Star Wars, Mattel mind-controlled toys now shipping

Back at CES in January, there was some hype surrounding some new mind-control products that were due to arrive before the holiday season. Well, two of the more prominent ones, the Star Wars The Force Trainer and Mattel's Mindflex are now shipping.

While images of youngsters decked out in full Star Wars regalia, showing off their Jedi-like powers may seem rather amusing, the question remains whether telekinesis toys and games will become the next big thing--or not.

Both products require you to strap on a lightweight headset that contains sensors to measure your brainwave activity. Focus your concentration, and a stream of air causes a ball to levitate. Relax your thoughts and the ball drops.

The $120 Force Trainer is just about making the ball rise in a tube, while the $80 Mattel Mindflex challenges you to guide a ball through a customizable obstacle course (watch CNET's Scott Stein try it out in this video). Now, if someone could just prove all these mental calisthenics help ward off Alzheimer's and dementia, it would really help move some product.

What do you guys think? Is this the future of gaming or just a gimmick? And how long before will it be before we can ditch the video game controllers and just use our thoughts to control everything?

Additional reading: Hot stuff from the 2009 Toy Fair

Toy Fair 2009

[Byteme2009]

Great - I have to make sure my nine year old never see an ad for these things.

[Spoonio101]

tried this at Comic Con, i must say it was very challanging just getting the ball in the air...but after 15 minutes i got it through one hoop...the guy kept telling me to concentrate harder..

[DOGLLAMA]

i soooo want the mindflex challenge thingy majig....

[Sir_Will]

$120 to make a ball float from air pushing it upward!! HAHA No way. That toy will last all of 20 min. Bring the price down to $30 and then come talk to me.

[RaboKarabekian]

Although this is an interesting toy, I don't think it has anything to do with using "The Force" as it is described in the films. The force is supposed to be an energy field that "surrounds us, penetrates us, binds the galaxy together", or so says Obi Wan Kenobi. Using it involves a type of surrender to nature, allowing the force to flow through one in order to affect his or her surroundings: "Use the Force, Luke. Let go Luke." This toy asks one to do the opposite, and only responds to a sort of hyper-focus which actually cuts one off from the surrounding environment by pouring all attention into the machine.

Its a cool use of technology, its just that the frequency of brainwaves to which it responds are more akin to the frame of mind which in the films represents the dark side of the force...

Super nerdy, I know...

[mynobe]

Controlling things with your mind - Of Course it's "The Force"! Next you'll be telling me that my Mattell "Anakin Skywalker Light Saber" does not utilize concentrated light particles and that it is made of plastic!! Foolishness!!

[kb9mwo]

This has to be my favorite of all time reply's. I can only hear it in the voice of Simpsons Comic Book Guy.

[nate0511SrA]

I was really gonna go out and buy this so I could practice my use of the force. Thanks for ruining it for us all RaboKarabekian. Its like my mom telling me the easter bunny isn't real!

[rafusee2]

thanks for clearing that up.

[docstar7]

no idea where you guys got your prices on these things, but we've had the Star Wars Force Trainer for sale at work for at least a month for $100.

[make_or_break]

So if you try TOO hard, will your brain explode?

I can see the product litigation lawyers just licking their chops...aneurysm by toy...stroke by Star Wars...George Lucas is worth billions, isn't he?

[RockoBomba]

This technology is in it's infancy and has and incredible potential for all kinds of applications. Read this news story:http://www.marketwatch.com/story/jedi-mind-medical-applications-division-to-concentrate-on-wheelchair-mobility-applications-2009-09-01
Naturally after games somebody will modify it for porn, porn always follows new technologies.

[nate0511SrA]

If I don't have to use my hands then I am happy.