Filed under: Audio, Windows, Macintosh, Linux, Productivity, Freeware
Download coffee (or at least its effect)
by Jason Clarke Jan 20th 2007
Okay, there's no doubt this is a quirky download. I'll tell you right now that it's not a software download; this one is a simple sound file. If you're not interested, I suggest you move right on... but if you're interested, check it out. Stefanos Karagos posted about a 20 MB MP3 sound file he created that exploits the brain's Frequency Following Response to give the listener a boost of energy, similar to what you'd experience from drinking a coffee. The instructions for use are quite simple; use stereo headphones, only play it once in a session (don't let it loop), and adjust the volume to a comfortable level.
The sound file sounds like a nature tape (birds chirping, etc) mixed with what seems like random noise at a very slowly escalating pitch. I was surprised how much it affected me; a couple of times I found myself actually becoming anxious, before realizing that I was simply being manipulated (by my own doing) by a sound file. Crazy, eh?
If you're skeptical or simply want to learn more about what this is all about, the site contains a very nice description of the theories involved. Also, there is a warning that explains who shouldn't attempt to use this sound file due to the techniques it uses.
So, just how good at time waster games are you? Think you've got the stuff? Well, The World's Hardest Game 2.0 doesn't think you do.
Yes, amazingly, it's possible to have a sequel to a game called "The World's Hardest Game". It doesn't seem logically possible, since if the first one was actually the world's hardest, how could another one come along and share the moniker? It made me doubt the name in the first place. That is, until I tried the game.
The mechanics of the game are very simple. You are a small red square, ...
