Next, you will see how all the data generated by these sensors is stored, connected and made share-able. That makes our world more interconnected. Usually that means the data is uploaded to 'the cloud'. My scale for example stores my weight and BMI somewhere on 'the cloud' - hopefully on a protected piece of cloud. Some devices charge an extra service fee for this storage, but usually we expect it to come with the device.
The final step to make our world more intelligent is to apply that data in a smart way for an actual need. Once I had a sleep tracker that came with a week-by-week coaching application and that did help me a lot. Clever applications make the whole experience meaningful. And this is also the part where most sensor devices have a long way to go, and sadly also the part we are least willing to pay extra for. (After all, it is 'just' a software algorithm, isn't it...) But it is the part that makes all the difference in our instrumented-interconnected-intelligent world...
You might think by now this is a long intro into a review of the Apple iWatch, but it is not. Last week I took two brain sensors to work for my colleagues to try out: the Melon headband and the Muse headband.
Both Muse and Melon were crowdfunding projects that resulted in a stylish, portable and relatively cheap brain sensing headband. The Melon has 4 metal sensors that need to touch your forehead, and the Muse has sensors for the forehead and both ears. Of course these devices (around 300+ euro range) don't give the same accuracy as an EEG scan or more complicated devices with 16 sensors glued to your head, but they do measure your basic brain signals. But to what end? I had my co-workers test them out.
Muse comes with an iPad and Android app to help you calm down. First the app takes you through a calibration exercise (as your brain is different every day), then through a calming meditation 3 minutes. It measures the time you were relaxed or tense and offers badges for 'streaks'. One of my coworkers gets a warm skin temperature when she is relaxed, and after trying out the app she indeed felt all warm.
Melon focuses on the opposite: it offers an app to help you get better at focusing your brain. (only iOS at this time but they are working on an Android version.) Every day you get to play 3 little games (similar to Lumosity) while the headband measures your brain signals. The app is slick, and offers a nice gamified approach. You can also see your raw 'attention' brain signal and if it is 'in' the zone or not. Some of my colleagues who had neurofeedback sessions before or meditate showed a level of attention that I haven't been able to reach yet :-) (my mind tends to wander...)
So why is this important? We are seeing the first consumer-versions of brainbands and their first applications. As I said in the intro: first come the devices and the uploading of data, but the real value is in the application. So far we are seeing approaches to help us counter stress and increase or focus. The future will tell how this evolves, but it is an interesting space to watch.
We never really learned to use our brain. As a toddler, we put our toes in our mouth and learn about all our body parts by experimenting - but we have no such thing for our brain. In 2013 Emotiv tried to launch a brain headset as a game controller but that didn't really work out. The idea was that by thinking 'up', your game character or the ball on the screen would go up. Turns out thinking 'up' is really hard, and we never learned how to do that with focus. That's why these brain bands are so interesting: they provide real-time feedback on basic signals of our brain so we can learn how to use this part of our body more intentional.
What is the killer app for brain sensors going to be? ...
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