Method for playing games using brain waves

• US 7,988,557 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2004
• Issued: 08/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Interactive Productline AB
• Original Assignee: Interactive Productline AB
• Inventors: Soderlund, Staffan
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo; Peter DungBa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lim; Seng Heng
• Application Number:
  US10/596,862
• Publication Number:
  US 20070123350A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,437 Days
• Field of Search: 463/63
• US Class Current: 463/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/16 Devices for psychotechnics using teaching or educational appliances G09B1/00 - G09B7/00; Testing reaction times ; Devices for evaluating the psychological state
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/375 using biofeedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2007/405 Magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/0007 Games with therapeutic effects
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/243 with other kinds of input
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2488 Remotely playable
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 7/0017 played on a table by two players from opposite sides of the table A63F7/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 7/041 Two-dimensional labyrinths

Abstract

The method is for playing a game by providing each player with a sensor for measuring brain wave frequencies of the players. The player moves a unit on a playing area in an x-direction toward the player when the brain wave frequency of the player is at a first frequency and the brain wave frequency of the player is at a second frequency wherein the first frequency is lower than the second frequency. The player moves the unit in a y-direction perpendicular to the x-direction when the brain wave frequency of the player is at a third frequency and the brain wave frequency of the player is at a fourth frequency wherein the third frequency is greater than the fourth frequency.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for playing a game, the method comprising:

providing a first player with a sensor and a second player with another sensor for measuring brain wave frequencies of the players, wherein the sensors are in communication with a processor;

the processor is configured to receive inputs from the sensors and outputs a command so that a unit rolls on top of a playing area in an x-direction toward a goal area of a the first player when the brain wave frequency of the first player is between 3-12 Hz and the brain wave frequency of the first player is below a brain wave frequency of the second player, wherein moving the unit into the goal area of the first player establishes the first player as the winner of the game, and

the first player increasing a velocity of the unit by lowering the brain wave frequency of the first player towards 3 Hz.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the unit is a magnetic unit and the method further comprises floating the unit a distance (D) over the playing area.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the method further comprises measuring theta wave, alpha wave and beta wave frequencies of the brains of the players.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the method further comprises the player navigating the unit through a labyrinth by moving the unit in both the x-direction and the y-direction.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the method further comprises the player moving the unit in the x-direction by lowering the brain wave frequency to a value that is lower than a value of a brain wave frequency while the player simultaneously moves the unit in the y-direction when the brain wave frequency exceeds 18 Hz.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the method further comprises the player winning the game by moving the unit to a segment adjacent to the player.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the method further comprises the player losing the game by moving the unit over an edge in the y-direction.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises the first player rolling the unit in a y-direction perpendicular to the x-direction when the brain wave frequency of the first player is at least 18 Hz and the brain wave frequency of the first player is greater than the brain wave frequency of the second player.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the unit is a magnetic ball.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein the distance (D) is a constant distance.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the goal area of the first player is situated in the direction of the second player and rolling the unit on top of the playing area in the x-direction toward the goal area of the first player also rolls the unit towards the second player.