MINDCONTROL VR

About the project

Many of us have probably dreamed of moving or relocating objects with our thoughts alone, through intense concentration, without using our hands. In reality this isn’t possible yet, but the tools and technology are already available to try out in virtual space what it would feel like to have such a special ability. This is how the idea for our MindControl solution was born. To experience it, you first put on the wireless EEG (electroencephalograph) headband, then the virtual reality headset. The former measures the user’s brain waves, while the latter displays the virtual environment and objects. With the Hungarian stand in mind, ARworks built three Hungarian inventions into the software: a matchstick, vitamin C, and a Rubik’s Cube. The process starts with a very short training session, where the system learns to evaluate the user’s unique characteristics. Then we enter a VR Showroom. “We encounter three Hungarian inventions in the virtual environment, and it’s possible to interact with each of them. If we concentrate strongly on an object, the match lights up, the vitamin C comes to life, and the Rubik’s Cube solves itself. The key is strong concentration, since the headband detects the brain waves and sends the signal back into the virtual environment, where the animation takes place,” explained Szabolcs Budaházy about the essence of MindControl. Measuring brain waves isn’t new — EEG devices have been available on the market for a long time — but VR has now reached a level where it can be connected to external technologies, making the experience impressive and memorable for users as well. The entire 3D space and the VR application were created by the ARworks team using the Unity framework.