Muse: controlling the power of thought

What we expected to see in a hundred years is already being sold in a nearby store - this is precisely the thought that comes to mind when Muse from Interaxon is in its hands.

Developers call this Brain Sensing Headband - something like a "bezel for reading brain signals." In RuNet, we have not yet decided on the translation of the name - here you can find “a bandage for reading thoughts”, “a headset for concentrating attention”, and “a device for mentally controlling gadgets” ...

In fact, Muse is, in fact, a miniature electroencephalograph , which records and measures the complex electrical processes occurring in the brain. The very fact that the developers managed to turn bulky, difficult to handle, professional equipment into a “gadget for every day” is worthy of respect.





The device consists of a length-adjustable rim with five pads and two earhooks that hold two more contacts, and inside - electronic filling, Bluetooth-module and battery.

Muse
Price: $ 300 (excluding shipping)

• 7 sensors
• 4 channels of EEG data
• accelerometer (3 axis)
• Interfaces: Bluetooth, 2x USB (power)
• Support: iOS 6.0+, Android 2.3+, MacOS 10.8+, Win 7+, Ubuntu
• battery: Li-Ion (up to 5 hours)

So what can Muse really be? Interaxon is reassuring: their gadget cannot read minds. Today, developers have prepared only one application - Calm - it allows you to quickly master the art of complete relaxation. In addition, Interaxon is distributing an API through which Muse can find wide application - from mental control in games to training attention, memory and other skills.





We could not deny ourselves the pleasure of understanding Zen with the help of technology. Immersion in the world of neurons, axons and dendrites - this is all that we managed to recall from the school biology course - we started by installing the Calm application. Say thanks to the developers from Interaxon - you will find a version for both iOS and Android.

Then I had to synchronize Muse with my smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth, register (without this - nowhere) and get instructed. A pleasant female voice (can be replaced by a male one) was broadcast in the language of Shakespeare and Eminem, but this did not bother - almost all the information is duplicated by pictures.



The main thing here is to find the position of the rim and earholes so that all the contacts fit snugly on the skin - this can be tracked by a special indicator in the form of a horseshoe. Notice that the three central contacts are schematically indicated by one black oval.

After choosing the duration and complexity of meditation, you will be offered to occupy a comfortable sitting position, close your eyes and put on the headphones pre-connected to your smartphone or tablet.







The last step remains: the calibration of the gadget, which is a series of tasks performed in the mind and causing intense brain function. From one calibration to another, tasks change, but the English language should not confuse you - it is enough to recall vigorously the images of objects from any three categories (fruits, plants, animals, actors, clothing, etc.).



And finally, we are trying to achieve nirvana. You can concentrate on breathing, you can relax muscles one by one - each has its own way. Thoroughly recommend trying without trying. Whatever it means. It’s just that any muscle or mental strain enhances brain activity - you won’t be able to muse! The weaker the wind blowing in the headphones, the closer you are to complete relaxation. Well, if you heard the birds singing, we can congratulate you - the meditation was a success.



At the end of the session, your achievements are displayed on the screen, logged and synchronized with the profile on the server - users who love the graphics will certainly appreciate the efforts of the developers.





To summarize. Muse is, of course, a unique device. The gadget will certainly interest those who engage in mental practices and, at the same time, do not shy away from modern technology.

For personal impressions, the device works. After 3-4 sessions of working with Muse in stressful situations, you begin to “remember” that pleasant state of “emptiness in the head” obtained during self-tests.

The cost of the device excluding delivery from the manufacturer is $ 300. We have this amount pretty much exceeds 20 thousand rubles. The price, to put it mildly, bites. It is hoped that the potential of the device will be revealed in the near future - in some meditations you will not go far nowadays.

PS How it really was - a Muse video : control the power of thought on our YouTube channelGeek to the future