OCZMSNIA NIA - Neural Impulse Actuator

Doesn't work, the product software uses STICK FIGURES to help practice with a piece of hardware that only works by technicality.

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.

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.

I have trouble with my hands, so I am glad that this has come along. It is really, really difficult to adjust. I have been able to get the muscle part working so I can go forward and backward in shooting and role playing games without having to continuously hold keys down. This has helped me a lot. When the device is working well, it is more fun to play. The glance function works, but it is hard to get it to work consistently. The device has to be set up for each game individually. I have had almost no luck with the brainwaves. I wonder if it would mess with your mind anyway. A wrist strap or a usb cable plugged into your computer and attached to yourself solves the "grounding problem". Do read the forums on the OCZ website before you decide if this is for you. It requires a lot of patience and desire. They say it can take several months to fully utilize this device - I've had mine for one month. I hope that there will be improvements to this device in the future.

I'm not going to lie about the NIA -- it's extremely difficult to learn to use. It's not like learning a new method, though, or getting used to a new control scheme... it's quite literally like learning to control muscles that you've never had before. It's taken me weeks to get it to a usable state with just a few of the triggers, and I've heard that people have taken longer.If you have the patience to learn it, though, the NIA is amazing. Deadly accurate, much faster reaction times, and extendability to almost any game you have via the programmable "Profiles". It can be as complex as your entire controller for an FPS to something as simple as controlling your left mouse button for a rhythm-action game. (And that's one heck of a trip, by the way.) Patient people, get the NIA! It should cost double or triple what it does. Impatient people, well, wait a few years for something that actually reads brainwaves, not nervous input.

Have worked with it for hours on end on. Grounded it and gronded me and all those trick they said. I think its a bunch of nonsense can't get it to anything but move when I move eye brows.

After about two weeks of messing with this I only really got my character to move unsteadily forward, and was able to turn the character to the left slowly and unsteadily with random firing and jumping.My wife got it to move her character pretty good, and got it to shoot and jump, but not at the same time in about 3-5 days.Not impossible, but neither of us really felt it sped us up any. Fun to try, and we aren't letting our's go. Fun toy, but can be very frustrating.

I got the NIA and tried it for a week or so and I was unimpressed with the control capabilities. Sure it improved click speed and possible reflex time, but the glance mechanism (the muscle sensor that reads eye-movement and translates that into game controls) was completely inoperable, spazzing out constantly (literally, 'constantly'... it never sat still or sensed the correct direction). You still have to use the mouse. After several weeks I would have gotten more used to the product's touchy controls (most of which is done by varying the amount of tension in your jaw... this controls forward and backward movement, jumping, and shooting) but the cons definitely win over the pros so I decided not to give it that long.

Nach 2Std. Kalibrierung und Tests, muß ich leider sagen das ich mehr als enttäuscht über den Nutzen des Gerätes bin!Die Idee dahinter ist toll, kein Zweifel, darum hatte ich es ja auch bestellt. Die Möglichkeiten und der Nutzen den das Gerät in der Praxis bietet sind aber nur mangelhaft bin garnicht vorhanden (fuer Gamer).Eigentlich funktioniert die Steuerung nur über Muskelbewegungen, die versprochene Steuerung über Gehirnwellen (Alpha- oder Betawellen) funktioniert ueberhaupt nicht und ist mehr reiner Zufall.Schade eigentlich, dieses Produkt hätte die Eingabe am PC revolutionieren können!

Da es sich bei dem OCZ "NIA" (Neural Impulse Actuator) um ein völlig neuartiges Eingabegerät handelt, habe ich es mir mal angeschaut.Verpackung:Sie kommt relativ edel daher: Öffnet man den magnetisch schließenden Pappdeckel sieht man direkt das kleine schwarze Steuerungsgerät des NIA. Dieses hebt sich stark von der weissen Verpackung ab und ist schön designed.Hebt man die nächste Pappabdeckung ab, sieht man das Stinband des NIA und unter der Schaumstoffpolsterung die CD, Kabel und Bedienungsanleitung.Installation:Geht simpel vonstatten. CD einlegen, Autostart, kurzes Setup - fertig.Kalibration:Die Grundkalibration ist auch recht einfach. Wenn man dann jedoch einzelne Aktionen (Tastendrücke) mit Muskelbewegungen bzw. Gedankenströmen ansteuern will muss man für die Kalibration etwas mehr Zeit investieren (allerdings gibt es für einige Games vorgefertigte Profile).Bedienung:Am Anfang ist es sehr schwer die Spielfigur (z.B. in Egoshootern) kontrolliert laufen, springen und schießen zu lassen, nach einer Weile hat man den Dreh dann aber raus. Diese Aktionen sind standartmäßig nur auf die Muskelbewegungen eingestellt (Kiefer oder Augenbrauen).Was ich überhaupt nicht hinbekommen habe war das Strafen, was rein durch Gedankenströme ausgelöst wird.Allerdings kann ich mir gut vorstellen, dass es generell möglich ist. Es erfordert nur eine Menge Zeit und Einfühlvermögen.Aus diesem Grund bekommt das NIA von mir für die Bedienung keine Sterne. Die 2 die ich vergeben habe sind nur für das neuartige Konzept.Unterm Strich:Heisst das, dass man das NIA ruhig mal ausprobieren kann, wenn man dazu bereit ist, Zeit in das Erlernen der Bedienung zu stecken.Spass macht es allemal.