From: peterson_at_d...
Date: 2001-04-02 00:54:00
Eric & Company--A couple of thoughts:
First, on the issue of safety--it may very well be possible for
someone to come to harm with brainwave training. For example, Theta
is reported by some to be a somewhat seizure-genic state, so a person
(such as an epileptic) who increases his theta production may be
putting himself at somewhat higher risk of seizures. Also, people
with traumatic histories who do alpha-theta training may increase the
likelihood of getting flashbacks or other highly unpleasant PTSD
symptoms. These are very useful effects when they occur in therapy,
but can be quite rough on someone who doesn't know what they are or
why they are happening.
Second, on the IR versus optic isolation issue, I agree that IR
may be a problem for some people, although I guess that there are
ways of getting a desktop to work with an IR keyboard, etc. How
expensive is an add-on like this? Anybody know?
--- In buildcheapeeg_at_yahoogroups.com, e_e_ling_at_h... wrote:
> Moritz
>
> Thanks for your detailed reply, I am now using your information for
> the news page.
>
> Does IrDA mean the eeg can only be used with a notebook pc? If
that
> is the case, I think it would really restrict public interest in
the
> system as most people have desktop PCs. The brainmaster works on a
> desktop so for most desktop owners it would be cheaper to buy a
> brainmaster for their existing pc ($1000) than to buy our system
and a
> new notebook ($2000?). Did I understand you correctly or can IrDA
be
> used with desktops?
>
> I agree that we need to fulfil some kind of safety criteria, but
maybe
> it doesn't have to be done immediately. As long as the eeg is
safe,
> i.e. won't blow up/electrocute us, it should be ok for us each to
own
> a test version for a few weeks; then we can make further
improvements
> to the design and research safety standards before releasing it to
the
> public... what do people think?
>
> As for the manufacturers of expensive EEG and the pharmaceutical
> companies... of course they won't like our cheapeeg! So yes, we
have
> to be careful, but we have to remember one thing: an EEG provides
> information. It measures brainwaves. That's it. It has no effect
on
> the user at all, unless that user actively engages in biofeedback
> training. I don't believe biofeedback can have any harmful
> consequences but in any case it is the user's choice, so I really
> don't think we should be worried about this.
>
> What are "mignon NiMH" batteries? I did a web search and all the
> matching sites were in Germany - is it a german battery? Will this
be
> a problem for the rest of us?
>
> Finally, you mentioned you were in discussion with an electrode
> supplier. What kind of electrodes are you thinking of using? Is
it
> possible to use flextrodes (from Brainmaster) which require no gel?
>
> Regards
>
> Eric
>
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