Could The Force be with you? A toy due in stores this fall will let you test and hone your Jedi-like abilities.

The Force Trainer (expected to be priced at $90 to $100) comes with a headset that uses brain waves to allow players to manipulate a sphere within a clear 10-inch-tall training tower, analogous to Yoda and Luke Skywalker's abilities in the Star Wars films.

No, you're not tapping into some "all-powerful force controlling everything," as Han Solo said in the movies. But you are reaching out with mind power via one of the first mass-market brain-to-computer products. "It's been a fantasy everyone has had, using The Force," says Howard Roffman, president of Lucas Licensing.

Mind-control games may be the coming thing: Mattel plans to demonstrate a Mind Flex game (also due this fall), which uses brain-wave activity to move a ball through a tabletop obstacle course, at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on Thursday.

In the Force Trainer, a wireless headset reads your brain activity, in a simplified version of EEG medical tests, and the circuitry translates it to physical action. If you focus well enough, the training sphere, which looks like a ping-pong ball, will rise in the tower.
FIND MORE STORIES IN: Las Vegas | Star Wars | Consumer Electronics Show | Mattel | Yoda | Luke Skywalker | Han Solo | Howard Roffman | Lucas Licensing | Padawan

A state of deep concentration is needed to achieve a Force-full effect. "When you concentrate, it activates the training remote," says Frank Adler of toymaker Uncle Milton Industries, which is creating the Trainer. "There is a flow of air that will move the (ball). You can actually feel like you are in a zone."

Star Wars sound effects and audio clips emitted from the base unit "cue you in to progress to the next level (from Padawan to Jedi) or when to move the sphere up or down to keep challenging yourself," Adler says.

"Until today, EEG technology has been designed for rigorous medical and clinical applications with little regard to price (and) ease of use," says Greg Hyver of NeuroSky, which developed the brain-wave technology for both games. "We are putting this exciting technology into everyone's living room."

http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/2009-01-06-force-trainer-toy_N.htm

1/8/2009 2:16:51 PM

WHAT THE FUCK

1/8/2009 2:17:43 PM

evan will have three of these by next monday

1/8/2009 2:19:06 PM

does it come with sound effects?

1/8/2009 2:19:43 PM

^yes

Quote :

"Star Wars sound effects and audio clips emitted from the base unit "cue you in to progress to the next level"

1/8/2009 2:21:26 PM

Totally sweet.

1/8/2009 2:22:52 PM

This is serious business. Does it come with an electric extension cord for the dark side of the force?

1/8/2009 2:27:56 PM

Imagine the hours of fun of moving a ball up and down in a tube. You just can't beat that.

1/8/2009 2:34:09 PM

this is actually pretty neat

1/8/2009 2:39:36 PM

But with the blast shield down, I can't even see!

1/8/2009 2:42:12 PM

Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid

1/8/2009 2:43:51 PM

Quote :

"You can actually feel like you are in a zone.""

i actually have a few of those i've been using for a while now




[Edited on January 8, 2009 at 2:45 PM. Reason : quotes]

1/8/2009 2:44:38 PM

DO WANT!

1/8/2009 2:44:57 PM

Quote :

"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid"

Winner

1/8/2009 2:48:18 PM

do want to have for like 15-20 minutes

1/8/2009 2:49:32 PM

I wonder how many you can control at the same time

1/8/2009 2:53:39 PM

When do they come out with one that lets you lift an X-Wing out of a swamp?

1/8/2009 2:54:26 PM

dude, this looks awesome

1/8/2009 3:13:00 PM

1/8/2009 3:13:36 PM

That kid looks like he will get major ass when he gets older......

1/8/2009 3:19:03 PM

^ with a huge forehead and star wars toys...hell yeah he will!

1/8/2009 3:21:47 PM

Shit yeah. Jedi mind trick FTW.

1/8/2009 3:21:50 PM

"you want to use your hand and mouth together like this"

1/8/2009 3:32:07 PM

if you want to get the full jedi effect, you must play the Force Trainer game while wearing a Snuggie

1/8/2009 3:40:08 PM

possible rule 34 challenge, I don't think there are pictures of people banging in Snuggies anywhere.

1/8/2009 3:44:36 PM

tell me I'm not the only one who, when I see the Snuggie commercial, thinks the old man looks kind of like Obi-Wan Kenobi in his robe

[Edited on January 8, 2009 at 3:46 PM. Reason : couldnt find a picture of him]

1/8/2009 3:45:57 PM

Wear the snuggie Luke, wear the snuggie...

1/8/2009 3:46:55 PM

Buy the ShamWow Luke

The Snuggie isn't the infomercial you're looking for

1/8/2009 3:48:12 PM

You're gonna love my nuts.

1/8/2009 3:58:41 PM

I can definitely see this being really awesome for like 10 minutes then losing steam quickly.

1/8/2009 4:14:28 PM

Your insight serves you well. However, loving nuts is not the Jedi way.

1/8/2009 4:16:37 PM

They have the snuggies at the "As Seen on TV" store at Crabtree.

I tried one on and I definitely looked like a monk.

1/8/2009 4:21:51 PM

Own a ShamWow, I do. 900 years old you become, reliable towel you will need.

1/8/2009 4:24:04 PM

LOOK MOMMY! I MADE A BALL RISE IN A TUBE!! AND IT ONLY TOOK ME 3 HOURS!


what a fucking loser and waste of time. how about you go and throw a ball through a hoop for 3 hours instead.

1/8/2009 5:03:03 PM

Quote :

"does it come with sound effects?"

The sound of your dignity going right out the window.

1/8/2009 5:05:58 PM

1. Take one apart
2. See the part that your mind activates
3. Make it start something cooler than a stupid fan that raises the ball.
4. Profit

1/8/2009 5:10:05 PM

or you could just disconnect the fan and attach it to something like a remote starter for your car....

1/9/2009 10:52:53 PM

damnit why don't snuggies come in brown

1/9/2009 10:54:59 PM

is this how i get my dick "wet"?

I'm Big Business and i approved this message.

1/9/2009 10:55:05 PM

attach it to the thermostat it\'s fucking cold, turn the fuck up

1/9/2009 10:55:10 PM

if i could use the force then life would be perfect
that is my life's dream

1/9/2009 10:55:52 PM

I'm telling yah all right now. Next step is world domination...

1/9/2009 11:18:02 PM

I'd buy one for my little brother but play with that shit first

1/9/2009 11:40:12 PM

im gonna hack this thing and hook it up to my cars accelerator

1/9/2009 11:42:36 PM

that floating ball crap will get real old real fast

1/9/2009 11:45:27 PM

5 years later we'll have Wii 2.0 with this technology

i think most of you are looking at the headline, looking at the picture and dismissing it

Quote :

"Mattel plans to demonstrate a Mind Flex game (also due this fall), which uses brain-wave activity to move a ball through a tabletop obstacle course"

the star wars one is probably just hedging the bet that the Mind Flex will likely cost too much or make too little

but anything that helps basement nerds feel like luke, and little bitches feel like anakin, thats gonna make dollars

[Edited on January 10, 2009 at 12:20 AM. Reason : and yes, i'd prolly take one]

1/10/2009 12:18:06 AM

considering that guys think about sex about every 3 seconds, I don't boys will be able to concentrate enough to get the ball to the top

1/10/2009 12:36:35 AM

Quote :

"evan will have three of these by next monday"

why would i ever buy this

1/10/2009 1:02:32 PM

evan is like a reverse troll.

how do you do it?

I'm Big Business and i approved this message.

1/10/2009 1:03:17 PM

I want one with a secret remote so you can laugh at your friend's inability to use the Force

1/10/2009 1:41:27 PM