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I read:

Technology for connecting paralyzed folks with computers has existed for a while now, according to Bloomberg:

Neuralink is not the only company working on brain devices that connect with computers. Modern demonstrations of cursor control by using thoughts have taken place in other humans with various types of implants, such as those deployed by the BrainGate consortium of research institutions and hospitals.

However, the Neuralink device contains more electrodes than other devices, suggesting it may have more potential applications in future. The Neuralink technology works without needing a wired connection to external devices.

[...]

“I’m happy for the individual that he’s been able to interface with a computer in a way he wasn’t able to before the implant,” said Kip Allan Ludwig, co-director of the Wisconsin Institute for Translational Neuroengineering. “That’s not a breakthrough compared to what others have shown previously, but it’s certainly a good starting point.”

This makes me wonder: What's the most efficient brain–computer interface to play video games? By most efficient, I mean allowing players to play the best.


To answer a comment on how to objectively compare BCI devices, see e.g. the paper Satyam Kumar, Hussein Alawieh, Frigyes Samuel Racz, Rawan Fakhreddine, José del R Millán, Transfer learning promotes acquisition of individual BCI skills, PNAS Nexus, Volume 3, Issue 2, February 2024, pgae076, https://doi.org/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae076 section "BCI control in a realistic scenario: car racing".

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    Hands. Hands are the most popular brain controlled method for people to play games. They integrate with a large number of popular peripherals such as keyboard/mouse, gamepads, joysticks, etc. Most gamers (casual and professional) actually use hands, and few people complain about them. Anyway, are you looking for a specific piece of equipment/periphery or a process? Does it have to exist, or are you looking for something theoretical/emergent? Commented Mar 26 at 5:49
  • @DavidRobie Thanks, have to exist. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain%E2%80%93computer_interface "A brain–computer interface (BCI), sometimes called a brain–machine interface (BMI) or smartbrain, is a direct communication pathway between the brain's electrical activity and an external device, most commonly a computer or robotic limb.", so natural limbs don't count, thanks! Commented Mar 26 at 5:52
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    This is a heavily opinion-based Q as different users would perform differently using the same BCI and based on both general and specific game experience. Noland, the first Neuralink user, was playing Mario Kart and seemed to do great at it, but he had a lot of experience in the game (including while drunk) beforehand. It may be more effective to analyze the math and science, but then this would be better off on a Stack Exchange site for those as it wouldn't be about gaming.
    – l3l_aze
    Commented Mar 26 at 18:17
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    Many variables could differ based on environmental conditions, and with the environment starting inside a users brain and extending out into the surrounding world both in wired and wireless form there's plenty of room for results to get skewed in uncontrollable ways. Players playing their best is also effectively opinion-based whether it's their own opinion or someone else's.
    – l3l_aze
    Commented Mar 26 at 19:02
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    The visually impaired community has an unfortunate history with companies designing brain interfaces for vision hardware that goes entirely unsupported after a handful of years. A smartphone that goes EoL after a few years is a small problem compared to surgical implant with the life expectancy of a Great Dane.
    – tjd
    Commented Mar 27 at 19:45

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I am pretty certain there is currently no publicly available way to command a game without any physical interaction with your body (directly from brain to console).

There has been a few projects, but most are still in their infancy, or for neuralink are said to be far along, but to be frank, its promoted by Elon Musk that is starting to have a reputation of promising the moon and then not delivering anywhere close to what is promised.

So to wrap it up, currently you need to interface normally with your game, or at best with things like the Xbox Accessibility Suite

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    There exist publicly available ways to command a game without any physical interaction with your body (directly from brain to console) eg Emotiv Epoc headset. I had one over 10 years ago. Commented Mar 31 at 16:47

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