Thought-Controlled Lights At Olympics: 'Bright Lights' Installation Lights Up Niagara Falls

Thought-controlled lights illuminating Niagara Falls during the winter Olympics? Maybe this will cheer up the Vancouver locals apparently dreading the upcoming games.

Toronto-based company InteraXon (which specializes in thought controlled computing) is planning an installation where visitors will be able to control live light shows at Niagara Falls with their thoughts, from Vancouver. The project, Bright Ideas, is described as the the wold's largest thought-controlled experience.

As Gizmodo points out, it's not exactly what it sounds like. Bright Lights "doesn't let you decide what color the lights should be or how brightly they should shine, and it can't tell if you're specific thought is, say, 'Lights, I command thee!'" Still, you put on the headset and the lights will respond to your brain's electrical output.

From the press release:

The headset used in this installation measures the brain's electrical output and reacts to alpha waves, associated with relaxation, and beta waves, associated with concentration. As the users relax or focus their thoughts, the computer will send a message over the internet to the site they are viewing. InteraXon's custom software connects users thoughts to the lighting controls to change the display on the landmark site.