The next step of Xiaomi will allow you to control your devices with your mind. Although we are still a long way from operating mobile phones with telepathy, the Chinese company is looking to take the first steps in its line of home automation. Using the migu headband users will be able to operate their smart home devices through brain waves.
In accordance with ITHome, the Xiaomi MiGu headband was the winner of the third online hackathon called by the Chinese manufacturer. Created by a group of company engineers, this headband has three points capable of record electrical signals from the brain. Users can use brain waves to control smart home devices.
Because people produce different electrical signals depending on their emotional state, engineers trained the MiGu to recognize different brain waves. Its creators anticipated that it will not only serve to control smart devices, but also to detect driving fatigue.
Xiaomi posted a video on its official Weibo channel where you can see the MiGu prototype in action. The body of the headband was built using a 3D printer and is adjusted by means of a strap. After pairing the device with the mobile and the computer, it is possible to perform some functions to control music on a smart speaker. The MiGu integrates three sensors and two earlobe connectors.
The engineers showed some 3D renderings of what the final MiGu design would look like. Although the first approach is interesting, the reality is that there is a long way to go before it materializes. The project was done in just 48 hours, so there is room to improve the final design. Fei Wang, vice president of Xiaomi’s technical committee, said that the results achieved by the engineers in such a short time are impressive. However, the MiGu has some shortcomings.
Xiaomi MiGu: price and availability
At the moment the Xiaomi MiGu headband it is in the prototype phase and there is no information on when it will be available for the public. Engineers need more time to refine machine learning algorithms. In this way it would have much greater reliability and the possibility to control more devices or detect certain emotions.
Xiaomi’s third hackathon is an event where company engineers present prototypes of products that could be developed in the future. Although it is not a guarantee that they will be fully developed, some ideas and technology will end up being integrated into some of Xiaomi’s consumer lines during the next decade.