It has been said that the Japanese don’t always wear their hearts on their sleeves and it can be particularly hard to judge their emotions. Step in the team from “neurowear” who have developed a product called “necomimi” which takes brain signals from our emotions and turns them into visible actions rendering them in the form of wiggling cat ears.
Advertising it as a new communication tool that “augments the human body and ability”, the website introduces the product as a fashion item and gadget that uses brainwaves and other biosensors. Designed obviously for the cutesy Japanese market with its cat ear shape (neco and mimi being the words for cat and ear) the ears mimic a cat’s ears as they wiggle and rise with the wearers emotional state, for example rising in anticipation of eating a delicious cookie, or drop down when relaxed.
The product, although at present a bit of a commercial gimmick, could actually be used for a number of other functions. For example, to help allow mentally disabled people show their feelings and easing frustrations within those who are verbally challenged. This kind of technology that doesn’t require too many intrusive components could certainly help in treatment by non verbally demonstrating wearers emotions, particularly in children. The same technology could also be used within other applications. Embedded in a hard hat for example the same brain signal monitor could be worn for workers involved in particularly demanding tasks requiring constant concentration. This kind of new technology aimed at health and wellbeing is a particularly growing market in Japan with its increasing greying society.
The product was on display at Omotesando Hills in the “Smile Bazar” where customers could try it on for themselves.
This is the first product from the “neurowear” company but they have already stated their intention to release more products soon, and if you watch the youtube video it does hint at a follow up with a strange bluetooth like device the passing man is wearing on his ear.
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Darrell is a contributor at ShiftEast.com. 
I actually was wondering about the health benefits.
It makes me wonder about Japan’s fascination with cat ears. But, it’s nice to see that Neurowear is creating an interesting product.
What would be interesting is interacting with real cats with those on.
it will be great if they can adapt one of thoose divices for babys use
oh wait…….
I am probably the weirdest dude who would say they absolutely want these.
That ear-device is a Looxcie. See here: http://dvice.com/archives/2011/03/looxcie-the-blu.php
I think two ears are not enough to express as many emotions as people have. The project is very interesting, but I wonder if liars will agree with it?!
. . . I want these <3 like . . . . rite nowwhy can't i live in japan ): i hope these come to america :p
i want these too, i wonder if you can order them and have them overseas shipped?
wow! this is an interesting product but i wonder if it’s realy safe for our brain…
If they could be slightly modified to assertain whether or not a person is truthful or not and then we could make it mandatory for politicians to wear these.
I wud luvv these and to the guy who thinks he is wierd for wanting these ur not! Im mean ima girl but lots of girls and guys have these they wear them to work and all. They also dont live in japan…. But the question that has not been answered is where to get these and how much they are…. Omg i want em now!
How much do these cat ears cost, they are awesome.
Necomimi had a soft release at a con in Hawaii, and then again this past weekend, Memorial Weekend 2012 in San Jose, CA at Fanimé convention. Their next will be down in southern CA they said, probably Long Beach, Yaoicon. They said they have to build more product to be ready to meet the supply and demand of an official country wide release. They are working on that now.
The price of the ears at the cons are $99 plus tax. They said the price will stay the same when they are released. I hope this helps you. It does look like they are starting to take orders on their website http://www.necomimi.com
I saw them online last year and then at otakon. EVERYONE was buying them.
I decided to get some and they do actually work.
You know they move, but you don’t expect to feel them moving the first time you put them on. So at first they shoot right up because you are surprised and then they do all kinds of stuff until you settle down and get used to them. I’m wearing mine now and they waggle when I type but if I get distracted by someone walking by, they perk up. Don’t knock it until you try it. There is a reason they were sold out at the con this weekend.