A neural headset has been on show at the hi-tech conference TED Global (Technology Entertainment and Design) in Oxford, United Kingdom today demostrating how a century old medical technique to read electric signals from the brain can be used to convert algorithms into onscreen movement.

The wireless headset called Emotiv Epoc, released in 2009 claims to be the first neural headset aimed at consumers retailing at less than $300 (£195). Consisting of 14 sensors that read electrical signals from billions of nerve cells in the brain, the neural headset can be used wirelessly to scroll through photographs on a standard laptop.

Currently under development to play certain games such as mind-controlled Tetris the neural headsets future looks bright, but the question is whether the hardware is advanced enough to play current generation video games and obsolete Microsoft’s and Sony’s upcoming Kinect and PlayStation Move hardware?

The neural headset does have the ability to send the necessary brain waves to play video games, but the problem lies with the current generation computers unable to keep up with multiple quick-fire brain messages. Consequently the current generation video game console’s are not powerful enough for neural gaming meaning movement controlled gaming (i.e. Kinect and Move) will have to do for the time being.

Nevertheless its arguably mind control that is the future of controller-free gaming due its ease of use and lack of exertion.