No matter which sci-fi story we choose, let it be the galactic adventures of Star Trek or the dark side of Darth Vader in Star Wars, all of them include something humanity has always been dreaming of - controlling things with our mere thoughts. Nowadays with mind-controlled drones races and prosthetics limbs with fingers bending at your will, this future is closer than it has ever been.

Although most of this technology is still in relatively early stages, some entrepreneurs like the team behind the startup company Neurogress have big plans to bring it to the masses. Additionally, the Swiss company wants to take matters to another level and combine the science of mind-controlled devices with another huge trend in the digital world, the Blockchain technology.

Big plans for a big future

Neurogress’s project is nothing short of ambitious. The company is planning to develop artificial intelligence (AI) based software for mind (or neural) led tools to maximize their full potential. The company’s short term vision is to create software that will allow people to control different types of devices with their thoughts. They want the software to be able to recognize brain commands via a neurointerface contained in a non-invasive headband that is worn (nothing needs to be implanted). The software will be able to translate these brain commands into actions. For example, a prosthetic arm can grab and lift a cup of coffee for you to enjoy simply by thinking it.

The programme is designed to be able to use existing statistics from a common database to help users to quickly adapt their devices and use them more efficiently. Initially, the APIs of the software will only be open for developers, but if enough funding is obtained Neurogress plans to make it open source.

Blockchain will come into the picture in the developmental stage, however initial plans are that the company will base their system and platform on Ethereum smart contracts. It is also planned implement the project into the Smart Environment, controlling devices around you with your mind with a help of a single neurointerface. Neurogress is yet to decide which platform will be ideal for its long term needs, be it Ethereum, IOTA, EOS, another emerging technology or a native Blockchain cryptocurrency - this will be decided when the project reaches its development stage.

Mining with your mind

Initial funding is collected through a TGE (Token Generation Event). The pre-TGE starts on February 10 2018 where Neurogress will issue Neurogress tokens (NRG) to people interested in the project to purchase. These tokens are the native currency for the platform. Users will be able to purchase software or devices on the Neurogress marketplace, pay for developers to create codes, train machine learning algorithms for rewards, design and improve applications and other transactions on the Neugrogress platform.

The machine learning process constantly develops the advanced algorithms, which accelerates the neurocontrol mastering. This decentralized approach allows developers to use Neurogress algorithms for running their systems as well as for providing data sets to train AI.

Once sufficient funding is obtained, the company plans to introduce its own cryptocurrency - the target is within a year of the project’s start. People will be able to mine with the use of “Proof of Neural Activity” concept where the mining algorithm processes a user’s brain activity.

However, it’s important to highlight citizens and residents of the USA, Singapore and Switzerland are not able to purchase any NRG tokens due to various taxation and regulatory barriers in these countries. Investors should also understand tokens purchases are final, and even if the project’s outcome won’t be as they expected there are no refunds.

Thinking fast

The potential of mind-controlled devices are vast, and perhaps creativity will be the only limit. While the current state of the mind-controlled devices is still very expensive, and training periods for users can take up more than a year, companies like Neurogress are the drivers of this market potentially worth billions of dollars in the future.

Neurogress envisions it will be able to apply its software to a wide range of tools (not only drones or prosthetics). The company’s plan is to implement its product via collaborations with other manufacturers into industries such as medicine, robotics, gaming, transportation and perhaps even construct a mind-controlled giant crane.