Japan: Researchers Create Hat Controlled by the Mind

In Tokyo, they're all ears for the latest in hi-tech fashion.

The headwear is called "Necomimi" - or 'cat ears' in Japanese.

Created by a company called Neurowave, the communications device can be controlled by the wearer's thoughts and emotions.

With two brain-wave sensors, Necomimi can detect and interpret the emotional state of the wearer through four distinct movements.

The ears shoot up when the wearer is nervous or focused, but flatten when the individual is relaxed.

During a specific activity like a game, or reading a book, the ears swirl around in a circular motion, and when brain activity is low, they flap gently back and forth.

Kana Nakano, one of the creators, says the company wanted to create a device that could be enjoyed by all, and the cat theme fit the bill.

[Kana Nakano, Cat Ear Creator]:
"When you make ear movements the same with real animals, it's not cute. For example, when cats are frightened or want to scare away an enemy, they flatten their ears. But with Necomimi, flat ears mean a relaxed state of mind. So we have changed the meaning to suit human perceptions. To humans, it's kind of cute when cat ears are flat. So the most difficult bit was to fine tune cat ear movements."

The science of neuro-control is being developed in labs all over the world as a way to help the disabled or victims of 'locked-in' syndrome, where a patient is awake, but unable to move or communicate.

In Switzerland, scientists are adapting Neurowave technology for wheelchair users, while in Germany it's being tested as a means for operating a car.

While the cat ears may seem like a trivial approach, the developers say the technology could be adapted as a communication tool for those who may be reclusive or shy around strangers.

For now, however, Necomimi is aimed at the curious and the fashion-conscious.

[Hiroki Moriguchi, University Student]:
"It was my first time having cat ears. That experience itself was very amusing, but it also swirls around on your head, so it was riveting. It was such a fresh experience."

[Misa Tokuizumi, Dentist]:
"I find it amusing that cat ears were moving in conjunction with my feelings."

Neurowave says it plans to launch the Necomimi internationally later this year at a price of several hundred dollars per unit.