A YouTuber has developed a device that uses electric shocks to improve his reaction time and aim in the online shooter game ‘Counter-Strike 2’.
Why it matters: This unconventional approach to enhancing gaming performance raises questions about the boundaries between human skill and technological assistance in competitive gaming.
The details:
- The “Neuromuscular Aim Assist” detects enemies on-screen and sends electric shocks to the YouTuber’s arm muscles, forcing him to aim and shoot instinctively.
- The device improved the YouTuber’s reaction time from 201 ms to 95 ms, particularly effective when using scoped weapons.
- Despite the physical discomfort, the YouTuber claims it’s not cheating because it’s still his muscles doing the work, although he used existing cheat codes to program the device.
The development process, though unpleasant, is documented on the YouTuber’s channel, Basically Homeless.
The reaction:
- “Guy just unlocked a path to a dystopian future and hasn’t realised it yet,” wrote one fan.
- “We are one step closer to cyber-supersoldiers because of you, you gotta know that right?” another added.
- A third fan remarked, “This was the moment I understood the weakness of my flesh.”
The video has garnered over a million views in just two days.
The future: Basically Homeless concluded the video by listing ways he could make the setup even more efficient, hinting at a possible sequel.
The bottomline: This experiment highlights the innovative, if controversial, ways technology intersects with gaming performance and the lengths some gamers will go to improve their skills.
