First of all, does any remember an Expo in San Francisco, probably around 1986, I think the Moscone Center (but I’m not sure), where all kinds of technologies from the future were presented? I tried looking it up online and came up blank (I couldn’t find any archives of local San Francisco papers that might have helped).
For example, I recall seeing what was basically a primitive GPS - a small computer monitor on the dashboard of a car, in monochrome (kind of like TRON). It really seemed impressive at the time.
But the other thing I remember seeing was some kind of video game where you could control things on the screen only using thoughts. If I remember correctly, you needed to pop balloons or something like that.
Looking back, that could easily have been a scam, but a) was there really something like that (or has my mind misled me after so many years) and b) could it really have worked?
Charles Wehrenberg implemented competitive-relaxation as a gaming paradigm with the Will Ball Games circa 1973. In the first bio-mechanical versions, comparative GSR inputs monitored each player’s relaxation response and moved the Will Ball across a playing field appropriately using stepper motors. In 1984 Wehrenberg programmed the Will Ball games for Apple II computers. The Will Ball game itself is described as pure competitive-relaxation; Brain Ball is a duel between one player’s left and right brain hemispheres; Mood Ball is an obstacle-based game; Psycho Dice is a psycho-kinetic game.
There were 7 $20,000 Mindball boards sold. One has been at Chicago Museum of Science and Industry
OK, I went to the archives of the San Francisco Chronicle, did a search for future expo in 1985-1986, and I’m pretty sure I found two articles discussing what I remember:
A Look at the Future: Eerie Music and $9 Sodas? Author: JENNIFER DONOVAN
Date: April 20, 1985
Publication: THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE Page: 13
The Future Has a Familiar Ring
Highly Touted Expo At Moscone Center Draws Criticism Author: Mark Lacter
Date: April 19, 1985
However, I don’t have access to the actual archives. Can anyone help me out? If not - does this more detailed information help anyone remember anything more?
OK, I’ve dug a little deeper, and found the name of the show. It was called Future World Expo (or FutureWorld Expo), and here are a few links describing it:
But I’m still interested in details about some of the exhibits - particularly the early GPS and the power of thought game. I can’t find anything about the producer, Todd Mills. Any idea how to find out what happened to him? For someone to make a show that had 80,000 people come, you’d figure he wouldn’t just disappear…