Focus and Brainwaves

It’s been a well-known fact for ages that my focus is all over the place, but lately, I’ve been wondering if it’s not just lacking but practically non-existent. The more I try to find some upside to my lack of concentration, the more it feels like a miracle that I’ve managed so well in life thus far! 🤔✨

For instance,

While tidying up my desk, I spot a book I set aside a few days ago, and suddenly, I remember I need to finish that e-book before the rental period ends. (Why though?) As I open the e-book app, I get distracted browsing for deals online, spot some cool wireless headphones, and off I go to an online store. I end up comparing reviews with the headphones I already own, not forgetting to test them out myself. As I dig into noise-canceling features, I get curious about how noise-cancellation actually works. This leads me down a rabbit hole reading about the mechanism of phase cancellation, discovering that its first application was requested by an airline, and then stumbling upon a 1974 crash incident involving that airline. Diving into the workings of pneumatic systems that failed back then, I get lost in the history of air pressure usage. By the time I return to the online store, the headphones are sold out. I pick up the e-book again but realize it’s not that interesting, and I end up putting it down. 📚🔍

I watched a TED talk about a headset that can read brainwaves to detect a person’s intentions. Sure, tools to sense brainwaves have been around, but decoding that data into meaningful insights hasn’t been something humans could easily do.

The video explained that brain folds make it challenging to generalize because, like fingerprints, everyone’s brain is physically unique, making it tough to define the same brainwave signals universally. However, by training a model on a specific individual’s brainwave patterns, it’s possible to create a system that can understand and respond to their thoughts alone, enabling control over objects with mere thought. 🧠🔮

After the explanation, the presenter started a demo with a user who hadn’t used the product before. They guided the participant to think certain thoughts while collecting and learning from their brainwaves. If the user thinks the same thought again, similar brainwaves emerge, and the device can identify what they’re thinking by comparing it to the learned data.

However, when it came to the concept of ‘disappear,’ the system failed to work. The presenter explained that this is because ‘disappearing’ doesn’t exist in the real world. Despite having seen such effects in shows and movies growing up, I realized I might not be able to pull it off since there’s no brainwave researcher around me. Regardless, the presenter had the participant try a special ‘spell’ once more.✨

‘Focus.’

Following the presenter’s instructions, the participant furrowed their brows, concentrating on the idea of disappearing, and amazingly, the desired reaction occurred! Everyone was thrilled, clapping with the thought, ‘Wow! With focus, someday we might close curtains just by thinking about it!’ 👏🌟

But if this keeps up, I won’t be able to close curtains in the future!

And suddenly, I felt a wave of melancholy wash over me. 😞