Forget “OK Glass,” MindRDR Is A Google Glass App You Control With Your Thoughts

Google Glass notoriety is tied to its head-mounted technology, hinging on control through voice commands and a responsive touch interface. A fresh perspective emanates from a groundbreaking app developed by a crew stationed at the London-based innovators, This Place. The application, MindRDR, seeks to elevate the interaction experience with Google Glass, taking advantage of the mind’s power.

In a unique combination, MindRDR forms an interactive dialogue by linking Google Glass with the Neurosky EEG biosensor, an alternate head-mounted device.

The Neurosky biosensor identifies brain wave signals linked to focus levels, which the app then converts into a visible meter reading overlay on your Google Glass camera view. A heightened focus results in the meter increasing, triggering the app to capture an image of your current view. Continuing to concentrate escalates the meter level again, cuing the app to upload the recorded photo to Twitter.

While the concept is indeed simple, it’s an awe-inspiring entry into how Google Glass could potentially be steered by the mind.

A gamut of devices more advanced and featuring numerous sensors exists, but their high cost (the Neurosky retails for £71 in the UK, coupled with Google Glass’s £1,000 price tag, despite the app being free) is a concern. The existing design is basic, but the larger objective lies in transforming this fundamental notion into a spectrum of novel applications – be it training modules for honing focus, gaming platforms, automated cafe suggestions pegged to detected fatigue, or even medical implementations assisting those with mobility challenges.

World-renowned physicist Stephen Hawking, tragically afflicted with a considerable paralysis due to a deteriorating motor neuron ailment, is counted among those intrigued by this idea.

This Place takes the plank of hosting the code on GitHub, inviting other innovators to use and build upon it.

Chloe Kirton, the creative director of This Place, expressed that the genesis of the idea was intricately woven with the daily work her team executes for their clients, largely focused on creating user interfaces and boosting user experiences for significant online entities. “Could this pave the path for a novel user interface? Could an interface-less future be on the horizon?” were the questions she raised.

Kirton, after understanding Google Glass’s constraints, saw a room for augmentation. Verbal commands to a device feel strange and could be a source of embarrassing moments, while the existing touch and slide control design is subpar. In attempting to find a natural and universally accessible solution, she added, “After a while your arm gets tired. We aspired to conceive something that felt inherent and accessible to everyone.”

Albeit some reservations, Google Glass has been a source of inspiration for various ground-breaking applications and future wearable tech concepts. Kirton affirmed that currently, MindRDR holds the unique position of being the only application that seamlessly integrates Google Glass with a brainwave-reading technology.

Light edits were made in 2025 to improve clarity and relevance.