Tech Tuesdays: "Biofeedback-based horror game challenges players to deal with fear"

Article: http://www.gizmag.com/nevermind-video-game-biofeedback-stress-levels/29728/

Nevermind is a biofeedback-based horror game created by Erin Reynolds. The player is required to wear a Garmin cardio chest strap during the game so that their heart rate can be sent to the game via ANT+USB stick. Their heart rate variability is what helps the game determine how stressed the player is so that the game can be adjusted accordingly.

The game sets out to trigger fear in the players. Therefore, the player must learn how to control their fear or anxiety in order to easily advance in the game. The more stressed the player feels, the harder the game becomes.

Nevermind takes place in the mind of a troubled and traumatized patient. The player takes the role of a Neuroprober at a Neurostalgia Institute and must dive into the subconscious of their patient in order to retrieve 10 Polaroid photographs.  Each photograph depicts a memory and after all of them are collected, the player must differentiate the false memories from the five true ones. Afterwards, the player has to reconstruct the traumatizing memory of the event as whole.

This game took about a year to build and presently exists as a "proof of concept game". However, the creators of the game plan to launch Nevermind in late 2014.

Tech Tuesdays: "Crowdfunding launch for the Panono throwable panorama camera"

Article: http://www.gizmag.com/panono-throwable-panorama-camera/29761/

The Panono is a throwable ball camera with 36 tiny lenses that can capture a 72 megapixel spherical scene from an elevated position. An accelerometer in the camera is programmed to fire all 36 fixed focus cameras at the apex of the throw. All the shots taken from the 36 lenses creates the 360 degree view of the scene.

The spherical images can be viewed in app on a tablet or smartphone by moving the device around. However, the ball camera must remain relatively flat in its throwing arc in order for the camera to capture the picture. If there is too much rotation, the cameras will not fire and the user must throw the camera skyward again.

The Panono can be used as a hand-held device as well. The camera just needs to be mounted on a pole and then the user can press the button to make it work. Even low light shots can be taken in a stabilized position.

Tech Tuesdays: "Narrative - automatic lifelogging camera"

Article #1: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/tiny-lifelogging-camera-memoto-finally-launching-new-name-8C11329867

Article #2: http://getnarrative.com/

Narrative is a tiny camera with a GPS. It automatically takes photos and then organizes them for you. The camera has no controls just a clip attached to it so that it can be worn by the user.

As long as it is worn, the camera will constantly take pictures.  It takes two geotagged photos a minute with recorded orientation. Narrative has these features so that the app can show the photos upright no matter how you are wearing the camera.

The camera's batteries are rechargeable and do not need to be recharged until after about two days. To recharge the batteries, you connect the camera to your computer. Additionally, the narrative has a software that you can subscribe to for $9 per month starting year 2. The software offers the storage necessary for the Narrative clip.  It also automatically organizes your photos and allows you to easily view and share pictures.