(Newswire.net — June 19, 2015) — London, UK – Mind control technology has traditionally been considered to be aimed against people. However, a new BBC project allows viewers to control an experimental version of BBC’s iPlayer on-demand platform – only by thoughts.
Developers at this British national broadcaster have been testing the “mind control” technology that allows viewers to change channels using thought power alone, and the gadget that allows them to do so, looks rather cool, too.
The video posted on BBC blog showed BBC staff members testing the prototype of a mind reading set, selecting channels using thoughts and having a blast:
Blog author Cyrus Saihan said that, with this new technology, classic handset would become obsolete.
“Our first trial run saw 10 BBC staff members try out the app, and all were able to launch BBC iPlayer and start viewing a program simply by using their minds. It was much easier for some than it was for others, but they all managed to get it to work. And it’s been a similar story for everyone who’s tried it out in our BBC technology Blue Room since,” Saihan posted on BBC blog page.
The ‘mind reading’ technology finds its primary use with people with disabilities, but the potential for everyday use by everyday people is obvious.
“Imagine sitting in your car and thinking ‘I want to listen to Radio 4’ and hearing the radio station come on during your commute to work,” Saihan posted. “Perhaps you might be able to just think ‘give me the latest news,’ and in response get served up a personalized set of news headlines,” he wrote.
“It is slightly difficult to describe, actually, it is a very odd idea… but yeah, it’s good, I like it,” said one tester. “This is basically telekinesis. I’m literally controlling it with my mind,” said another.
For some testers, the ‘mind reading’ headset was easy to use but other needed some time to adjust.
“When I was able to select the programs, it was brilliant. But it was quite frustrating as I was trying to time my thought-control, or my meditation technique, in order to select the right program. And so I kept missing the program that I actually wanted to watch,” said one BBC staff member with a disability.
“I was thinking about home, where I fight over remote control with my son,” said another tester, wondering if they both had a headset, whether they would have to fight with their minds over who gets to watch the TV program they liked.
Controlling a TV set is just one step in our efforts to develop universal mind-controlled devices that could shape our lives in the future.