneously translating those readings into virtual reactions, movements and movement.

The sensible applications might be enormously decent, but also possibly hideous. On the plus side, disabled users might have their lives entirely turned around, regaining an unlimited amount of independence by thought-controlling numerous home equipment. To develop the idea, paraplegic and quadriplegic people might generate thought-controlled virtual avatars and cooperate with others in real time.

The possibility to develop the world of gaming can be very evident, as Jane McGrath, of How StuffWorks.com, explains,

“If the EEG gaming technology eventually catches on, it could revolutionize the way people think about video games in much the same way the Nintendo Wii did (or perhaps more). On the one hand, with its facial expression interpretations, the Emotiv EPOC attempts to close the gap further between the real world and the virtual world to create a more realistic experience, much like the Wii does. On the other hand, the Emotiv EPOC also tries to bridge the gap between human thought and the outside world to create an experience that’s less like reality and more fantastical and dreamlike. The technology behind EPOC eliminates the middleman of motion altogether — a staggering thought to consider”.

Of the likely downside, that’s possibly chasmic, McGrath claims.

“Should researchers continue making more breakthroughs to advance EEG technology, it could plausibly lead to computers that can, in essence, read someone’s mind. Those with the technology could be privy to the private thoughts, opinions and emotions of others. Granted, this could be very far off, considering where the technology (and our understanding of the human brain) is now. Nevertheless, we can’t rule out the possibility entirely. Perhaps we shouldn’t dismiss the prospect of Thought Police (like that in George Orwell’s “1984”) as mere alarmism”.

Simply, this object creeps me out. I just don’t like the idea of a thought-activated PC, it makes my body crawl. But hey, that is just me. Also, in the event you’re a male of our species, you would likely be dredging up porn sites every 7 seconds.

It has also been recommended in some quarters you’ll have the capacity to basically consider someone and the said PC system will automatically place a phone call to them. The last thing I want to do is be thinking about some old girlfriend of whatever and suddenly wind up phoning her. No, just no. That is a can of worms that frankly doesn’t need opening up, thanks very much.

However, whatever my thoughts on it happen to be (and, for now at least, I’ve the option to keep them private), the Emotiv Epoc headset will soon be there for the average consumer, priced around $299 (that is slightly below £200 to us Brits).