An alert arrived on the monitor, "We have an attacker. He didn't really bother to cover his tracks."<br/><br/>"A roamer then?" The blond researcher asked, leaning over curiously.<br/><br/>"No, this isn't accessed via a machine, its probably an Esper. So I'll just increase the server pressure and hopefully that smokes him out." The man explained typing in several lines of codes before inputting it into a dedicated security server. "Just asking, what do you think your technology can be used for?" He asked idly while waiting for a response.<br/><br/>"Well, I started it off as an easier way to conduct research and to read brainwaves clearer. What happened then was that I ended up researching and creating a system which recognizes brain signals. I thought of what I could be used for... like driving a car? Perhaps closer to what we're doing today would allow better forms of entertainment, though it would be kinda disappointing it ends up solely as a tool for gamers to use."<br/><br/>"Hmmm," The man thought, watching as the black bar slowly filled up with cyan. "I kinda thought if it was intensively used it could allow us to read minds right? So won't the city be able to assess possible criminals before crimes are made? But that is one extremity I hope they won't take."<br/><br/>"No, I don't want this technology to have anything to do with the government or even law enforcement. You know how things can be here once they have this object of reading your mind they can easily accuse you of something you didn't do if they want to get rid of you. Now that I think of it maybe this wasn't the best idea, but I can't change it now." She rubbed the back of her hand against her chin thoughtfully.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">******</div><br/><br/>The lights in the auditorium dimmed slightly after a minute or two. "Welcome to the CortexWave demonstration. Before we begin, I will have to ask that Espers refrain from using their abilities especially those who can interact with technology as it may cause technical difficulties." Said the presenter as he walked up on the stage. "My name is Eren Waver, and I'll be presenting the CortexWave technology to you today. For those coming in from Neuro-technical research, you may want to keep your tablets in hand for the first few minutes. You can ask questions at any point in the presentation but if we deem your behavior destructive, you'll get a report sent to your school."<br/><br/>"For quite some time now, we have be keeping second bodies, by that I mean virtual devices such as your tablets, phones and notebooks. If you think about it, what happens if you lose that "body"? You can't function as well. Which is similar to your body, though less extreme." He waved his hand and the projector changed slides. "That was a step towards virtualization of the human race by inputting our actions into machines. But could there be something more to that? Something better, perhaps to allow the recording of the minute actions of the human body?" He waved his hand on to the next slide, "The CortexWave technology allows us to do just that. It can read the brain signals and input it into machines, and from the coding onward, it is really up to how it needed to be used."<br/><br/>He waved his hand again, glancing to check if he was on the right slide, "For now, it can read signals for every single muscle in the human body and a sparse degree of emotions. As of this moment, the CortextWave technology can create virtual avatars which can be used by the users. Now we'll start of a simple demonstration of how it can track eye movements." The slides parted to reveal two separate screens. The man picked up the helmet, just in time to see a raised hand, "Yes, you over there?"<br/><br/>"Er... how much memory does the human need- the human body need?"<br/><br/>"It takes about five hundred terabytes of data in temporal memory, though the actual recording date will be lesser with memory saving features on, perhaps about one terabyte per minute minimum?" The man said.<br/><br/>"We need a volunteer from the demonstration, just to show that it isn't staged." When no one came, he added, "Or perhaps I should have said that volunteer will get a developer's kit which is expected to cost at least five hundred." Almost at once, several hands shot up but one of them actually ran down to the stage with some of his friends cheering him on. "Hmm, that was quite the response?" Eren said, slightly surprised. "Anyway, go on and put this on." He passed the helmet to the boy and waited. Next, he pointed at the screen and turned the boy around facing away from the audience. "Right now, we have two systems tracking his eyes, one is this camera on the wall which is optically tracking his eyes and the other neurally tracking." As the boy scanned the area, four squares moved, one smoothly, the other not so, similar to how the face recognition worked in the current digital cameras.<br/><br/>"Now, as we can see which is better, allow us to show what else the system can do." He pointed at the screen again selected an option from a list which blinked out holographically. The screen showed a hand, or rather the boy's hand as it clenched and unclenched experimentally. "Now there may be some of you that think this is a camera trick or something but it isn't. Now-" He was cut short as the boy attempted to use his abilities and holographic flames shot from his hands. "That works as well. As it comes with the research, we are capable of shutting down parts of the brain. As a safety precaution, all of these helmets will prevent the use of actual ESP powers." Another hand shot up, "Yes?"<br/><br/>"So would it be alright to say that with this you could remotely order the person's brain to die?"<br/><br/>"Ah, that is where it comes in. There is no such thing as a death function in the body nor have we is it possible for us to stop involuntary muscle movements like the beating of the heart and such. So all you criminal masterminds will have to find out something else to bother yourselves with." Eren joked. "Now, you're probably wondering what this coffin thing is doing here. This is a CortexWave Capsule, it can function by itself, has a larger memory capacity then the helmet and is expected for industrial use. It will cause the user to remain in a comatose state when in use until he "logs out" from the virtual world and project the images in his mind. This also means nearly all brain signals will be intercepted. This comatose mode is also possible for the CortexWave helmet although its memory will run on a cloud service."<br/><br/>"So if you remove that logout function, you can actually imprison the user in a virtual game world?"<br/><br/>"Wow. Now we know who is going to be the world's worst game admin; but no, after approximately twelve hours of being switched on, it will run out of memory space and require a reboot, though it may be modified, so be sure your equipment are from reliable production lines. And that will conclude this presentation." He clapped his hands and the lights brightened.<br/><br/>"Those with further inquiries come to the front, our researchers have taken some of their time to answer your questions. As for those entering the tournament, you will want to pass your registration forms to one of our staff members in black polo T-shirts and they will lead you for calibration."<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">******</div><br/><br/>"That certainly showed me how many insane idiots are out there. Or those too curious for their own good. those guys are probably going to become the scientists who work on illegal experiments in the future, just you watch." Isana half-joked to no one in particular.<br/><br/>Her phone bleeped as Ayane informed her that she was outside and the staff needed to know which calibration room Isana was at in order for them to meet up. She flailed around until she was finally able to pass the slip of paper to one of the staff and waited for him to lead them out. "This kinda feels like elementary school... somehow."<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">******</div><br/><br/>Evan was almost flying when he returned to where he was seated. He had a voucher to collect the kit for free! He got back beside Candice and kept his tablet in his bag. "Well, I thought that was a ruse but seems like I'm really getting the developer's kit! Shall we go submit our forms?" He said in high spirits.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">******</div><br/><br/>Shirazumi was seated all the way at the back so he immediately handed the form over and left with him as soon as it was available, glancing behind only to check if the team members were following. It was going to be a major pain in the ass to deal with that blunt personality.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">******</div><br/><br/>Ren glanced around, perhaps it was not the wisest idea to stay away from the aisle as it was nearly impossible to reach the staff from here. He pushed himself off the cushioned seat to look for a staff member but they all seemed too occupied at the moment, so he dropped back into his seat, facing the front. He noticed that some of the researchers came out and were speaking to a small crowd at the base of the stage.