On Controlling Devices with Your Mind - Part I

My journey exploring the science behind mind-matter interaction.

In this members-only article (free signup), I'll walk you through my research with a system inspired by concepts outlined in US Patent 5,830,064 that potentially demonstrates how consciousness might influence physical systems. I'll explain the principles behind the setup and share the surprising results from my testing.

This is the first article in the series. Check out the second insiders-only installment for my complete research notes, including detailed hardware configuration, software implementation approach, and access to my experimental code to conduct your own investigations into this enigmatic topic.

The underlying concept of the patent is straightforward, if not provocative. It includes over 40 pages of diagrams and schematics outlining an experimental system that you could theoretically control using "force of will" alone with no physical inputs.

Approaching these types of projects always requires a certain suspension of disbelief, however after reading through the patent documentation, I realized that trying an experiment based on these principals was relatively straightforward. I already had familiarity with much of the research that supports how the device actually works.

Here's the synopsis: The system works with a stream of data from a hardware random number generator (RNG). You condition and sample these values while simultaneously focusing your intention on the device. The output can then be used to send commands that control a toy, game, or appliance.

The controlling commands are based on whether a chance expectation has been exceeded after evaluating a sequence of RNG values. In a nutshell, the question being asked is: can focused intention somehow influence the distribution of generated random numbers in a predictable way to operate a system? For example, imagine being able to start your car by just thinking about it.

My system uses an off-the-shelf hardware random number generator, a fair amount of open source software, and a small inexpensive robotics kit. The RNG output drives a robotic motor either forward or backward based on the operator's focused intention.

This short clip shows the device in operation.

The dashboard below shows an example of the data that I captured during the experiments.

If you've made it this far, you're probably wondering if my experimental system actually produced measurable results. Well, the outcomes legitimately surprised me, but you'll need to sign up (free) if you want the full story. 😄