» OCZ OCZMSNIA NIA - Neural Impulse Actuator

OCZ OCZMSNIA NIA - Neural Impulse Actuator Reviews

Customer Rating:
Summary: sadly..doesn't work
Comment: there are serious problems with electrical noise and the only solution is to hold the device. Their tech support is unable to provide any solution so the device is really unusable, save your money.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Not All It's Cracked Up To Be
Comment: I have had my NIA for a week. First of all, if a REBATE is indicated, forget about it, you won't get it and you won't get any help here at Amazon or from OCZ.

Second, the product works on motor (muscle) signals, so you can program the device to take over a few basic functions, but forget about doing anything with your Alpha or Beta waves -- in my opinion, the "brain fingers" display (one of the configuration screens) is just for show.

The product does work, and you can get better with practice, but that practice is mostly controlling your face muscles. Even so, the device is pretty cool -- just about $90 overpriced. This would be much more fun if it cost $40 or $50. And the documentation is really lacking (maybe for a reason.)

There is a loyal following of the device, so don't be surprised if some flaming comment follows mine.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: It sort of works
Comment: I have purchased OCZ NIA as a gift for my extended family member who wants to use it in a hobby project. Before sending my gift I had to test it myself, if it works. It "sort of works" and that made it really hard to for me to decide whether to go on with the gift or return it to the Amazon store. Definitely, using this hand free computer interface requires some training and laborious configuration of received signals to simulation of mouse, keystrokes or joystick that may need to be specific for each application. The device senses facial tussle signals and brain waves and translates it into human interface device (HID) inputs for a computer.

When I tested it on me the only part that worked almost reliably was detection whether I look to the left and right. Looking up/down, making faces or moving jaws did not produce satisfactory results. Also, I had a problem with so called "ground loops". Basically in order for the device to work I needed to touch at the same time, or connect myself to it using additional anti static bracelet and a wire. I made it work only after I read on some NIA user discussion groups about the same problem faced by other people. Such bracelet should have been included with the device.

In the end, it is intriguing device, and it delivers promised functionality at least partially.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: offsetting Brian Hacko "The Brain Hacker"
Comment: Brian Hacko "The Brain Hacker" gave this one star because it didn't have 64 bit drivers. That is a bummer for the 5% of the people that have 64bit systems. But his rating has unfairly dropped the rating 2 stars.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Product is a good concept
Comment: This product is next level of gaming technology but still in it first stage. This is not a plug and play then go, this is new platform of gaming. Just like the jump from N64 or Game Cube to the Wii, The NIA takes lots of training in order to get the hag of it. It will take a few years before this becomes mainstream but I have no doubt that this is the next step in gaming technology.

The down side to this product is its sensitivity. Depending on your PC you could have a great first impresion or you can have my experience. My laptop was runing on XP and only 1 GB and the processor is 1.86GHz, NIA didn't really work. On my PC (Vista 3GHZ 3GB) NIA works wonderfully.

Also the instrustions don't have a satisfactory trouble shooting section.

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