IndieGogo funded Interaxion debut US$199 Muse Mind Controller at Le Web in France - Future Silver Lining Playbook for Gaming that'll Exercise the Windmills of Your Mind

“This is the first though-controlled device that's stylish and easy to wear”

Comments by Interaxon CEO Ariel Garten on the Muse Computer Controller at Le Web Conference in Paris, France

Are you a fan of Mind Controlled Gaming or Gaming Peripherals that don’t require physical contact or use Motion Sensors to detect movement? You should be: it’s one of IBM (International Business Machines) top Five Future Trends for the next five (5) years as prognosticated in my Geezam Blog article entitled “IBM’s advent of Mind Reading as Samsung patents Astral Projection Tech as the next Big Thing”.

Then I’ll assume you’ll love this story about the Toronto, Ontario Canada-based Mind Controller startup Interaxon and their latest Bluetooth-connected Mind Controller, the Muse as described in “InteraXon looking for crowdfunding for Muse, a brainwave-sensor headband”, published October 24, 2012 by Bob Yirka, PhysOrg that’s coming in 2013.  That’s in Ontario, Canada folks, same place where RIM (Research in Motion), maker of the Blackberry’s located!

It seems that new controller development’s the way to spark interest in Video Games and gain new followers in the now slowly dying Gaming World, their death being accelerated by smartpjhones and Tablets as noted in my Geezam blog article entitled “How the Apple iPad killed Ultrabooks, Printing and the Mouse as the World Rediscovers Tablets”.

To this end, the IndiGogo funded Interaxon’s placing its big bet on the future of Mind Controlled Gaming units via its debut of their US$199 Computer Controller called the Muse as stated in the article “Startup to launch $199 brainwave computer controller in 2013”, published December 4, 2012 3:20 AM PST by Stephen Shankland, CNET News.

Interaxon CEO Ariel Garten Muse controller made its debut in Paris, France at the Le Web Conference for Internet and Web development. For those who’ve been following my little blog, this was long in coming and its development was foretold in my blog article entitled “Neurosky, Mind Controlled Games and Movable Ears - Alpha and Beta Future of Gaming”. This is a big improvement, as the design of the Muse Mind Controller solves some aesthetic problems with the appearance of the product, quote: “This is the first though-controlled device that's stylish and easy to wear”.

So it’s no surprise that Interaxon’s chosen to debut this Bluetooth-connected Muse Mind Controller for computers packed with a few basic games and opened it up to Developers as laid out by Interaxon CEO Ariel Garten, quote “We invite everyone to help unlock the potential of the technology alongside us”.

Console Gaming’s the fastest way to build up a following for an entry-level product that’s still in its infancy. The Muse is an aesthetically beautifully designed and named EEG (Electro encephalograph) that converts so-called brainwaves into motion via its four (4) EEG Sensors built into this US$199 controller.

Quick recap on Brainwaves, which consist of two (2) types of brainwaves; Alpha and Beta (Greek for “A” and “B”):

1.      Alpha Waves are associated with relaxation

2.      Beta Waves are associated with concentration

Software interprets the EEG signals from the Muse Mind Controller Headset, filters out the noise and amplified the Alpha and Beta Waves. They’re then relayed via Bluetooth to the computer thus allowing the wearer to control the Gaming Unit. For now, the Muse isn’t very useful, aside from adding emotions to documents by varying Fonts or adding emoticons to email and doing very simple browsing task, it’s fairly tame.

However, the new interface peripheral for your Computer, Tablet or Laptop, it’s also a great mind relaxer. Via visual feedback from the use of the device to play games exercise the muscles in your mind! And as with any form of exercise, it’ll initially cause some Muscle strain; users of Mind Controller Headgear have reported headaches and nausea after continued usage. This lightweight glasses-like design should alleviate that problem and the headaches’ll fade with continued usage.

As with any physical task, constant use and practice in focusing your Alpha Waves (Relaxation) and Beta Waves (Concentration) exercises those Windmills of You Mind, The Thomas Crown Affair (1999) Style. This helps you to deal with a range of things from mood swings to anger management; great way to relax from those days at work when nothing’s going your way.

It’s now becoming clear that Americans like alternative ways of interacting with their gadgets  as noted in my Geezam blog article entitled “Siri and Kinect: Heralds of a coming world free of Remote Controls”. Interaction that’s intuitive and akin to what they’re used to with fellow Humans beings:

1.      Touch as in the case of the Apple iPad and now catching on Microsoft’s debut of the Surface Tablet as described in my blog article entitled “Microsoft debuts Windows 8 with new Surface Tablets - PixelSense rebranding as the Dark Knight Rises to defeat PC World”

2.      3D Motion Capture such as the Nintendo Wii and the Microsoft Kinect controller for the Xbox 360 noted in my blog article as noted in my blog article entitled “Nintendo Wii vs Microsoft Kinect - War of the Worlds in Jodine Spark's Battlefield”

3.      Real-Time Language Translation services such as those offered by Japanese Telecom Provider NTT DoCoMo as described in my blog article entitled “NTT DoCoMo introduces Free Real-Time Language Translation App - A Siri-esque Looper for Increased Business International Calling and Local Advertising Revenue”.

4.      Augmented Reality, which already has practical uses such as virtual shopping as describe in my blog article entitled “QR Codes and Shopping in South Korea - My Science Project for A Virtual Supermarket” and “Daqri combines QR Codes with Augmented Reality - Ads and PR Minority Report Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”

5.      Voice Control such as Siri as described in my Geezam blog article entitled “Siri and Kinect: Heralds of a coming world free of Remote Controls”

Already practical spin-off are in the offing aside from just Mobile Computing and Gaming. In the Medical Field, the Microsoft Kinect’s being used to teach Med Sci Students Surgical Techniques and also keep the operating theater Germ free as noted in my blog article entitled “Microsoft Kinect used to Teach Aneurysm Surgical procedures - A Gross Anatomy Future controlled by Voice and Gestures”. Imagine someone operating on you using the mere power of their mind!

Thus Big things are expected of this foray into Mind Controller, now finally getting a serious push in 2013 and seeing an increase in the number of competitors in this burgeoning field, already occupied by other players such as Neurosky. Gaming’s the natural way to go initially as predicted in foretold in my blog article entitled “Neurosky, Mind Controlled Games and Movable Ears - Alpha and Beta Future of Gaming”. 

Combine this with the above and the Future applications being developed by Developers will result in this new Device catching on in the PC World in Mind Controller Designer’s Silver Linings Playbook (2012).

JNBS Introduces Swipe and Go, eliminating Bank Books - Secret of Wings for a Cashless Society in Jamaica

“Now that the Society is ISO 9001:2008 certified, our members will be demanding exceptional customer service and the swipe-card technology is one of several initiatives that we are rolling out”

Excerpt from comments by JN Enterprise Contact Centre Representative, Michele Pollard-Gonzalez, on Sunday November 25 2012

JNBS (Jamaica National Building Society) has introduced yet another innovation on the step towards Jamaica becoming a Cashless Society. This as they’ve apparently begun to go Bank Account Book-less first in a system dubbed “Swipe and Go” as note in the article “JNBS introduces swipe-card technology”, published Sunday, November 25, 2012, The Jamaica Observer. 

For the lovers of Official Press Releases, here’s the official announcement on JNBS’ website entitled “JNBS introduces Swipe Card Technology”, Posted on November 22, 2012 by jnbs_admin, JNBS.

The new system at JNBS, for those Jamaicans who already have a BNS (Bank of Nova Scotia) aka ScotiaBank Jamaica Accounts, should be quite familiar. Very interesting development at JNBS, as after attaining ISO 9001:2008Certification, JNBS had to truly “turn it up a notch” and is offering polished services of an International Standard. In the process, they’ll benefit via a decrease in the length of Teller Lines and an increase in the amount of Transactions they process daily.

This derived from the quote by JN Enterprise Contact Centre Representative, Michele Pollard-Gonzales above. It’ll also reduce the long lines in the Building Society and introduce the convenience of accessing your funds at any branch aside from the one your account was signed, again another revealing quote from Michele Pollard-Gonzales: “Members can access funds easily, as they will simply swipe the card, put in their PIN number, and the teller will then manage the movement of funds at their request......When you go to a branch that is not your servicing branch, as long as you enter your PIN after you swipe, the transaction will be processed”.

But this can also be seen as a test run by a Local Building Society for the idea of a Cashless Society such as exists in Sweden as noted in “In Sweden, Cash Is King No More In Sweden, Cash Is King No More” Published Monday  March 19, 2012, The Jamaica Gleaner.

With the removal of the Bank Account Book from the accessing of Funds, customer will eventually be grandfathered towards using Internet Banking on their Laptops, Tablets and Smartphones to check on their Bank Account Balances and do transactions as predicted in my  blog article entitled “CIBC FirstCaribbean Jamaica and First Global introduce Cross-Network Banking - The Avengers for the idea of a Cashless Society and Banking Anywhere”.

I’ve got my fingers crossed for this one folks;  in this push for Bank Account book-less, it’s hoped that they’ll also introduce the more secure NFC (Near Field Communication) as described in my blog article entitled “NFC now supports Device-to-device Data Transfers – Swapping Music in the Castle of My Skin”. This is technology similar to Swipe Cards used among the various Banks, Telecom Providers such as LIME and Digicel and Call Centers such as ACCENT Marketing to guard Access to Sensitive Areas such as the Production Floor.

In the process, they’ll phase out Plastic Debit and Credit Cards, as they’re vulnerable to cloning. Instead, they'll be replaced by NFC-enabled Debit or Credit Cards or better yet, smartphones as predicted in as I had predicted in my blog article entitled “Google Wallet & Offers vs Square & PayPal - SME's International FlashDance”.

Eventually by that time Cross-Network Banking will become Standardized among Banks, Credit Unions, building Societies and other lending agencies as my blog article above suggests, attracting more of the Unbanked to create Bank Accounts by 2015. Hopefully too, by that time, Telecom Providers would have rolled out 4G LTE to facilitate VoIP and Messaging Services powered by Avaya Networks as prognosticated in my blog article entitled “Digicel and Avaya Communications launch Avaya Aura for SME's - LIME and Digicel in a Step Up Revolution towards GSM Voice Extinction”.

Meanwhile GSM Voice, GPRS and EDGE Services will be free or used for M2M (Machine-to-Machine) Services among ATM Machines, Laptops, Smartphones and Tablets as noted in my blog article entitled “Telecom Provider LIME and M2M Services - Free SMS and EDGE for the Caribbean to Foster Regional Integration”.

It’s now up to the BOJ (Bank of Jamaica) to observer these developing trends in the Banking World and create legislative framework to regulate them and prevent Money Laundering, as they’ll no doubt catch on:

1.      Increasing use of ATM (Automated Teller Machines) islandwide to access funds

2.      Increasing use of Internet Banking Options on Laptops, Smartphones and Tablets

3.      Increasing Interest in E-Commerce and the needs to have Merchant Credit Card Accounts

4.      Increasing need for Cross-Bank Transfers among Residential Customers

5.      Increasing need for the Adoption of Cash Registers as a requirement among SME (Small and Medium enterprise) to be effectively taxed

This standardization, along with the increasing adoption of Laptops, Tablets and Smartphones by Jamaicans will eventually be the Secret of the Wings (2012) to bring about the much desired Cashless Society by Credit Unions and Banks as described in my blog article entitled “Mozido Jamaica Limited and Mobile Payments - Plants and Zombies say the Gods must be Crazy” and my blog article entitled “JCCUL JCUES is put on hold by the BOJ - ePayment setback means Mozido has been Bewitched”,  which would encompass both the Banked and the unbanked in Jamaica.

2013 Tata Nano on available in Jamaica from Metis Motors by December 15th 2012 - All-Electric Vehicles potential in Jamaica Gangham Style

“At $14,000 [per month], it brings the Nano to the lives of people who would never own a car”

Joe Ferreira, Director of New markets at Metis Motors

The much touted 2^nd Generation 2013 Tata Nano is coming to Jamaica by Saturday December 15^th 2012 with business set to revv up by February 2013 as stated in the article “Tata time - First Nano deliveries expected this month”, published Sunday December 2, 2012, The Jamaica Gleaner. 

And based on the words of Joe Ferreira, Director of New Markets at Metis Motors, if it lives up to its promise, it’ll mean not only more Jamaica owning fuel-efficient vehicles, but it’ll also spark interest in All-Electric Vehicles as well as predicted in my Geezam blog article “Metis Motors intro’s 2nd Generation Tata Nano to Ja signaling Black and Yellow for All-Electric Vehicles”. 

After, all, that’s why he’s here, based on his words earlier in September 2012 in the article “Tato Nano makes debut”, published Friday, September 21, 2012 By Rory Daley Observer writer, The Jamaica Observer.

The specs of the 2013 Tata Nano are promising and so’s the payment options:

Specs:

1.      Weight: 635 lb (288 Kg)

2.      Doors: 4

3.      Engine: 2 cylinder, 625cc Engine

4.      Clearance: 8”

5.      Fuel Efficiency: 60 mpg (26 kpl)

Accessories:

1.      Boss Radio with the option for better Speakers, Bluetooth Streaming and DVD/CD/Thumb Drive Player

2.      Central locking

3.      2 front door Powered Windows

4.      Manual Steering

5.      Refuels from the Front

6.      Larger Trunk

7.      Battery under the Car Seat

Costs:

1.      Price: JA$940,000; $893,000.00 with discounts

2.      Warranty Servicing: 25,000 kilometre or two-year warranty

3.      Monthly Payment Option: JA$14,000 per month

Note: “mpg” = Miles Per Gallon; “kpl” = equals kilometers per litre, the metric equivalent

Jamaicans love with the SUV is very much on display with the recent choice of gas-guzzling SUV’s by the Minister of Government when they could have purchased All-Electric or Flex Fuel Vehicles as noted in my blog article entitled “GOJ buys SUV's for Ministers of Government from Toyota Jamaica - All-Electric Vehicle Importation Support is needed from GOJ to be The Master of our Fuel Consumption”.

Thanks to our past Prime Minister PJ Patterson, Jamaica’s insatiable love affair with these American influence gas-guzzlers is unabated, making many who know Jamaica’s rough roads doubt the Strength of the obviously much improved 2^nd Generation 2013 Tata Nano. Joe Ferreira is apparently aware of this and other aesthetics many may find unpleasant about the smaller vehicle, quote: “A lot of people are skeptical, will always love bigger and better. I hear people complain it does not have a nose.”

The vehicle’s also ready for the Jamaican road conditions as well, as confidently touted by Joe Ferreira in September 2012 in a previous article “Tato Nano makes debut”, published Friday, September 21, 2012 By Rory Daley Observer writer, The Jamaica Observer, quote: “I've been to India and their conditions in terms of road network and climate are far worse than Jamaica. If it can survive there, from my own local testing, Jamaica will be a piece of cake”.

The attractions of the vehicle to Motor Vehicle Hobbyist's endless; you can change the engine, get bigger wheels, modify the drive train, add power steering, Seat and Outer Exterior Accessories, Duco job, even adjust the suspension clearance and still be within budget. Not to mention it’s kinda hard to steal the Battery if it’s strapped under the Seat!

Its weight is the reason why it’s so fuel efficient; the Engine and Drive Train less work to do in order to move it along on the roads. Increasing the Wheel base and adding better asphalt gripping tyres would dramatically push the fuel efficiency into the 100 miles per gallon territory.

What I’d love to see is modifications by Tata Motors to make an All-Electric version, as its weight makes it ideal for this upgrade as surmised in my Geezam blog article “Metis Motors intro’s 2nd Generation Tata Nano to Ja signaling Black and Yellow for All-Electric Vehicles”.

A good example of this is the 2013 Nissan Leaf, who’s many improvements includes reducing the weight of the vehicle using Aluminum Alloys in order to increase the driving Range as noted in my blog article entitled “Nissan Debuts the 2013 Nissan Leaf - 228 km range good for commute to The House at the End of the Street”.

The promise of Oregon-based company Porteon coming to Jamaica to assemble All-Electric Vehicles and Vans has yet to materialize as promised in the article “Electrifying Rides – Porteon plans 2012 Electric Car roll-out in Ja”, published Sunday December 4^th 2011 by Mel Cooke, The Sunday Gleaner and my Geezam blog article “Oregon-based Porteon to assemble All-Electric Vehicles in Jamaica – One By One”.

Thus the coming of this vehicle and its expected rapid adoption may, amusingly, be the REAL Catalyst for the introduction of All-Electric Vehicles in Jamaica and not necessarily the Politicians, Gangham Style.

After all, their vehicle choices leaves many Jamaica to question if they really are concerned about the plight of the Jamaican Motorists, reducing pollution by adopting more Environmentally-friendly vehicles or even reducing Jamaica’s ballooning Fuel Bill. Not to mention the costs many Motorists must endure to keep up appearances of being successful while his vehicle’s maintenance costs drain his pocket.

Now all we needs is a contractor to build Solar Powered Charging Stations islandwide and we’re good to go, Gangham Style….