Science Makes Another Huge Leap Through Super Mario Bros.
Posted by James Newton
Control the plumber with only your eyes
We've had NES consoles controlled by peculiar pads in the past, one notable example being the Castlevania fan who used a dance mat, but what if you could play a similarly legendary, groundbreaking game without any controllers at all? No, we're not talking about Kinect, we're talking about Super Mario Bros. and this incredible set-up from Waterloo Labs.
By measuring tiny electronic pulses around your eyes, the 8-bit boffins succeeded in getting Mario to run, jump and stop on command, requiring nothing more than a few ocular exercises. It also seems they managed to transform the Western Super Mario Bros. 2 into its Japanese counterpart.
Here's the smart guys and girls from Waterloo Labs to explain things in more detail. Warning: contains bearded scientists.
[via wired.com]
#1
V8_Ninja said:
Only one word can described what I just saw:
AWESOME!!!
#2
wedgeredleader said:
@1. I'll add onto that:
MINDBLOWINGLY AMAZING!!!
#3
JimLad said:
They had me until the blonde girl with glasses came on, then I was distracted.
#4
Link79 said:
I really doubt anyone could beat the entire game this way. Your eyeballs would be so wore out they'd go all screwy and never line up right again.
These guys have way too much time on their hands.
#5
Archy said:
Why the holy-sheep-monkies do we invest money in science!?
#6
Sylverstone said:
Anyhoo, interesting stuff. AAAWWWWEEEESOOOOOMMMMMEEE!
#7
Klapaucius said:
I guess if you blow into the cart it becomes the Japanese version
#8
fishman100 said:
How do you make mario jump with your eyes?Do you just look up? Anyways,, that's pretty neat.
#9
Klapaucius said:
@fishman100 , in the video it looks like you blink to make Mario jump
#10
mecoy said:
WHAT AND MY TEACHER SAID PLAYING MY DS IN SCIENCE CLASS DOSENT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH SCIENCE ima start bringing a nes to my science class and see what she dose i think i have her again this year
#11
Nintenzo said:
And they say that the 3DS might cause eye strain.
#12
pixelman said:
@11: lol, so true. This looks painful. D:
#13
NeoRausch said:
did he just say: "..Nintendo-Signal..."? WHOA!!
#14
pikku said:
maybe this will be the "surprise" that the next Nintendo Home console will be. Controlling games with your eyes D:
#15
Big_A2 said:
9.Klapaucius" No, you just look up. It wouls be stupid, since you have to blink sometime.
#16
Rally said:
No....... freaking....... way.
I WANTS IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#17
Dev said:
That's really awesome! Too bad you probably wouldn't be able to get through Bowser though, that would make you dizzy.
#18
dizzy_boy said:
point of referance. the drum track that was used. is a sample from "amen brother" by the winstons. also known as the "amen break" in drum and bass, and rap circles.
#19
citizenerased said:
An awesome team, reminds me of Brainiac and shows like that. But how practical is this? Not at all. Okay, maybe a bit for limbless people.
#20
JohnWalrus said:
Sounds cool, but how could you play this expertly if you're always looking up or turning your head?
#21
vherub said:
wii 2: no controllers
#22
Nintendaholic said:
it would get so annoying on water levels u would have to look up a ton.
#23
LzQuacker said:
Um...no...I don't think so
#24
labrat7 said:
My turn! My turn!
#25
mastersworddude said:
That would hurt my eyes.
#26
SilverBaretta said:
That was fantastic, but I think the disclaimer should go at the beginning, not the end.
#27
Link-Hero said:
This will defiantly never become the next controller of the masses because your eyes will eventually get sore, it would be hard to control (you can tell just by watching the video), annoying to play (constantly looking away from the screen just to do some kind of action), and some sort of eye problem like a lazy eye will prevent you from playing. Though, it is pretty cool I guess.
Anyway, I'd rather play video games with my mind thank you very much...
#28
jer18 said:
@2:04 was great. Good work of science, but whats to prevent the eye and head aches :s
#29
JebbyDeringer said:
That can't be healthy.
#30
ExploderReviews said:
Id like to see a less accurate version of this that measured you face or something for dsiware. Id be happy with just super mario bros though.
#31
Ernest_The_Crab said:
The title made me think of that one article Nintendo Power did on warp pipe traveling in the real world. Anyone else remember that?
#32
RyuZebian said:
...And Iwata thought you looked silly with 3d glasses! xD
#33
SSBbrawler08 said:
lol, 1:30 was the best!
#34
heebeegeebee said:
Atari came up with something like this over 25 years ago called the "Mindlink", but it was never released because of the game market crash in 1983.
#35
ToastyYogurt said:
Hey Waterloo, how much do you want for that? LOL
#36
HanuKwanzMasBif said:
Holy crud. This is awesome. Like, not awesome as an adjective. This IS awesome.
#37
LordJumpMad said:
My Brain hurt
#38
Kreegs07 said:
MIght get too frustrating after like 3 levels
#39
Peacock said:
I see the future of videogames...
#40
Tri4ceHolder said:
What ever happened to controllers?
#41
Marioman64 said:
pfft. i like laying upside down and trying to beat it upsidedown better. i can't get past the first bowser that way though... and my head starts to hurt from being upside down
#42
mecoy said:
1 small step for man huge step for science