Never miss a picture perfect moment again! Wearable camera monitors BRAINWAVES to take photos of what you find interesting

  • The Neurocam claims to rate a user's level of interest in what they are looking at and measures it on a scale of one to 100
  • It uses an analytics algorithm that looks at what a wearer 'likes', which was developed by Professor Mitsukura of Keio University, Japan
  • The smartphone camera is triggered to automatically record and save five second GIF clips of scenes that are shown to be of interest to the wearer

By Mark Prigg In San Francisco

PUBLISHED: 07:33 EST, 31 October 2013 | UPDATED: 09:09 EST, 31 October 2013

If you have ever missed the perfect moment to take a picture, then Japanese researchers could have the answer - a camera that automatically captures whatever you find interesting.

The prototype headset, called a Neurocam, combines a brainwave scanner with an iPhone dock.

This allows it to see what the wearer sees, while a brainwave quantifying algorithm developed by Keio University, Japan, monitors the user's level of interest through a special headband the phone is attached to.

Scroll down for video

Neurowear device

Neurowear admits the current prototype, which straps an iPhone to a user¿s head, is a little bulky and says it is hopeful it can develop a smaller, more fashionable version. Here, the user seems be be moderately interested in a road, but her interest score is not high enough to record a video clip of the location

It can constantly judge whether they are interested in what they are looking at on a scale of one to 100.

 

More...

If the individual scores over 60, the device records a five-second film on their iPhone in a special ‘liveblogging’ app, which can then be used to remember what they have seen and liked during the day. 

The prototype headset, called a Neurocam, combines a brainwave scanner with an iPhone dock

The prototype headset, called a Neurocam, combines a brainwave scanner with an iPhone dock

HOW THE NEUROCAM WORKS

The Neurocam wearable camera system claims to detect a wearer's emotions.

It automatically records moments of interest based on an analysis of the user's brainwaves.

The system uses an analytics algorithm based on the sensitivity values of 'interest' and 'like'.

A user's interests are quantified on a range of 0 to 100.

The smartphone camera is triggered to automatically record and save 5 second GIF clips of scenes when the interest value exceeds 60.

The scene is saved together with time stamp and location so it can be replayed.

'This is an extraordinary experiment that challenges the way future cameras can evolve and how humans may interact with such devices,' the firm behind the camera claims.

'The Neurocam allows humans emotions to become integrated with devices, and we see this as a totally new experience.

'We believe that in the future, home electronics, facilities, services will seamlessly merge "thought" and "emotions" with the human body as an emotional interface, such as what the Neurocam sets out to achieve.'

The firm, Neurowear, admits the current prototype, which straps an iPhone to a user’s head, is a little bulky and says it is hopeful it can develop a smaller, more fashionable version.

It is also considering the addition of a manual mode to enable emotion tagging to scenes, just like GPS information or time stamps that are tagged to photos.

An extra 'effect function' would also automatically overlay filters and visual effects on clips based on emotions, if the prototype is developed.

'We also see potential usage cases for city planning, store development and are exploring other possibilities,' the company said.

The device uses a brainwave quantifying algorithm

The device uses a brainwave quantifying algorithm to monitor the wearer's level of interest through a special headband the phone is attached to. It judges what the person if interested in on a scale of 1-100 and records a 5-second video clip if the user scores over 60 (pictured)

Neurowear headset

Neurowear is thinking of adding an extra 'effect function' to its device (pictured), which would automatically overlay filters and visual effects on video clips based on emotions

Comments (33)

Share what you think

 View all

The comments below have not been moderated.

great idea, put your £600-£800 smart phone in a flimsy head restraint so everyone can see it. i'm sure it wont be a huge target for thieves.

1
4
 Click to rate

People that buy this need a life fast. Very sad

1
4
 Click to rate

To Lou K Surrey Not every male!!

1
1
 Click to rate

hello brain cancer~

3
3
 Click to rate

I'm sure I can figure out what I find interesting myself

0
2
 Click to rate

this will cause the breakdown of relationships all over the world imagine a wife finds her husbands pictures lol poor git would come a cropper how would she feel when she is explaining she needs attention and hes looking at the curry's ad on a bigger tv

0
3
 Click to rate

quite impressive but aren't most pictures going to be of strangers they find attractive? Not really appropriate

1
6
 Click to rate

Awesome. I'd like to try it!

2
0
 Click to rate

We are the Borg

0
10
 Click to rate

This make sense compared to Google glass

4
1
 Click to rate

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now