Jan 28, 2021 11:12:00

Valve is developing a VR device that reads brain waves and EMG, enthusiasm to 'extinct entertainment so far'

Valve co-founder

Gabe Newell talks to New Zealand media 1NEWS about the future of VR, developing a VR headset equipped with ' Brain Computer Interface (BCI) ' that reads brain signals I made it clear that there is. According to Newell, BCI's research is progressing faster than expected and will be tested by 2022.

Gabe Newell says brain-computer interface tech will allow video games far beyond what human'meat peripherals' can comprehend | 1 NEWS | TVNZ
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/gabe-newell-says-brain-computer-interface-tech-allow-video-games-far-beyond-human-meat-peripherals- can-comprehend

Valve Reveals Partnership with OpenBCI to Make VR Gaming More Immersive – Road to VR
https://www.roadtovr.com/valve-openbci-immersive-vr-games/

Game development company Valve is, of VR platform, Steam VR In addition to the development and further its development of VR headset ' Valve Index sells', we are working vigorously to expand the VR field.

Such Valve has long suggested the development of VR devices using brain waves, and Valve's experimental psychologist Mike Ambinder announced in 2019 'the possibility of applying BCI to VR devices'. You can see the actual announcement in the following movie.

Brain-Computer Interfaces: One Possible Future for How We Play-YouTube


According to Newell, Valve is developing a VR headset equipped with BCI in partnership with a company that develops open source BCI devices called OpenBCI . 'We are developing a way to provide a variety of modality by incorporating technology that reads brain signals in high resolution into headsets,' Newell said.

In fact, OpneBCI announced in November 2020 the development of a BCI called ' Galea ' that can work with VR / AR headsets.

In addition to measuring brain waves, Galea has an electrooculogram sensor that can detect blinking and gaze, a myoelectric potential sensor that can detect body movements, a skin electrical activity sensor, and a photoelectric volume pulse wave recording sensor that measures changes in blood and air volume. It is also built-in, and it is

possible to measure not only the wearer's body movements but also the wearer's excitement and emotions non-invasively .

It's not clear if this Galea is the prototype of a device co-developed with Valve, but Galea's performance is very close to the VR device concept announced by Unbinder in 2019.

BCI's research speed is so fast that Newell said, 'We are cautious about commercializing BCI devices so that it is not premature.' 'Six months from now, we Will have something to enable many features, 'suggests the announcement of a BCI-powered VR device like Galea.

'BCI gives players a better gaming experience than they get through'flesh peripherals' such as eyes and ears.' 'The real world is created by people in their brains.' It will look colorless, flat, and blurry compared to the experience you've had. '

In addition, Newell said, 'Software developers who do not own even one of the BCI devices in the test lab in 2022 are making stupid mistakes.' 'The advent of BCI is entertainment so far. It's an event at the level of extinction. '