Eye Blink Detection Now Available in Developer Tools 2.1 for NeuroSky MindSet
NeuroSky Challenges Developers in a Contest for the Best Application to Make Use of the New Eye Blink Detection.
  |
San Jose, CA, June 29, 2010 – Developer Tools 2.1 upgrades NeuroSky's past MindSet tool set and now includes support for eye blink detection. The new upgrades allow developers to create and publish their own games and applications for use with NeuroSky's MindSet.
Tansy Brook, the Head of Communications for NeuroSky, states "With the inclusion of the blink APIs in the MindSet Development Tools, we are providing developers with another powerful tool for application design. Blinks are more immediately actionable than brainwaves, making this feature a great "jumping off point" for introducing people to Brain-Computer Interface technology and helping them to become familiar with this new genre of interface."
To celebrate the launch of NeuroSky's Developer Tools 2.1, NeuroSky is challenging developers to compete in a contest for the best application to make use of the new eye blink detection. The details and rules are as follows:
FIRST PRIZE: 1 iPad*
ADDITIONAL PRIZES: Gift Certificates, publishing contracts, and more!
Instructions:
- Download the new Developer Tools 2.1. The toolkit is still free! And, it's completely compatible with existing MindSets.
- Use the new eye blink detection for your application development. Your program can be either on the PC or the Mac (or both if you like). You can use the ThinkGear Connector to make a Flash-based web program, or you can compile an executable that uses the ThinkGear Communications Driver. Just make sure the app is in a distributable format so you will be able to send it to us to try.
- Interested developers should fill out a form at http://company.neurosky.com/blink-of-an-eye/. Please enter your information and NeuroSky will provide you with the appropriate FTP to complete your submission. The form will include details on how to upload your program. For further questions, please email: store@neurosky.com
JUDGING:
Applicants will need to ensure that their application has been tested on the intended platform (PC or Macs).
Applicants must submit their applications for certification and publishing in the NeuroSky Store. Submissions for this contest will have certification costs waived and will receive publication profits upon publication in the NeuroSky Store.
The NeuroSky panel of judges will closely reviewThe NeuroSky panel of judges will closely review all applications submitted and choose finalists and winners according to the following criteria:
- Creativity: Eye blinks and brainwaves are utilized in expressive and innovative ways.
- Quality: The application or service must be fully functional and run successfully. Bugs and other program complications will negatively impact the score. All programs should be polished and distributable.
- Speaking of distributable – the application you submit must be something you can legally share. So a utility for a mod is okay, but someone else’s program with a feature taped on… no.
- Marketability: There are many needs in the market place, including programs for helping disabled people. Programs that can fulfill needs and provide interaction and control systems are encouraged.
Contest ends on 7/17/10.
For more details about the contest, please go to
http://company.neurosky.com/blink-of-an-eye
ABOUT DEVELOPER TOOLS 2.1 UPGRADES TO NEUROSKY'S MINDSET:
The NeuroSky MindSet is NeuroSky's first Brain Computer Interface headset available for the consumer market. As a turnkey consumer or research acquisition tool, it measures electrical impulses generated by mental activity, and uses proprietary algorithms to calculate the observed types of brain behavior. For consumer games and education, The MindSet takes calculated brainwave levels and interpreted mental states (currently "attention" and "meditation") and makes them available as digital input for computers, software, and devices. There are currently over a dozen games and educational applications available for download. For sophisticated developers, raw unfiltered brainwave measurements are available through use of the NeuroSky SDK, which feeds data to the computer via wireless Bluetooth.
The new Developer Tools 2.1 upgrades to MindSet tool set include drivers, sample code, and documentation for several software platforms, including PC, Mac, and even lower level platforms such as micro-controllers.
NeuroSky MindSet Developer Tools Support:
- Windows (all programming languages, via TGSP and TGCD interfaces, sample code, and serial I/O
- Mac OS X (all programming languages, via TGSP and TGCD interfaces, sample code, and serial I/O protocol)
- Arduino (Processing, via tutorials, sample code, and serial I/O protocol)
- Linux (C/C++ via sample code and serial I/O protocol)
- Other (C/C++ via sample code and serial I/O protocol)
ABOUT NEUROSKY:
NeuroSky's BCI ThinkGear chip is well known for its use in Mattel's extremely successful Mindflex and in Star Wars Force Trainer by Uncle Milton. Both of these toys sold out in the U.S. during the 2009 Christmas season. The Mattel Mindflex also received People's Play Award, "Best Toy of the Year," and was rated one of the top five toys for Christmas by Bloomberg. NeuroSky's technology was also a part of the Ontario House display featured at the recent Winter Olympics.
The BCI technology is not limited to games though. NeuroSky technology is now being incorporated into products as various as automotive, healthcare, education industries, and more. It's obvious that, with such universal innovation, NeuroSky's games and other applications are sure to have an impact in a variety of arenas in the coming years.
David Westendorf
VP of Marketing, NeuroSky
david@neurosky.com
408-550-2852
For more information about NeuroSky, please go to
www.neurosky.com and to
www.ballantinespr.com/NeuroSky
Media inquiries may be directed to:
Erika Maya
Ballantines PR
310-454-3080
erika@ballantinespr.com
http://www.ballantinespr.com/
