#eeg sensors

[neuphony9]

https://www.thenewsbrick.com/the-impact-of-behavioral-neuroscience-on-mental-health

Behavioral neuroscience has taken the understanding of mental health a step ahead because it deals with brain behavior. With the study of neural circuits and neurotransmitters governing behavior, new treatments and interventions for mental health disorders are getting established. This has become very important because mental health issues have increased all over the world, thus affecting millions of people. Innovations in wireless EEG headsets and monitoring brain activity have changed the nature of research and treatment conclusively, making behavioral neuroscience more accessible and applicable to real situations.

[neuphonyforyou]

Our Brain Training Center pioneers neurotherapy treatment, harnessing EEG sensors to customize cognitive exercises. Alongside, we offer the best stress monitor device and stress tracker, providing real-time data for stress management. Our comprehensive approach integrates cutting-edge technology with personalized programs, empowering individuals to optimize brain health and emotional well-being. Whether addressing cognitive challenges or stress management, our center offers tailored solutions for holistic mental wellness.

[carolinemillerbooks]

New Post has been published on Books by Caroline Miller

New Post has been published on https://www.booksbycarolinemiller.com/musings/the-time-travelers/

The Time Travelers

My branch bank was closing.  The nearest location was three miles away. I don’t own a car so the distance was significant.   Needing to learn how to make future deposits, I stopped by the office to learn about options.     The acting manager greeted me with a smile and waved me into her office as I entered.  Except for the clerk at the reception desk, we were alone.  Sliding into the plastic chair she indicated, I noted her desktop was clear, except for a phone, and a computer, beside which sat a notepad and a glass jar crammed with multicolored pens. She splayed her fingers across the walnut surface as she sat opposite me, her eyes wide with anticipation. No doubt, I was a welcome distraction in an otherwise hum-drum day.  I noted she was young, barely a year or two beyond her teens with a smile that left no wrinkles at the corners of her upturned mouth.   A distance of 70 years stretched between us, I guessed.   When I told her why I’d come, she looked relieved.  “Check deposits? That’s easy.”  She chirped out a couple of choices.  With a debit card, I could make deposits at any ATM. Or, if I preferred, the app on my smartphone would perform the same magic.   She might as well have been speaking in Swahili.  “I have neither a debit card nor a smartphone,” I explained.  “What I want is a mailing address for my deposits” The woman behind the desk took in a sharp breath as if I’d shoved a knife between her ribs.  “Mail deposits?  We don’t accept those.”     I frowned.  She was speaking Swahili again. “Are you sure?  Things can’t have changed that much.  Could  you check with the head office?” A pair of youthful shoulders shrugged– a sign designed to discourage me.  Nonetheless, the young woman picked up the phone and dialed a number.  I held my breath while it rang.  A brief exchange followed between the caller and a voice somewhere in the ether. At last, the woman seated opposite me hung up, turning a pair of owlish eyes in my direction.   “ I had no idea we did mail deposits  No one’s ever asked.”  She tore a page from her notepad and wrote down a P. O Box number which she handed to me.   Leaving the office with a light step, I was glad I had persevered. Even so, I sensed a pair of blue eyes at my back as I exited.  No doubt the twenty-something person I’d left behind thought I was a relic that needed to be stored in a box in the bowels of the Smithsonian. She might be right.  Time is a tricky thing. In the everyday world, it moves at the speed of light in a single direction.  But time in the human brain is flexible. My thoughts can take me backward and forward in history. The same is true for my young banker. The difference between us is that she lives in the violet spectrum of now, while I and my memories have decayed into the red zone.  We are creatures of the same universe, yet she and I exist in dissimilar energy fields.  The laws of physics decree that when different fields can be described by the same mathematical structure, rapid advancement of knowledge takes place in which the two fields cross-fertilize.   So it was with the young woman and me that afternoon.  I saw her as limited in knowledge. She, no doubt, saw me as obsolete. Even so, by the time we parted from one another, we were both wiser.  Youth and age are frequently out of tune with each other, the way classical physics and the quantum world appear to conflict.  Call it an atonal harmony, the kind the gravitational force field makes when it suffers a disruption and sets the universe to humming.  I think of that humming as the music of a higher order. If humans were to penetrate the deepest secrets of that harmony, where would they take us? We saw the effects of harnessing nuclear power. It ended World War II and gave us clean energy.  But it also helped to deplete the ozone layer, raise global temperatures, and hasten the effects of global warming. The mind is a terrible thing to waste, yet curiosity comes with a price. We embrace Neurotech devices that measure metabolic functions to retain good health, but surveillance capitalism, like nuclear energy, has a downside. At any time, our private information can be made public. China, for example, requires some workers to wear EEG sensors to monitor their productivity and emotional states. Can we be sure the demand for brain transparency won’t one day deny us the right to private thoughts?    Advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) have led some theorists to speculate that one-day homeo sapiens might become obsolete.  Bionics are already widely accepted. Pacemakers are common as are artificial joints, cochlear implants, and intraocular lenses.  This evolution has come softly on cat paws and with each progression we blur the line between robots and humans.  My young banker knew nothing about mail deposits, having no historical memory. In the future, will it be the same with our acceptance of robot technology? And should AI become sentient how will we view our creation? With fear? Or,  in our quest for eternal life, will we download our memories into an avatar? Should we choose to merge with robots, will we still be human? What will become of our unconscious minds? Will we dream?

[afniel]

AH I REMEMBERED WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY EARLIER but it's kind of stupid, lmao.

So my partner is getting into brewing beer and I got them a Tilt, which is a Bluetooth hydrometer. It measures specific gravity and temperature, which are things you want to know so that you don't kill your yeast or whatever. Except the sensor's Bluetooth range is super short, and it basically runs via a phone app, and the temperature we're logging currently is the crawlspace, accessible via the staircase closet. So they were like, wait, what do we do about this, because I can't leave my phone in the closet, that's my alarm clock.

In a kind of ridiculous turn of life imitating art, I was like, hold up, I got just the thing right at my desk. Bam. Old phone. We just needed to scrounge up a charger because the battery is so dead that after charging just enough to power on it claimed it was at 53% (to be fair to it, there is a very real chance that it's correct, and it just holds no charge at this point so the capacity is just THAT low) and now it lives in the closet logging sensor data.

And I was like, you know...didn't I just solve a major story detail with a much larger version of this...yeah, no, this is all vaguely familiar somehow, power supply issues and all. Kind of cool that the concept works though. Kind of weird that it came up at all?

We are not gonna talk about the fact that I still have at least two more ancient-ass phones in a drawer where that came from because look, man, sometimes you just need a camera/mic/mini computer with Bluetooth and wifi that fits in a pocket, and people just get rid of these things, but not me. I actually could build a shitty security system out of them if I was reaaaally inclined. I mean. I'm not. But it's technically possible.

For real though, If I pick up any stupid maker projects I still high-key am thinking about slapping Bluetooth into a necomimi headset and running that through an Arduino and learning to code just enough to let me skip songs/change the volume on Spotify with my brain, because it's entirely doable, and I mean yeah I could do that on my phone remotely too, but that's not funny, now, is it. I'm just not sure it's $350+ of parts funny. Kind of a big investment just to prove the point that haha look I am the extremely ADHD type of lazy where I would rather solve a problem via the most convoluted and complicated Rube-Goldberg type ass machine way possible rather than just perform a single simple action.

YEAH I'VE BEEN THIS SCATTERED ALL DAY AND I REALLY SHOULD GO TO BED SHOULDN'T I. I started playing Satisfactory. Mistakes were made. I'm going to dream about conveyor belts again and I did it to myself...

[innonurse]

Liquid ink innovation could revolutionize brain activity monitoring with e-tattoo sensors

- By InnoNurse Staff -

Scientists have developed a groundbreaking liquid ink that allows doctors to print sensors onto a patient's scalp to monitor brain activity.

This innovative technology, detailed in the journal Cell Biomaterials, could replace the cumbersome traditional EEG setup, enhancing the comfort and efficiency of diagnosing neurological conditions like epilepsy and brain injuries.

The ink, made from conductive polymers, flows through hair to the scalp, forming thin-film sensors capable of detecting brainwaves with accuracy comparable to standard electrodes. Unlike conventional setups that lose signal quality after hours, these "e-tattoo" electrodes maintain stable connectivity for over 24 hours. Researchers have also adapted the ink to eliminate the need for bulky wires by printing conductive lines that transmit brainwave data.

The process is quick, non-invasive, and can be further refined to integrate wireless data transmission, paving the way for fully wireless EEG systems. The technology holds significant promise for advancing brain-computer interfaces, potentially replacing bulky headsets with lightweight, on-body electronics.

Header image: E-tattoo electrode EEG system. Credit: Nanshu Lu.

Read more at Cell Press/Medical Xpress

///

Other recent news

Vietnam: TMA launches new healthtech solutions (TMA Solutions/PRNewswire)

Soda Health raises $50M in oversubscribed Series B round led by General Catalyst to expand its Smart Benefits Operating System (Soda Health/Globe Newswire)

[neophony]

Neuphony EXG Synapse has comprehensive biopotential signal compatibility, covering ECG, EEG, EOG, and EMG, ensures a versatile solution for various physiological monitoring applications.

[sufrimientilia]

Research Log #P5-00436

FACILITY: [REDACTED] DATE: [REDACTED] CASE: #E2756895 ATTENDING: [REDACTED] UNIT: WARD 92 OBJECTIVE: Behavioral Compliance Induction

TIME: [09:45:00]

SUBJECT #1138-B7 was brought to the operating theater, prepped and draped in the usual fashion. Intravenous access was established using a 20-gauge catheter inserted into the left antecubital vein. Electrodes were placed on the scalp for continuous EEG monitoring. Additional sensors were attached to record heart rate, respiratory rate, and galvanic skin response (GSR).

Subject presents as a 25 year old male, physically healthy, baseline vitals recorded WNL. Subject exhibited signs of anxiety and resistance, which were managed by the use of sedatives (2 mg Midazolam IV).

[09:53:11]: Subject questioned to establish baseline cognitive and physiological parameters. Orientation, recall, and basic comprehension intact.

[10:00:00]: Infusion of proprietary psychotropic agent PCA-35 initiated at a rate of 5 mL/min.

[10:03:48]: Subject displays signs of restlessness. Cortical activation indicated by increased uptake on EEG. Subject gives responses to verbal stimuli and reports a sensation of lightheadedness.

[10:04:25]: Subject complains of stinging sensation and bittersweet taste. Noted slight tremor in extremities and increased heart rate. GSR indicates heightened anxiety.

[10:05:13]: Subject questioned to establish cognitive and physiological parameters. Noted delayed responses. Subject struggles to follow simple instructions, becomes distracted, provides incoherent explanations of surroundings, misinterprets questions.

[10:09:32]: Subject begins to exhibit signs of altered perception, including auditory hallucinations and delirium. EEG shows increased theta wave activity. Physical agitation observed; restraints effective in maintaining Subject's position. Subject too agitated for cognitive and physiological testing.

[10:14:45]: Administration of compound #GS-P5R initiated at 12 L/min via inhalation mask to reduce anxiety and stabilize neural response. Infusion of PCA-35 increased to 7.5 mL/min.

[10:19:48]: Subject's responses to verbal and physical stimuli decrease significantly. Continued monitoring shows stable vitals but increased physical rigidity. Administered 1 mg Lorazepam IV to reduce muscle tension.

[10:24:22]: Subject’s speech becomes slurred and incoherent. Noted disorientation to stimuli, increased muscle laxity. Decrease in heart rate and blood pressure.

[10:33:14]: Subject enters a semi-catatonic state. Eyes remain open but unresponsive to visual stimuli. Pupils equal but dilated. EEG shows dominant delta wave activity.

[10:42:28]: Subject displays signs of decreased neural responsiveness. Decreased pupillary reaction, continued slow rolling movement of the eyes, jerky movement of the whole body (hypnic jerks). Persistent drooling noted.

[10:45:04]: Infusion of PCA-13 reduced to 1 mL/min. Administration of compound #GS-P5R reduced to 2 L/min via nasal cannula.

[10:50:34]: Subject engaged with repetitive commands in accordance to Behavioral Compliance Protocols. Verbal cues, electronic conditioning, and multi-sensory stimuli reinforcement prove ineffective. Subject remains largely non-reactive.

[10:57:55]: Subject’s eyes remain unfocused with significant drooping. Attempts to direct gaze result in brief eye opening, followed by rapid drooping. Subject mumbles incoherently.

[10:58:06]: Speculum applied to maintain eyelid retraction for continuous observation and responsiveness testing. Subject demonstrates minimal resistance; remains in stuporous state. Droplets of propriety psychotic #3A administered to each eye. Immediate increase in pupil dilation and noticeable twitching observed.

[11:00:17]: Visual stimulus presented. Subject's eyes remain fixed and extremely dilated. Noted tremors in hands, erratic breathing patterns, increase in heart rate. Subject occasionally mumbles with extreme delay in response latency to verbal and physical testing.

[11:05:23]: Subject engaged with repetitive commands in accordance to Behavioral Compliance Protocols. Verbal cues, electronic conditioning, and multi-sensory stimuli reinforcement prove insignificant. Subject displays significant cognitive impairment, involuntary reflexes, significant drooling, and uncoordinated movements.

[11:10:19]: Increased auditory and visual stimuli introduced to enhance command comprehension of Behavioral Compliance Protocols. Subject displays signs of severe neural suppression. EEG findings variable and nonspecific, low voltage and slow irregular activity nonreactive to sensory stimuli.

[11:15:52]: Subject engaged with high-intensity visual stimuli (rapid flashing) and continuous auditory commands. Subject shows brief eye fixation on visual stimulus, with occasional facial twitching. Overall response is characterized by slow, inconsistent movements and frequent confusion. Subject’s attempts to respond are sporadic, sluggish, and incoherent.

[11:20:14]: Administered low-frequency auditory tones and ambient lighting. Subject displays intermittent eye tracking and reflexive vocalizations. Eyes lubricated to prevent irritation; speculum remains in place. Despite the high level of impairment, occasional partial compliance with commands noted.

[11:30:31]: Subject provided with 500 mL saline IV to maintain hydration. Subject engaged with repetitive commands in accordance to Compliance Protocols. Verbal cues, electronic conditioning, and multi-sensory stimuli reinforcement prove moderately effective as demonstrated by increased uptake seen on EEG. Noted severe motor function impairment, persistent drooling, disorientation.

[11:37:48]: Visual and auditory stimuli calibrated to induce deep trance state in preparation for Hypnotic Compliance Protocols. Subject's head and neck stabilized to ensure alignment with visual stimuli. Monitored vital signs remain stable but indicate persistent sedation effects. Subject remains largely unresponsive, exhibiting only involuntary reflexes and intense eye fixation on visual stimulus.

[12:00:00]: End of Behavioral Compliance Induction log. Subject's transition to hypnotic phase officially logged and observed.

TRANSFER OF CARE: [REDACTED]

[petew21-blog]

Dream of McDreamy

George O'Malley couldn't stand it anymore. Meredith was into Derek, but he was playing with her. Always on, off, on, off. Why would she choose a guy who treated her like that?

Derek used to date Meredith in Seattle Grace Hospital. But that was all crushed when his wife, he claimed that he was divorced to, came to town to get her husband back. The wife, Addison Montgomery, a brilliant surgeon, wasn't thrilled to watch Meredtih every day, but she was willing to do anything to get her husband back. The husband that was still in love with Meredtih, but his connection to Addison couldn't be severed so easily.

George was always the one on the side. He liked Meredtih a lot, but she would never notice him like Derek. Derek was McDreamy for her. Geroge was... well George.

He wasn't ugly or anything, but he couldn't compare himself to Derek Sheperd. The hair, the face, the smile. And especially those skills and knowledge. He was a god for so many people here.

George knew why Meredith like him so much. He envied him his good looks. It made it so much easier for him to get the lady he wanted. But he doesn't deserve her. Meredith deserves to be treated with respect and love.

George planned it. Either he was gonna die trying or it would work. He connected electrodes and sensors to gis head. And the EEG machine. He timed it so that Derek would be coming around the corner just in time to see his alterations to the machine. And just as George thought, Derek did what he wanted him to. He touched the button to turn off the power, because the machine on George's head cracked and sent many electric impulses into his brain. Derek tried to turn it off, but he felt a spark and then BOOM

Derek flew to the next wall where he crashed. The emploees rushed in to help him and George. They had had to revive George for many minutes and eventually succeeded. But it took them too much time. Certain parts of the brain weren't oxygenated and died out, leaving him in a coma.

As Derek woke up. He was a bit confused. Looking around, trying to find someone. They had to hospitalize him as a normal patient and therefore, Derek was on the hospital bed, waiting to be checked and released.

Looking back at himself in the mirror reflection, Derek, or to be specific, George in Derek's body felt proud that his alterations worked.

He was playing with his hair, non stop. How come that this guy is in his 40s and has a head full of hair

Addison came by to check if he was truly ok.

The new Derek looked up at her:"Addison we are done. Please, do not call me, do not beg me. I am in love with Meredith and this is my final desicion. Goodbye"

Addison was so surprised by all this that she couldn't even react to the monologue Derek just spat at her. But she was done too. No more chasing men, who don't want her, no. She was the star of her own life. And left.

George got up and went straight to the bathroom. He looked at his poker face reflecting in the mirror. "It's gonna be weird, getting used to seeing your face every day, Derek. But it's something I can do for Meredith"

He untied the hospital gown he had on. He examined his new body. It was much better than his old one. It seemed that Derek really took care of himself

George looked down and smile. "Not bad, Derek." I knew Meredith had a good taste.

George grabbed his dick and smiled at himself in the mirror again

Meredith:'You talk to yourself in the mirror?"

George turned around, not covering his dick. "Meredith! Yeah... from time to time"

Meredith was a bit caught off guard by the nakedness, but Geroge stepped closer to her

George:"I made a choice Meredith. I pick you. I choose you. I love you."

Meredith:"You know you don't have to run away after we had sex"

George in Derek:"Yeah, right. Sorry, force of habit"

Meredith:"Hmm, right. Wanna join me in the shower?"

George:"Why din't you say that before?"

They laughed as Derek threw off his clothes and chased Meredith naked all the way up to the bathroom.

In the hospital

Meredith:"So this was all I wanted to show you. I was thinking that it could help some patients like George to fully recover. Or at least partially."

George:"Meredith, George is probably not waking up. The chances are really low."

Meredith:"But there are some studies who tried this method too and it worked."

George:"You know what? Let's just enjoy the day tonight. We got a big event to celebrate"

Meredith:"Yeah? Which one?"

George:"The two of us finally being together"

George was happier than he would ever be. He had his crush pressed against him, while his new dick was getting hard. He was now kissing his crush after so many years.

As they were making out in front of all the scans, George thought about tomorrow. How they would have to study all those cases. And how he would have to disconnect his old body to make sure he would stay with Meredith forever

An anonymous request from inbox:

Ooooh, Ive always though it might be fun to have George O’Malley swap bodies with Derek Shepherd? Maybe using it finally be with Meredith? And just being jealous of his good looks.

[mieberoc]

With the help of some lovely messages and AI here is a story.

Beneath the lowest sub-level of Fort Resolute’s bio-sealed annex, six men of CBRN Task Force Theta—Hauptmann Friedrich Adler, Oberfeldwebel Lukas Krüger, Stabsunteroffizier Wilhelm Stein, Unteroffizier Markus Vogel, Gefreiter Erik Weiß, and Gefreiter Johann Köhler—sat in regulation combats, boots planted on the metallic floor, awaiting the irreversible. Each had been hand-picked: Adler, the only commander in Europe to log three consecutive zero-casualty extractions from nerve-agent zones; Krüger, a demolitions savant whose calm pulse under fire never rose above fifty; Stein, an endurance record-holder able to remain conscious through fifteen minutes of hypoxic gas testing; Vogel, a virological prodigy with natural resistance markers to mutagenic particulates; Weiß, a former Olympic triathlete whose cardiovascular efficiency bordered on superhuman; and Köhler, confirmed by military psychiatrists as possessing the rarest trait of all—complete affective detachment in the face of mass casualties. Doctor Karczek, architect of the Permanent Protective Integument Programme, activated holoscreens that unfurled a vivid breakdown of the six-phase metamorphosis awaiting them. Phase One: Exfoliative Etch—their outer epidermis would be misted away by enzymatic solvent as pink rivulets dripped into drains, an agonising itch muted only by intravenous analgesia. Phase Two: Polymer Suspension Bath—each man would float in black, mercury-like fluid while nanoscale carriers welded synthetic latticework to raw dermis, sliding between toes, beneath nails, even along gumlines, twitching muscles like marionettes. Phase Three: Fusion Cure—immobilised in induction sarcophagi, electromagnetic pulses would shrink-wrap the polymer deeper, flash-hardening every molecule; Karczek likened it to the T-1000 poured over living flesh. Phase Four: Respirator Integration—a seamless mask, sculpted from sister polymer, would be pressed to their bared facial bones, microspikes rooting into maxilla and mandible in under thirty seconds; speech would emerge through a sub-glottal vocoder, accents flattened into submarine basso. Phase Five: Sensory Calibration—the sealed figures would be bathed in chlorine vapour, VX simulant, and neutron-irradiated dust, sensors confirming zero uptake while phantom itches flared across fingertips soon to be fingerprint-less. Phase Six: Psychological Lock-In—EEG-guided neurofeedback would teach their brains that the suit was self, every recollection of old flesh punished by cascading migraines, cementing loyalty to the integument for life. Krüger asked the final question: what becomes of them when wars end? Karczek answered with clinical certainty: they would return, but so would the suit; children might hold their hands yet feel only polymer, their eyes forever staring through respirator lenses. Tablets slid across the desk, black screens awaiting fingerprints soon to dissolve; one by one the men pressed, committing skin, name, and future. Cradle doors hissed, releasing a metallic scent like rain on scorched iron. Boots struck concrete in perfect cadence as six elite soldiers marched towards dissolution and rebirth, destined never again to wear protection but to become it—living weapons forged from fear and rubber, able to tread where no unsealed man could follow.

[unwelcome-ozian]

“Northrop Grumman’s HORNET system leverages the latest advances in real-time coupling of human brain activity with automated cognitive neural processing to provide superior target detection,” says Michael House, Northrop Grumman’s CT2WS program manager. “The system will maintain persistent surveillance in order to defeat an enemy’s attempts to surprise through evasive move-stop-move tactics, giving the U.S. warfighter as much as a 20-minute advantage over his adversaries.”

The subconscious mind is hypersensitive to visual images. The system will take advantage of that by using non-invasive electro-encephalogram (EEG) measurement sensors inside the warfighter’s helmet and attached to his scalp, House says.

A soldier’s subconscious may detect a threat his conscious mind is not registering, House says. The EEG sensors will read the soldier’s neural responses to potential threats, and then the readings will educate the system’s algorithms. For example, the algorithms will identify when the warfighter’s subconscious is detecting a moving target at 5 kilometers or at 10 kilometers, House continues. As missions and threats evolve, the algorithms will be refined.

One of the main goals of the Hornet is to reduce the false alarm rate for target acquisition, House says. The human brain’s visual process has very few false alarms, he adds. This should also significantly improve the range of standard binoculars. Lowering false-alarm rates is crucial for HORNET’s intended applications, which include improvised explosive device (IED) detection and destruction, aided target recognition, and border surveillance for homeland security scenarios."

[neuphony9]

The EXG Synapse by Neuphony is an advanced device designed to monitor and analyze multiple biosignals, including EEG, ECG, and EMG. It offers real-time data for research and neurofeedback, making it ideal for cognitive enhancement and physiological monitoring.

[neuphonyforyou]

Monitor brain waves involves using sensors to detect and measure electrical activity in the brain, known as electroencephalography (EEG). This non-invasive method provides insights into cognitive states, mental processes, and neurological conditions, wireless eeg headset.

[anonymusbosch]

so at work they rolled out Google's Gemini AI for everyone. of course. and Gemini keeps suggesting "let me summarize the contents of this folder for you!" and I'm like sure, why not, tell me what this folder named "Test 14: <test condition> <test duration>" contains. This whole folder of three whole files. Summarize for me, my gleeful little elf.

And it comes back with

- This folder contains test data! (no shit)

- One of the files is a video! (no shit)

- One of the files is data from an accelerometer! (no shit, the simple CSV named test14_<datetime>_accelerometer.csv is an accel file? wrowza)

- One of the files is data from something else, probably an electroencephalogram! (..... what??? the 3rd file is named with a timestamp but it's just a text file with csv data and a funky extension, and the first few rows contain the exact names of the sensors used as well as column labels like "Time (s)" and "Temp (C)" and "Flow (SLM)". how the hell did EEGs get into the summary? EEGs? hello?)

like, summarizing the folder contents - even looking at the first 15 lines of the text files - you would be able to actually get the correct answer. so why are they pushing a demo that fails so badly on an exquisitely completable task? hello! look at my son as he faceplants in front of you. buy my son

[high-voltage-rat]

Today's workplace doodle is me trying to figure out vaguely how I want the mechquest piloting systems to work.

I'm a big fan of Pacific Rim-style biomechanical controllers with feedback to simulate the forces being experienced by the mech's systems: the idea that the mech feels like an extension of your own body. I also like the idea that the mech pilot suits have a functional purpose- hardpoint connectors, sensors, and signalling modules built in. So naturally, I came to the idea of having the biomechanical sensors connect to the suit, with multi-directional piston and hydraulic hinge systems to detect and influence limb and joint position. It looks a little goofy, especially when you draw it out with exaggeration like I have here, but all mecha kind of does.

The issue of weapons systems is one I'm not 100% sure on, yet. My first instinct was to have it be EEG-controlled, with a funky helmet for The Vibes. However, I have also considered just making the systems be controlled by physical mnemonics- certain motions like a "trigger pull" corresponding to the mecha firing the cannons- because EEG-based control is notoriously finicky (though improving, so maybe in 3009 it's feasible? I'm torn between rule of cool and my biomedical engineering education screaming and crying about realism). Either way, this would, in ManaTech systems, be replaced by control through the user's natural psychic magic abilities.

One thing I think is interesting with biomechanical systems like this is the idea of tunability to the user: the scaling of the forces between pilot and mecha would have to be adjustable, as everyone's "maximum strength" threshold is different. However, the people with lower thresholds would have less sensitive feedback levels, as there's less range between "zero force" and "max force". This means that despite people of almost any strength being able to pilot, it's still in the best interest of a pilot to train physically so they get the most information possible. It would be a good motivation for every mecha pilot under the sun to be training in energy blades. (It also brings to mind some really funny calibration methods. System attempts to squish you progressively harder until you can no longer resist? Just punch the air as hard as you can a few times? The possibilities are not endless but ARE entertaining)

Anyway, yeah. Just pondering them mechs.

[neophony]

Neuphony EXG Synapse has comprehensive biopotential signal compatibility, covering ECG, EEG, EOG, and EMG, ensures a versatile solution for various physiological monitoring applications.

[mydisenchantedeulogy]

Dark Secret [Chapter Two] Say Something [Ace Merrill]

Warning(s): seizures, dread, fear, nightmares, female OC, Ace being Ace, violence, comfort.

No Minors Allowed!!

At daybreak, the kitchen phone rang with a sharp brring-brring, stirring Elise from a restless sleep. She sat up, feeling more exhausted than she did before she laid down and crawled out of bed. It was no surprise to her that the space beside her was empty; she even doubted that Ace had come home. He normally crashed at the Emporium, much to his uncle's dismay when they had an intense disagreement. 

After he left yesterday, Elise sat for hours thinking about their argument. She pushed him, she knew, but her fear got the best of her. It was hard enough for her to balance the majority of the bills on her own; the house was in such disrepair that she couldn't keep up with the payments. All the money Ace earned went to making sure the utilities stayed on. When he told her he quit, she felt overwhelmed, like she was the glue holding their relationship together, a relationship he wasn't all there for. 

The idea that she was overthinking things crossed her mind, but perhaps she wasn't. Perhaps Ace did think she was a nag, a thought Elise put aside as she reached for the phone, lifting the pale blue receiver to her ear. Whoever was on the other line was persistent.

“Hello,” Elise uttered, horsely. She stifled a yawn and pushed a lock of her hair behind her ear.

“Hey, doll. It's Pop.”

At least she knew where Ace was now. But why was he calling her? A rolling pain turned her stomach. 

“Mornin’. Is Ace sleeping off a hangover?” Elise asked. She honestly hoped. 

“Now listen.” Her heart began to race. Oh goodness. What happened to Ace? “I don't want you to panic or hear it from someone else but John had a seizure last night and was taken to Stephens Memorial in Norway.”

A seizure. Elise slid her hand over her mouth and leaned her arm against the wall in sadness. There were so many questions running through her mind. Was he alone? Or behind the wheel? Her thoughts were so jumbled that Pop's voice almost didn't reach her. 

“...you there…doll.” 

“D-did they say anything?”

Pop hummed. 

“A business partner of mine called. They wouldn't tell him anything on account he isn't family.”

Of course, they wouldn't. For fucks sake.

No. It isn't their fault. 

The hospital was only doing its job.

“All right…um, I'm gonna go up to the hospital and check on him. Thank you, Pop,” Elise uttered. 

“Catch me up,” Pop insisted. 

Ace was the last thing on his mind, but Elise agreed. She ended the call and raced up the stairs to the bedroom, changing her lavender nightie out with a pair of jeans and a button-down. In her haste, she forgot her keys and cussed as she had to go back into the house to get them.

Norway was northeast of Castle Rock, a thirty-minute drive, give or take. Being so early, there was not much traffic to deter her, so Elise sped on the backroads. She reached the hospital in record time and parked like someone she would consider an asshole, then rushed through the emergency room doors.

By the time she reached Ace, she learned that his seizure had ceased before he reached the hospital; and that Pop's contact left him shortly before his EEG. At the current time, he was asleep, attached to a computer via sensors connected to his head and body. In a sleep study, a nurse named Thurber told her to monitor his brain waves.

There was not much she could tell her without the EEG results, but so far, Ace was fine, other than some bruising on his chest from the seatbelt. Or so he appeared to be. He honestly looked like he was part machine lying there, an image that turned Elise's stomach. Something wasn't right; she could feel it.  

For the next few hours, she rested uncomfortably in the waiting area, relying on snacks and bottled water to keep her going. Her nerves were shot, but she asked to use a phone and made two important calls, one more than the other. The first was to Pop, as she promised, but there was not much she could tell him.

“Does he have a history of seizures?” Elise asked him. One of the nurses had asked her, but honestly, she didn't know. 

Pop snorted. “How the hell should I know, I ain't his momma.”

After that, she didn't bother to catch him up again.

The second call she made was to her supervisor to inform her that she was not coming in. She explained the situation and was given the OK; all those days she could not afford to use stacked up. It was fine, but she had a list of bills to go over when she got home, considering Ace was now unemployed unless Pop took sympathy for him. Elise doubted it.  

Once she returned to the waiting room, she felt emotionally drained. Elise curled up the best she could on one of the chairs and tried to get some rest. It was hard, but she managed to get at least an hour before a nurse woke her. 

“Mr. Merrill is awake if you want to see him.”

Elise eagerly agreed. She followed Nurse Thurber back into the behavioral and mental health corridor and to Ace's room. When she saw him resting on the bed, her stomach twisted. He looked especially exhausted with red puffy bags beneath his eyes, and for the first time since she knew him, Ace Merrill looked weak.

His jaw tightened as Elise reached the bed, and then he averted his attention, pulling at the adhesive patch on his hand, an action Elise understood. 

“When can he leave?” She asked. 

“There are a few papers you need to fill out, then once the doctor OKs him, he can go home,” Thurber answered. “Let me get you those to fill out while you wait.” 

She sauntered out, leaving the room in an awkward silence. Elise sat in an uncomfortable chair beside the bed and watched Ace for a moment, peeling the patch from his skin with a soft rip. She frowned and then stood, gently untangling a patch from his hair. 

“You have a Westworld look going on.” She tried to make herself sound sanguine, but her voice was hoarse and heartbroken. 

Even so, Ace snorted. 

“Chill out, nerd. It isn't November yet.”

Elise grinned. Regardless of their money issues, Ace always saved back a little money to take her to the drive-in. Sci-fi and horror movies appealed to her more than jewelry and makeup, a notion he teased her for but was no less grateful for.

“Westworld” didn't come out until November but Elise was already excited. It was a nice distraction at the moment, but it was fleeting. She sat back down with a sigh.  

“Pop is the one who called me.”

“Did he say anything about the job?” Ace asked. 

Of course, he was more concerned about the job than his health. Elise wondered if it was because of their argument; because she put it in his head that he needed to find work.

“I don't think he would discuss that with me.”

Ace grunted in annoyance. No, he wouldn't. He was certain that Pop was going to cut him out of the business because he did not make it through the entire trip. All because he had a damn seizure. His luck was shit after he broke that statue…or bone. A sharp pain turned his stomach. What was it about that damn thing that made him physically ill when he thought about it?

“Ace,” Elise uttered in concern. Her ring felt cold against his heated skin as she gripped his hand. 

“It's nothing,” he dismissed. 

She wasn't assured, and she remained apprehensive even when the doctor gave his OK for Ace to leave. Elise filled out his paperwork and even suggested that she would drive, much to his dismay. 

“Keep it below 80,” he ordered as he begrudgingly crawled into the passenger side seat - luckily he didn't comment about her quick parking. 

Elise opted not to mention that she had sped the majority of the way to Norway and started the Chevelle, leaving the hospital for what she hoped was the last time. The results for the EEG and the sleep test would take about a week to come in, give or take, but she gave the nurses the house number so they could call her.

By the time they reached Castle Rock, it was close to noon. The sun was bright and the sky was clear. Despite the incident, it was a nice day. Elise darted her eyes over to Ace for a moment to see him rummaging around in the glove box. 

“Are you hungry? We can stop in at Nans or Patsy's.” 

Ace merely shook his head. Food was the last thing on his mind; his body was sore and he felt a bit sick. The nurse told him to drink lots of fluids but he had that at the house. No beer though, but he was certain Elise would tell him no if he suggested getting some at Brownies. 

“Go home.”

He slammed the glove box shut in annoyance, earning a curious look from his wife. The sun was irritating his eyes; he felt disoriented. 

“Where are your sunglasses?” 

“Must have slid beneath the seat,” Elise answered. “You wouldn't have worn them anyway; they're purple.”

Ace grunted. No, he wouldn't have, but it was tempting, given how sensitive his eyes were. He opted to lean back and shut them, not opening them until Elise announced that they were home. The blonde tightened his jaw as he noticed the vacant space beside them. 

“I left my car at the Emporium.”

“We can bring it back tomorrow. I'm sure Pop will take care of it another day,” Elise suggested. 

He would but he would certainly let him know that he wasn't a damn babysitter. Ace took an uneasy breath and rose stiffly from the car. He felt a little better being home - hospitals were lame - but not much. 

Once he was inside, he kicked off his boots not caring where he left them, and padded up the stairs toward the bedroom. Elise followed soon after, bringing up a glass of water from the kitchen that he chugged down. 

“I'm fucking exhausted,” he stated.

Elise was sure. The nurse informed her that Ace would most likely sleep until he felt better. As she watched him sprawl out on the bed, she realized just how sleep-deprived she felt. 

“Can I join you?”

“Don't you have to work?” Ace asked. 

Elise sat down beside him and undid the button on his jeans. If he wasn't so tired and sore he would have taken her action as a sign that she wanted to have sex. He didn't think he could get it up anyway in the state he was in. Instead, he helped her remove them, leaving him in a pair of black boxer briefs, and watched keenly as she stripped down to her panties. 

“I took off,” Elise answered. 

She ignored the stern look Ace gave her as if calling her a hypocrite and then crawled into bed beside him.

“We’ll figure it out later.”

Ace tightened his jaw but silently agreed. He was not in the mood to argue. Turning onto his back, he shut his eyes and fell into a deep sleep. 

It didn't take his sick mind long to conjure up a nightmare. In it, he saw himself walking through the house in the dead of night, as though he were a character in a movie. But something was not right about him. His eyes were pitch black like that of a barn owl, soulless and wicked. He could hear himself whispering, but he could not understand the words, though from his mouth, an oily substance oozed, darker than any black he had ever seen. 

He crept like a shadow into the basement to an old wooden bench his father, Junior Merrill used to sit at for hours when he wanted to be alone and retrieved a hammer that was covered in a thin layer of rust and cobwebs. Lifelessly, as though he were sleepwalking, Ace watched himself ascend the stairs and enter his room. Elise lay asleep on the bed, facing the wall and unaware that he was looming over her. 

An intense fear swallowed him. What did he intend to do? Ace felt his stomach roll in dread but he continued to watch. What else could he do? He couldn't stop his nightmare. The dream version of him loomed over Elise, watching her as she slept, whispering that same inaudible sentence over and over, and then like the snap of a finger, the whispering ceased. 

He leaned down and pulled the floral print comforter that his wife was wearing completely over her, then raised the hammer high into the air before bringing it down onto her head. 

Ace let out a terrified shout, then came to reality. To his horror, he was standing at the edge of the bed, looming over Elise. In his hand was a rusted hammer. He dropped it to the floor with a loud clatter and watched as his wife jerked awake and turned to look at him in confusion. 

“Ace?”

There was nothing he could say. His body was frozen in fear, the kind that squeezed his blood vessels shut and chilled him to the bone. He was suffocating.