**Brain Gear Is the Hot New Wearable**

The world of wearables has come a long way since the Fitbit first hit the market over a decade ago. From sleek smartwatches like Apple's to unassuming rings like Oura, these devices have been tracking our every move, from step count to heart rate and skin temperature. But now, a new breed of wearables is taking center stage – ones that aim to read our brain waves.

**The Rise of Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs)**

Using electroencephalography (EEG), these devices detect electrical impulses produced by the brain and use artificial intelligence to make sense of them. This technology has been around for a while, but its applications have only recently begun to gain traction. Take Elemind's $350 headband, for example. Designed to boost sleep quality, it detects brain signals to determine whether you're asleep or awake, then delivers acoustic stimulation – known as pink noise – to help your brain transition from wakeful patterns to delta waves, which represent deeper sleep.

A small trial involving 21 participants showed that the device helped more than three-quarters of them fall asleep faster. But Elemind's innovation goes beyond just tracking sleep; it aims to actually improve it.

**Hacking Productivity with Neurable**

If you're the type who works smarter rather than harder, Boston-based Neurable has a solution for you. For $500, their EEG-sensing headphones track brain activity associated with concentration – specifically beta waves – and provide users with insights into how focused they are. The device also nudges you to take breaks when it thinks you've been deeply focused for too long.

**Apple's Entry into Wearable Brain Tech**

Apple has filed a patent for EEG-sensing AirPods, though they haven't hit the market yet. However, earlier this year, Apple unveiled a new accessibility feature that allows its Vision Pro to be controlled with brain waves instead of physical movement. This integration with BCIs – systems that read brain signals to allow users to control devices with their thoughts – has already been taken advantage of by Cognixion.

**The Future of Neurotech**

Cognixion's augmented reality app is designed to help people with speech impairments due to paralysis communicate more effectively. But it's not hard to imagine how a Vision Pro equipped with a BCI could be adopted for gaming or texting with your mind. As Andreas Melhede, founder of Elata Biosciences, puts it: "It's really up to the user what they want to do and for the developer what they want to build."

**The Elata Network**

Elata is working on creating an open-source network where anyone can create a neuro app that can run on an EEG device. They've already demonstrated their Pong app at a crypto conference in Singapore, where competitors used headsets to track brain signals and play the classic game using only their thoughts.

**Regulatory Approval and Concerns**

Flow Neuroscience's headset has gained regulatory approval as a medical device for treating depression. It emits low-intensity electrical current called transcranial direct current stimulation to help alleviate symptoms. A companion app provides behavioral therapy, guidance, and monitoring. But as Nita Farahany, professor of law and philosophy at Duke University, warns: "The brain is the last frontier of privacy."

**The Future of Wearable Neurotech**

Farahany predicts that wearable neurotech will eventually become ubiquitous – so much so that it'll be integrated with devices in a seamless way. Imagine little tattoos behind your ear that integrate with all your devices. While this might sound like science fiction, it's not hard to see how brain-reading wearables could change the way we interact with technology.

**The Dark Side of Neurodata**

As device makers collect more neuro data, concerns about storage and protection will only grow. What happens when companies sell customers' neuro data to third parties? Or your employer uses it to monitor your focus during work hours? It's a dark side that no one wants to think about – but one that we can't ignore.

**The Inevitability of Neurotech**

In the end, wearable brain tech is not just a novelty; it's an inevitability. As Farahany puts it: "It's really up to us to make sure we're using this technology for good and not ill."