If you aspire to move objects by mind power alone, then this is the gadget for you. Provided, that is, you're happy doing no more than propelling a ping-pong ball along a tube.
The Star Wars Force Trainer has a headset wirelessly linked to a base unit with a fan. Two metal pads on the headset lies in contact with the skin behind your ears, and a third lies against your forehead. These dry sensors (no conductive gel needed) pick up and distinguish between alpha, beta, gamma and delta brain waves.
Beta waves come to the fore when you concentrate, and when these are sensed, LEDs on the base illuminate and the fan starts to turn. The harder your concentration, the faster it spins, and the higher the ball is blown up the tube.
The voice of Yoda, helped by beeps from R2-D2, teaches you how to send the ball to different heights as you progress with your Jedi training, and there are 15 levels to complete in total.
Players get the hang of the game after some fiddly calibration - the trick is to clear your mind as much as you can - and experienced users can even learn to apply vocal and gestural commands without losing concentration. While at the start it's all quite relaxing, the exercise can become tiring and frustrating over a long session.
Advertisement
Although it is claimed that the Trainer is suitable for eight-year-olds upwards, youngsters may have trouble setting it up, applying themselves and keeping its big appetite for nine AAA batteries satisfied. Clearly, this is no pocket-money buy for Jedi Younglings, though older Padawans will find it an entertaining and novel party trick.
£100 from www.firebox.co.uk