Image Credit: Bethesda
Forgot password
Enter the email address you used when you joined and we'll send you instructions to reset your password.
If you used Apple or Google to create your account, this process will create a password for your existing account.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Reset password instructions sent. If you have an account with us, you will receive an email within a few minutes.
Something went wrong. Try again or contact support if the problem persists.

Eyeball Electrodes Replace Super Mario Bros. Controller

This article is over 14 years old and may contain outdated information

Forget Wii Remotes, Kinect, Move, and brain control: All we really need to play videogames are the electrical fields surrounding our eyes.

A group of engineers and self-described nerds from Austin, Texas that call themselves Waterloo Labs have developed a system to control Super Mario Bros. for the Nintendo Entertainment System that doesn’t require the classic rectangular controller. Waterloo instead uses the movement of the human eye to navigate Mario through the dangers of the Mushroom Kingdom.

The accompanying video of their invention doesn’t just show off the interesting tech, but it also makes me feel like I learned something. It turns out that the human eye is polarized and has a large population of neurons on the retina. As it moves, so do the the electrical fields surrounding it, which Waterloo measures with their electro-oculogram.

Placing electrodes on the left, right, top, and bottom of the eye will register either negative or positive signals. Waterloo connects these electrodes to a circuit board that filters the signals, and through a bunch of other hootenanny translates them into the controls for an NES console. Looking up will make Mario jump, while looking left or right will make him move in those directions. As smart as these folks are, they’ve overlooked the fact that it’s hard to control a videogame character when you’re not looking at the screen.

Regardless, Waterloo Labs also releases videos to explain how they do what they do if you want to make an attempt at it yourself. Just don’t ignore the warning at the end of the video: If you don’t ground yourself you could die playing Super Mario Bros. with your face.

Via: Slashdot

Recommended Videos

The Escapist is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy