If the lights on the CN Tower seem to have a particularly west-coast vibe over the next few weeks, it may be because they're being remotely controlled by the minds of people half a continent away in Vancouver. That's not a typo: during the Vancouver Winter Olympics, visitors to Ontario House are remotely controlling lighting displays on the CN Tower, the Parliament Buildings and Niagra Falls using an innovative Toronto-made mind-computer interface.
It is, according the
MaRS blog, the largest thought-controlled computer interface experiment in human history, run by a local start-up called
InteraXon. Visitors sit in a seat in Vancouver and learn how to use their minds to interact with a computer, then test out their powers on the Ontario landmarks. Cameras transmit the results to the west coast -- and to the
InteraXon website -- in real time so participants can see the results of their computer-enhanced telekinesis.
The technology was first unveiled last year at the
Premier's Innovation Awards, where Premier Dalton McGuinty was given the opportunity to demonstrate the process. Following that event, the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation approached the company about creating the display for the Vancouver Olympics, called Bright Ideas.
MaRS has been working with the company to develop and market it's products. According to the MaRS website, building lights are just the tip of the mind-controlled iceberg. "InteraXon creates all kinds of
experiences in thought-controlled computing and is one of the only
companies in Canada to do so. From pouring a virtual can of cola to
controlling an orchestra of instruments, InteraXon's experiences are at
the forefront of technology, science and art."
Writer: Edward Keenan
Source: MaRS