Yokogawa says it has invested in CyberneX Co., Ltd., a Japan-based startup that has reportedly developed a compact, lightweight and high-performance earphone-type device capable of measuring brainwaves in real time. CyberneX and Yokogawa will collaborate in the conduct of empirical research with the aim of constructing a platform for the visualization of information on the mental states of individuals, based on brainwave data. The companies will work to develop applications that will lead to the effective utilization of this technology by industry and society, according to Yokogawa.
In recent years, there has reportedly been a rising interest in brain technology, a field that brings together neuroscience and IT. It is anticipated that there will be many different applications for this technology, and investment by government institutions and the private sector is on the rise around the world, according to Yokogawa. Uses include medicine and healthcare, product development and education. The industrial sector is reportedly moving to adopt the technology in operations.
The earphone-type device developed by CyberneX is easy to wear, and it can measure brainwaves in real time and with low noise even when the subject wearing the device is moving, according to Yokogawa. As the device can be used in everyday situations and working environments, it is practical and enables the visualization of previously difficult to capture information on users’ sensations and emotions. Leveraging the features of the earphone device, users can receive auditory feedback that guides them to an "ideal psychological and physical state," according to the company. Moving forward, CyberneX is looking into the possibility of using physiological data such as blood pressure and heart rate to obtain deeper insights into the psychological states of human subjects.
Tsuyoshi Abe, a Yokogawa Electric Corporation senior vice president and head of the marketing headquarters, says, “Industry has seen a shift towards industrial autonomy, and I think that humans and machines will go on to coexist in a way that leverages their respective characteristics.”
For more information, visit: www.yokogawa.com
