Neurosity, a game-changer in the BCI field
The average human brain contains about 120 billion neurons. And the best way we have to measure everything these neurons are doing, after all these centuries, looks something like this…
In an age of up and coming technology, we seem to be settling for what was invented decades ago when it comes to how we measure what’s happening in our brain. The field of innovative technology within this area is in dire need of a kickstart and Neurosity is here to deliver it.
We all know that one person who’s obsessed with productivity. They probably have a habit tracker, go on daily walks, and will not stop telling you about the benefits of time-blocking. If you can’t think of someone, you are this person in your friend group.
Now, imagine how ecstatic they’d be if you gave them a way to quantitatively measure their concentration using their brain. You’re welcome for giving you the gift idea of a lifetime ;)
Well, imagine no more because Neurosity has just the product for you ~
Introducing, the Crown, your digital gateway to staying focused. The crown is a BCI that adjusts your environment so you can limit distractions and stay focused on whatever you need to do.
If you’re someone interested in technology or neuroscience, you’ve probably heard of the term ‘brain-computer interface’ floating around. If you haven’t, here’s a quick rundown:
A brain-computer interface, or BCI for short, is any device that uses your brain activity to produce a certain outcome. First, the device uses electrodes to measure the electrical signals produced in your brain. Based on the way the device is programmed, the frequency of these signals will lead to different results.
An example of this would be EEG’s that are connected to a computer to allow someone to play a video game hands-free.
The difference with the Crown is that it focuses on changing your physical environment based on your mental state. For example, if you’re in a state of high focus, the Crown will adjust your playlist to play songs you have designated as ones that help you stay in the zone.
Neurosity was able to do this by partnering with Spotify, which allows the Crown and the app to transfer information and change the user’s experience based on the EEG data being picked up by the electrodes on the Crown.
If you’re easily distracted by social media and the buzz of your phone makes your ears perk up and all thoughts of work evade your mind, you’re in for a treat.
Another way the Crown could help you maintain concentration is by linking with your device’s notification settings. Put simply, if you’re in a state of high mental focus, you can set your device up so that the Crown will instruct it to automatically block certain notifications.
I could go on about all the technology that went into making this BCI the sleek and multifunctional device it is, but I doubt that would be helpful in terms of helping you gain an understanding of Neurosity’s mission.
Neurosity is also working on creating enabling technology that can help other players in the BCI industry and not just their own products. The goal isn’t just to make one viral product, but to constantly add value to the BCI industry and find ways for people to make full use of the most complex computing system we know: our brain.
As Co-Founder Alex Castillo said in his Ted Talk, “quantifying our thoughts and emotions will empower our minds”.
“quantifying our thoughts and emotions will empower our minds”.
After speaking with Alex, I can see that this mindset is what drives the team at Neurosity. He explained to me how the team wants to expand further rather than staying within the ‘productivity’ arena.
According to Buddha, “we are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think”. If you ask me, it’s about time we are able to use our brain to its fullest potential rather than adapting to the limited usability of the technology around us.
Why should we settle for touchscreens if we can control them with our brainwaves?
Why rely on a subjective measure of drowsiness to ensure people don’t fall asleep at the wheel when we can have an automatic system that could have the car pull over if the driver’s brain activity shows they aren’t in the right state to drive a car?
Imagine you had a super-computer with the key to your potential locked away in a messy garden shack. Would you rather peep through a foggy window to try and get an idea of how it works or would you open the door?
Our brains are infinitely complex, but that doesn’t mean the way we understand them has to be. Learn more about Neurosity’s mission and technology here.
