Star Wars Science - Force Trainer

by Star Wars

Product Features

• 15 Levels of training: Advance from Padawan to Jedi Knight
• Wireless Headset
• Training remote
• Features STAR WARS character voices and sound effects
• Fun and informative learning guide

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 16 x 6 x 10 inches ; 2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B001UZHASY
• Item model number: 15051
• Manufacturer recommended age: 8 - 12 years
• Batteries: 3 AAA batteries required.
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,279 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (60 customer reviews)

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

May the Force be with you. The Force Trainer by Uncle Milton actually allows you to control a Jedi Training Remote with your mind, by tapping into cutting-edge brainwave technology. Utilizing dry EEG sensor technology, the headset reads and interprets your brainwaves. The deeper your concentration and mental focus, the greater your ability to move the Training Remote up or down the Training Tower. Progress from Padawan to Jedi Master as you master the use of “The Force” through 15 levels of training. Increasingly challenging sequences are aided by training cues and instruction from the master of all Jedi Masters himself, Yoda. Additional STAR WARS sound effects confirm accomplishment and provide encouragement throughout your training. Advancement and current level of your training is displayed on the Training Tower control panel.

Product Description

May the Force be with you! The Force Trainer by Uncle Milton actually allows you to control a Jedi Training Remote with your mind, by tapping into cutting-edge brainwave technology. Utilizing dry neural sensor technology, the headset reads and interprets your brainwaves.The deeper your concentration and mental focus, the greater your ability to move the Training Sphere up or down the Training Tower.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

87 of 88 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great product, but you must read manual first, December 6, 2010

By 

Robert M. Lavendusky - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Durability:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Star Wars Science - Force Trainer (Toy)

This is a great introduction to brainwave biofeedback. I am a neurofeedback trainer and just purchased thus product. I think some of the negative reviews may be based on an improperly set up system, you've got to read the instruction manual first. You cant just put batteries in it and turn it on. I have not read a review where anyone mentions calibrating the unit. Before you use it the first time you must calibrate it, or you will not get accurate results when you try to go through the training modes. The calibration has you adjust the fan speed to make the ball hover at a very specific level in the tube this way the game knows when you have passed the goals it sets up for you. The other point is making sure the sensors are correctly positioned on the head and no hair is trapped under the sensors. The unit has a display that indicates when the sensors are not making positive contact or the base is not getting a good signal from the headset. These are essential points if you want the device to function accurately.
I have also read some reviews where people think it doesn't read brainwaves at all but just goes through a preset pattern, this is definitely not the case, I can only assume the unit was not set up properly. The company that makes the brainwave technology is called neurosky, check out their website neurosky.com to get more info on the technology and other more sophisticated products they sell.
Brainwave feedback, more commonly known as neurofeedback is a powerful technology used to train people to consciously control brainstates and is used to help people with adhd, depression, peak performance, stress reduction etc. We will soon see this type of mental training hitting the mainstream where it is used to help people lead more productive and fulfilling lives. This type of mental training will become as common as physical exercise when people recognize the many benefits of keeping their brain tuned up. Great product and fun too!

51 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun for the audience it's made for., December 12, 2009

By 

J. Granquist "toy investor/speculator" (Lincoln, Nebraska) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Star Wars Science - Force Trainer (Toy)

This is all that my son asked for for Xmas or his 9th birthday. At the time we asked him, it was well over $100. But he kept asking & it got decent write ups so the search began. I purchased his for just around $75 and it was a good deal at the time, I see that now on Amazon it goes for half that now. Such is life!
So he opened it last night and is still wearing the wireless headset this morning. He is intregued! The adults found it interesting but not for long. We adults can be finicky! But my 9 yo loves it, and that's all that matters. Whether it actually measures the beta waves in your brain or it's just completing a circuit, he doesn't care. It seems to work for him though. He can make the ball go up & down at will, at it was intertaining to hear his baby brother shout "up!" "up!" as big brother made it go up. Same with down.
All that matters to me is if it puts a smile on my son's face, and it does. He loves Star Wars and he loves this! I gave it 5 stars because if you ask my son, it is perfect. And that's the audience it was meant for.

144 of 170 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Force Trainer is a Force Fit, November 12, 2009

By 

Disappointed Dad "Tom Blessing" (Phoenix, AZ) - See all my reviews

= Durability:2.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:3.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:1.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Star Wars Science - Force Trainer (Toy)

We were very excited to receive The Force Trainer as a gift. I'm all for bio-feedback and have paid for EEG therapy for our son who has ADD. Unfortunately, it does not work as advertised and appears to fit in the catagory of "you see what you want to see." Five family members (adults and children) used the product and had the same result: no matter what your state of mind, the trainer advances you through the first "Padwan" level automatically. Each phrase and ball movement is identical from person to person. It seems all it takes is a live person to make the ball move up and down.
The "Jedi Knight" and "Jedi Master" levels were similar: the ball and voice seemed to proceed in either a pre-programmed or a random pattern. There is no way to tell whether your brain waves are affecting the ball's movement or whether it is a programmed random change in the fan speed. You should be able to check this with the "free play mode" where ball movement and light indicators are supposed to reflect your brain wave patterns. However, in our unit the ball stayed in the middle position no matter how hard we "concentrated" or "used our feelings." The lights only blinked on and off in a regular pattern.
One other minor point: while it was cute at first to hear Yoda quote lines from the movies, he grew tiresome after the fifth time he quoted the same line, "Reach out with your feelings! Use the Force. Do or do not, there is no try."
All in all we were VERY disappointed in this item. And would highly caution everyone to stay away from it. It is overpriced at best and intentionally deceptive to children at worst. My son was so proud to achieve Padwan, I didn't have the heart to tell him it worked the same for everyone. They all got frustrated and quit at the Jedi Knight level as no amount of concentration or relaxation could move the ball in a predictable way.
The Trainer must measure some sort of brain activity or skin conductivity, however, it does not work as advertised. I do not see how the manufacturer will avoid some kind of consequence for putting this out with the claims it makes. I suppose they can say, "Not everyone is cut out to be a Jedi."
I am sure some will use the toy and see exactly what they want to see. They will thrill to hear Yoda and R2D2 verbally pat them on the back. If this item sells, as it surely must with the slick marketing and idea that "you too can be a Jedi Knight", I believe it has more to do with P.T. Barnum ("There's a sucker born every minute") than The Force.