By David Ponce

The thing about gaming is that so much is riding on the controller. Just think about the fundamental differences between PC vs. console gaming, and the advantages a mouse and keyboard can give you over a console controller. The same is true when you move into devices who weren’t created with gaming in mind, but who later discovered a healthy market for it, like the iPhone. There’s no denying that pressing a flat, feedback-less screen is not ideal for gaming. So that’s why we like the GamePad from 60beat. It plugs right into the audio jack of your iDevice and gives you 2 analog sticks, 1 D-pad and 10 action buttons (2 on the joysticks). It needs no batteries since it draws power from the device.

The only problem is the current number of compatible games: 2. Two games! So yeah, it’s great and all, but not very useful unless the company manages to get more developers to include code in their games that takes this particular controller into account. Still, it’s $50.

[ Product Page ] VIA [ UberGizmo ]

By David Ponce

Seriously. The folks at B-Reel have taken a Mindwave headset from Neurosky, a Scalectrix slot car set, a bunch of other parts and hacked together a way to control the cars with your mind. And it works! Concentrate means go, get distracted means stop.

What if you could run a slot car race using your brain? We did a bit of research on this and it didn’t take long to realise we already have all we need to make these ideas come to life; we just needed to connect the dots and find an easier way to integrate different disciplines to make the magic happen.

These are the steps B-Reel went through:

- researched components and library we could have used

- procured a device that reads mind signals, a Scalextric, Arduino, some tools and electric components

- designed a small electronic circuit to connect Arduino to Scalextric

- wrote the Arduino script to control the Scalextric

- wrote a small Processing application to control the car with the computer mouse

- connected the brain reader device signal to the Scalextric

But the proof, as they say, is in the pudding. So do yourself a favor and watch the above video. It’s mostly towards the end that you start seeing the guy actually voluntarily controlling the car, starting and stopping at will. Awesome stuff.

[ Slot Car Set Controlled With The Mind ] VIA [ Medgadget ]