A new brain-computer interface hailing from the other end of the world has been gaining media attention for its uniqueness. Neurowear is a Japanese electroencephalography (EEG) headset equipped with robotic cat ears. To some, it may seem like a novelty gadget. We see these fun-fur feline extensions as an invention with a serious impact on the way people interact.
Brainwave interactions promote self-understanding and awareness. At InteraXon, we think deeply about the capabilities that arise from connecting with a new part of yourself. Neurowear monitors the wearer’s electrical brain activity, and moves the robotic cat ears in response to changing brain state. On one hand, Neurowear, is a cute accessory, on the other it is also a profound new means of communication. Feeling ones brainwaves for the first time is a powerful experience. It gives us a voice we never knew we had.
Technology has inarguably become an extension of the self. Although we have become more connected, personal channels of communication sometimes suffer at the hand of modern technology. Neurowear opens an entirely new channel of communication, without closing any old ones. And it isn’t just another medium of communicating conscious ideas. Neurowear allows other individuals to experience a live stream of the wearer’s unconscious brain state.
Humanity, and what it means to be human, has been radically redefined by the advancement of technology. While brain-computer interfaces are generally seen as utilitarian, Neurowear is a metaphysical journey of the self—redefining what it is to be an individual. All brainwave technology gives rise to a new level of self-awareness. Is self-awareness not the ultimate goal of the individual? This is why we believe Neurowear is a really big deal.
Watch a video of Neurowear in action:
