At the recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2009 in Las Vegas, Mattel Toys was on hand showing off a pile of new toys to be released in the fall. Easily the most intriguing and coolest is the Mind Flex, the perfect toy for someone who loves mind control challenges.
"It's a mind-eye coordination game," declared Mattel's Tim Sheridan. "As you relax you'll find that the ball drops."
Mind Flex, a mind-controlled skill toy operates via brain waves. It relies on electroencephalography, or EEG technology to measure brain wave activity through a headset equipped with sensors for the forehead and earlobes.
With the Mind Flex, you guide a purple foam ball through a completely customizable obstacle course, using your mind concentration power to levitate it along the way.
You begin by strapping a set of sensors to your head, including two that clip to your earlobes. These sensors measure theta wave activity in your brain and the more you concentrate, the further it floats the ball in the air. The sensors are much lighter than they appear but the ear clips might be a little uncomfortable.
By focusing intensely on the ball, it causes a fan in the base to start up and lift the foam ball on a gentle stream of air. When you lose your concentration, the ball will descend. Once the ball is in the air, the player needs to try to weave it through hoops, towers and other obstacles likes ledges and gates. Now, this is truly a game of mind concentration.
The Mind Flex will be hitting store shelves in the fall for $79.99, according to Mattel.
Mattel MindFlex

Mattel MindFlex toy
Mattel MindFlex set

Mattel MindFlex game