Related Sections: News Top Stories Toys Video Weird Stuff
No lightsabers yet, but this new toy allows you to use the Force, Luke
OK, admit it. Ever since you first saw Star Wars, you've practiced moving stuff with your mind, right?
Well, the New York Post says there's a new toy that will let you do that very thing.
Here's how the newspaper describes the new Star Wars-branded "Force Trainer."
A new toy that harnesses the same technology doctors use to monitor brain waves will arrive in stores in August. The toy moves when it senses a change in the user's brain-wave patterns."It's pretty cutting-edge," says, Frank Adler, executive vice president of Uncle Milton, the toy company that manufactures the Star Wars-branded Force Trainer. "It certainly appears to be where things are headed." ...
Scientists call the technology BCI, or Brain Computer Interface, and more sensitive, medical-grade versions are used to help amputees move artificial limbs and victims of paralysis communicate using a computer and software that reacts thought.
Acquiring the powers of the Force won't be cheap: The Force Trainer is expected to sell for about $120. Here's a video of the toy in action.
Now if they could only come up with a device that lets you control the weak-minded ...
By John Paradox at 2:24 PM ON 06/30/09
"This isn't the toy you're looking for..."
By moxie at 2:58 PM ON 06/30/09
I can't decide if this is awesome or a rip off. Bio feedback for kids @ 120 bucks a pop? Will there be games you can play using the bio feedback skills other than moving the ball up and down the tube?
By the fixer at 3:05 PM ON 06/30/09
The makers of Forbidden Planet could sue these people. The exact same thing was shown in the classic film.
By KenoCO at 3:30 PM ON 06/30/09
I'll take two
By Kodiak at 3:38 PM ON 06/30/09
They already have a toy that controls the weak-minded...it's called Television.
By Al at 3:39 PM ON 06/30/09
As much fun as this might be for a little while, making a ball move up and down in a glass tube will lose it's appeal pretty quick.
Make the ball the device itself and we can play catch without hands! Now, that's a game I'd pay to see!
By Jeremy from Seattle at 3:56 PM ON 06/30/09
"Brake Through Toy..."
Edit much?
By Redfern at 4:12 PM ON 06/30/09
"TheFixer" beat me to the punch! That's exactly what I thought as well. Walter Pidgeon as Dr. Edward Morbius called it the "Plastic Educator". I mean, you have the headset, a transparent cylinder, and an off-white indicator that floats to the top of the tube depending upon the amount of control one demonstrates. A "Forbidden Planet" reference in this article's title would have been far more appropriate.
Sincerely,
Bill
By jediman at 4:25 PM ON 06/30/09
Why isnt the government using this!?!?! they use all the cool stuff then after they've used it for like 2 years they send it to the public. like the cloaking devise should be in store in like 10 years.
By this isn't fun at 4:27 PM ON 06/30/09
And no one has mentioned that it looks like no fun at all. This is destined for the bottom of the pile in the garage.
By nkwulf at 4:42 PM ON 06/30/09
I can see this for medical reasons. People with ADD, brain damage, etc..
By Daumier at 5:09 PM ON 06/30/09
As far as novelty toys go, this one's pretty darned cool. And frankly I thought it'd be more expensive. I still wouldn't spend the money on it personally, but a machine smaller than my bookshelf that can read my brain waves to make a ball "float" in the air for under $150 just seems like sweet deal to me.
By Darth Puddinhead at 7:10 PM ON 06/30/09
"Now if they could only come up with a device that lets you control the weak-minded ... "
That device would be known as "The New York Post".
By metallifanatica at 8:22 PM ON 06/30/09
this is cooool ive got 2 have it
By LogynxRunn at 10:11 PM ON 06/30/09
No one has yet to mention that you're NOT making the ball move up and down. You're simply turning a fan off and on that is making the ball rise!
By wpb30635 at 11:04 PM ON 06/30/09
Me, i'll just wait until it is on the clearance shelf at Big Lots. Should be, oh, around Christmas
By roadrunner at 11:22 PM ON 06/30/09
It would be more interesting if you could accelerate the ball out of the top of the tube at bullet speed.
By Cheapshot at 11:51 PM ON 06/30/09
[i]"Now if they could only come up with a device that lets you control the weak-minded ... "
That device would be known as "The New York Post".[/i]
Good one Darth
By frank at 12:18 AM ON 07/01/09
This seems unsafe to me. I like the idea but want more info before I spend $120.oo
By Bobanort at 8:48 AM ON 07/01/09
Back in the 70's we had a similar game . . . it was called "Pong".
By jer_ at 9:59 AM ON 07/01/09
"This seems unsafe to me."
Wait, what? This seems mind-numbingly boring to me, but unsafe? I can't fathom how.
By ghengisbob at 11:49 AM ON 07/01/09
While this is neat and has potential, our family has set the price of stupidity at $5. Way over budget.
By it stinks and I hate it at 6:35 PM ON 07/01/09
This will be a lot of fun for nearly 5 minutes. Once you realize it does nothing else you'll dump it.
By vader 69 at 4:56 PM ON 07/10/09
and you expect this to sell? LogynxRunn is right. you'll win me over if you make it throw the ball at tagets. there's this game thats more fun its called soltair. and get lightsabers invented they're more funtertaining! oh and that video wasted 2 minutes and 9 seconds of my life
By warriorseeker at 12:49 PM ON 08/15/09
God I miss women like Anne F. and waited 12 hours in a car to see "Robbie as a kid" think they had the movie migit in it too lmao
Visit mobile.syfy.com/wire on your mobile device.
warriorseeker:
God I miss women like Anne F. and waited 12 hours in a car to see "Robbie as a kid" think they had the movie migi...More »