"Research on brain waves is well known," said NeuroSky Chief Executive Stanley Yang. "But we have worked on a way for detecting them with a low-cost technology and then interpreting what they mean. We think this will have broad applications."

Sensors in the head gear -- whether headbands, headsets or helmets -- measure electrical activity in the brain that scientists have studied for decades. Using NeuroSky's chip technology, the system can distinguish whether a person is calm, stressed, meditative or attentive and alert. Beyond games, the system might be useful for determining whether drivers are so drowsy that they need an alarm to awaken them.

CyberLearning's present models essentially use the brain as a gameplay modifier or enhancer, rather than as a discrete controller. For example, a player may be allowed to reach greater speeds in a racing game by exhibiting strong focus and a sense of calm, while nervousness would lead to erratic handling. "It's fun because it adds a new element to game play," said psychologist and CyberLearning CEO Domenic Greco. "What you are thinking affects the game."

Control augmentation rather than replacement seems more feasible and potentially appealing, as it is more in line with reality. I'm not sure I'd want to control a car entirely with my mind, as part of the satisfaction of driving is to feel some kind of link between physical actions and the car's behavior, even if it's abstracted through a controller. I also can't imagine the necessary precision would be within our grasp anywhere in the near future. However, the potentials of brain activity and emotions added on to the game experience would be simply enormous. It's easy to imagine how such technology could enhance, for example, the horror genre. Games like F.E.A.R. or Eternal Darkness could actually link their reality-bending psychological effects to the brain activity of the player, ensuring that such creepy situations occur at the most opportune moments. Exciting!