The Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal’s 2009 Emerging Tech award winners were recently honored at the Computer History Museum. The entertainment award was given to San Jose based technology company, NeuroSky. According to the Business Journal, “The winners were chosen from a record number of nominations, showing the depth of the valley’s innovation even during rough economic times.”
WHY:
According to Publisher James MacGregor, “Among the things we considered in this year’s nominees include the potential viability of the company and the ‘wow’ factor that clearly sets something apart. We were ultimately looking for companies that could completely change technology in their sectors, not just advance it a step or two.”
The NeuroSky ThinkGear™ technology, first of its kind to be applied to the mass market, has established NeuroSky as the leader in consumer BCI. With industry leading partners like Mattel, Square Enix (Final Fantasy), Uncle Milton, Toshiba and a number of others, NeuroSky is leading the charge with the introduction of BCI to the general public with the first of many toys and products. Even in the bleak economic environment, leading toys and games giants Mattel and Uncle Milton have adapted NeuroSky’s ThinkGear technology for use in products that are demanding - and getting - premium gift pricing.
The revolutionary NeuroSky chip is used on NeuroSky’s own MindSet headset and in products by partners Mattel (MindFlex) and Uncle Milton (Star Wars Force Trainer.)
The MindSet uses the advanced NeuroSky chip and one dry sensor to sense and interpret the wearer’s brainwaves. The information is sent by Bluetooth technology to a computer. The computer uses the brainwave information to determine the level of attention and meditation. For games like the MindSet video game and the MindFlex and Star Wars Force Trainer physical games, the user’s level of attention is transformed into action.
“With all of the amazing companies that come out of Silicon Valley, we are honored to have been selected to be the Emerging Technology winner in entreatment,” said Stanley Yang, CEO of NeuroSky. “This has been a great year for us and it is really gratifying to be receiving recognition among our peers as well as in the market place for all of our team’s dedication.”
NeuroSky’s ThinkGear™ Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) technology is also being used in development in other industries, including automotive, education, and health and wellness.