Brain-computer interfaces have been a lotta hype since Elon Musk announced his plan to implant microchips are everyone’s brains.
We’ll probably be waiting years until Musk’s minions get FDA approval to drill into our skulls. But in the meantime, a growing list of companies are offering less invasive BCIs.
The latest entry to the market comes from Neurable. The Boston-based startup today unveiled a pair of headphones — called Enten — that use brainwave sensors to measure focus levels throughout the day.
Neurable’s app then provides data about your focus patterns, such as the times at which you’re most productive and when you need to take a break.
You can then auto-mute notifications based on your focus levels, activate noise cancellation, or switch on a light that acts as a “do not disturb” signal.
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Users can also listen to music while they work to find out which songs and genres improve their concentration and which ones cause a distraction. The system picks up gestures like winks and nods to mute or skip tracks, while also offering traditional device buttons.
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Enten uses 16 electroencephalography (EEG) sensors in the ear cushions to detect electrical activity in the brain. The signals are then amplified, cleaned, and processed to provide information about your focus patterns.
Neurable co-founder Ramses Alcaide told TNW that the idea is to provide an everyday BCI device:
That’s really what our focus is: how can we be like the Fitbit for the brain?
I can’t vouch for their performance, but they at least look more comfortable than Mr Musk’s brain implants.
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