When I received five e-mails to check out the MC Square—a handheld device that's said to relieve stress, improve memory, and enhance concentration through light and sound—I knew I couldn't pass the opportunity up. (My memory is horrible!) Plus, 1.5 million units have already been sold in Korea, so it's gotta be legit, right? And for the first time starting today, it's available in the U.S.Dragging PCMag.com assistant editor Corinne Iozzio with me to the W Hotel in Times Square, we were presented with a device that looked like a sleek MP3 player connected to earbuds and goggles. Developed by Daeyang E&C, the MC Square features six program modes with natural sounds like rain drops to soothe and relax your mind. With everyone in the stuffy room watching us, we both put the earbuds and goggles on. We turned on the player and began to see red lights flashing at our eyes. We were told to close our eyes and listen to the sounds of the ocean in the background. The combination of light and sound, an audio-visual stimulation (AVS), is known to cause "significant changes in EEG patterns and cerebral synchronization." But why the flashing red LEDs? They're "bright, inexpensive, and blood vessels in the eyelids pass red/orange light most efficiently."
Korean students found that after regularly using the MC Square for 15 minutes a day, it improved their study skills. One such student said that he was able to memorize vocabulary words in just 10 minutes after using the device, as opposed to more than half an hour. That's a significant difference!
The MC Square isn't just a stress-reducing device. It's also an MP3 player with 512MB of onboard flash memory and a mini SD card, as well as a digital voice recorder (30-hour capacity) and image and text viewer with a color OLED screen. The player is very portable, too, at just 0.6-inches thick.
We're expecting to get a unit in-house, because we just have to see for ourselves if this wacky device works. You can order the MC Square for $399, which comes with the player and earbuds, at relaxmc.com. To purchase the MC Square with earbuds and goggles, it sells for $437.89 at Amazon.com.
MC Square player up close.
Corinne never looked so relaxed!
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November 15, 2007 12:20 PM
$400 for a 512Mb music player!!! (oops, I almost forgot the lights) What a ripoff. Who in their right mind thinks this has anything to do with memory?
November 16, 2007 3:49 PM
I suspect a little "placebo effect" taking place in those who claimed to have improved memory.
To those for whom this worked: I have an Energy Hat for sale. You place this aluminum foil......errrr Patented Metallic Alloy helmet on your head for 15 minutes, and you instantly gain energy! Only 49.95 plus S&H!
November 17, 2007 4:18 PM
That device looks very similar to "Bob and Bob's Magical Mind Trip Machine". Does anyone else out there remember the Bobs and this device from San Francisco rave parties around 93-95? I recall the LED flashing lights and music being quite soothing, but it may have had something to do with my state of mind.
November 19, 2007 8:30 AM
I'll wait for the randomized double blind tests from unaffiliated scientists if it's alright with them.
Then I won't buy it because my concentration and memory are already great.
November 30, 2007 7:32 PM
Those Koreans have simply reinvented what has been available in Europe and the US for a long time, say,
at least 25 years. And then to include the MP3-player-feature !!! Is quite a proof that they know that the gadget is not worth half of the sale-price. Six program modes ? They must be joking...I have got a German-made device with over 50 programmed modes, each from 25 up to 55 minutes, and the possibility to develop and save new programs, selecting pitch, various types of binaural beats, a.s.o. - And I paid something around 1.000,00 German Marks for it, at a time when 1 US Dollar bought 2 German Marks.
I can only doubt that they have found more than 1.5
million "stupid" Koreans ...
December 2, 2007 11:40 PM
I think Paolo is getting too jealous of "Smart" Korean people.....
The device looks pretty interesting to me and I have seen a lot of positive user feedbacks from media and actual users, which were posted on many web sites.
I agree with Kevin Jones.
Paolo needs to go back to wherever he came from.
July 30, 2008 7:00 PM
As with many things, the hype often doesn't correlate with the science (otherwise we'd be getting our power from Con Tesla rather than Con Edison!)
For instance, Sharp Brains recently reviewed the brain fitness product market to see which products had the scientific credentials to back up their claims. They gave Posit Science the best score but it was still only 5 out of 10... (Lumosity is the big fish in this pond and they scored 2 out of 10.)
The MC Square seems like an expensive gimmick. Does it work? I'd like to see the research.
One academic study proving that brain training can increase general intelligence is Susanne Jaeggi and Martin Buschkuehl's study on Improving Fluid Intelligence by Training Working Memory (PNAS April 2008) which recorded increases in mental agility (fluid intelligence) of more than 40% with less than 20 days of focused brain training.
I was so impressed that I contacted the research team and developed a software program using the same method. I've been using the training myself, of course, and the results are far from subtle. I can now tackle, and complete!, the Saturday crossword puzzle, for instance, when before I used to get stuck on Thursday.
IQ Training Program
And I've kept the price under $25!
Martin Walker
mind evolve, llc
www.mindevolvesoftware.com
January 4, 2009 9:54 PM
I bought a very similar device in the early 90's called the MC2 (squared). It had a 9 button keypad on the front and inputs for goggles, headphones and audio inputs on the top. On the back, it listed the 9 preset programs that ranged from concentration to relaxation. It flashed red LEDs through the goggles and sound pulses through the headphones. The label states that it came from a company called Light and Sound Research Inc. A Google search did not return much but did lead me to this company, Daeyang E&C (now known as GeoMC) a TV and radio manufacturer in S.Korea. My device still works today, although I suspect it is as about as effective as this model (however effective that really is). Only way more expensive (I think I paid $50 - of course, it didn't include an MP3 player) Although I'm open to technology that may enhance our mental capacities, there are still a lot of snake-oil salesmen out there. It would be nice to weed them out.
January 31, 2009 7:28 PM
The device seems intriguing. But such devices did exist back in the 90's that one could find from the Sharper Image and Johnson Smith Catalogs. However, there is some scientific evidence for their effectiveness, especially in the sense that it trains the eyes, ears, and brain to synchronize in such a way that it remodulates brain wave patterns to a pattern that is most conducive to learning. I can especially see the aural connection that is backed up by research on the Tomatis Effect. But how does the Korean device measure up remains to be seen? It appears too expensive for me. When exams come closer at the end of the year I just might reconsider. Detractors like Paolo G. seems quite stupid to me, since he doesn't seem to know the scientific research available on the subject matter of these devices. I guess he like the rest of his Italian people should stick to making overpriced clothing and shoes, since that seems to be the only thing that they are good at.
January 31, 2009 7:35 PM
I have had the chance to use this unit and have found it be of a lot of help. Just because you may not understand how it works doesn't meant that it doesn't. And as regards to the price. It is much cheaper in Korea and they are striving to bring the price down in North America so that is more reasonable to buy, I understand it will be around 200 dollars cheaper.
February 8, 2009 3:40 PM
I have been using mc2 for about a month. I see huge improvement in my memory and anxiety. I used to be stressed all the time but now it seems to be much easier to maintain stress level. naturally I feel my overall wellbeing is much better and stable then ever. My family is using it too and my brother sleeps better and mom is also less anxious overall. I am happy I made a decision to buy this mp3 looking little device. and it doesn't wear out. I paid the big money here but believe it will pay back much more.