Emotiv: the headset that turns your thoughts into art

Its devices have been cited in more than 20,000 scientific papers and are used by over 4,000 institutions and a string of Fortune 500 companies, which, by most counts, makes Emotiv the most widely used consumer EEG platform in research.

And at the 2026 Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard, it is doing something more playful with the same technology: turning brain activity into art.

What the headset sees

EEG — electroencephalography — measures the tiny electrical signals that ripple across the brain as its cells communicate. Emotiv’s headsets pick those signals up through sensors resting against the scalp and interpret them into readable measures of how someone is thinking and feeling: focus, engagement, stress, calm, interest.

No needles or implants, just a wearable listening to the electrical weather of the mind, although Emotiv is quick to point out its products are research and personal-wellness tools, not medical devices.

The Brain Art experience

At FOS Future Lab presented by Randox, Emotiv’s activation makes that invisible signal visible. Visitors step into an immersive single-person space designed to strip away the (albeit glorious) noise of the Festival of Speed and settle the mind. After a brief introduction, headset fitting and signal-quality check, the mind spends the next few minutes responding to a curated piece of content.

Brain activity is then translated, live, into a personalised generative artwork inspired by an aurora — a swirling, colourful portrait of how that individual’s mind focused, felt and responded. No two are alike, and once the experience is over and the final image is revealed, visitors can choose to have their Brain Art emailed to them to keep.

Across the event’s four days, thousands of anonymised auroras will build up on a collective wall to produce an ever-changing collage of minds into a single piece of artwork made by, well, you.

The activation sits under the FOS Future Lab’s ‘Extending Reality’ theme, using new technology to deepen and expand how we sense and understand the world. FOS Future Lab 2026 marks the first public outing for Emotiv’s new Brain Art software and visualisation experience.

“At a time when so much of the conversation is focused on artificial intelligence, we wanted to put human intelligence at the centre,” says Kim Old, Emotiv’s chief commercial officer. “AI systems have been trained on what humans write, click and watch, but not on how people actually experience the world. Brain Art is a way to make that invisible layer visible. 

“It lets people see their own brain activity become part of a creative feedback loop between person and technology, and points to a future where technology is shaped not only by data, but by how humans think, feel, focus and respond.”

Beyond the art

The same real-time read on attention and emotion underpins brain-computer interfaces — controlling software, games or devices with thought alone — alongside research that measures genuine responses rather than what people say.

Emotiv’s range runs from 14-channel research-grade EEG headsets to discreet earbud-style brain-sensing devices, all built on the same idea: that brain data should not be locked in a clinic.

See what that looks like for yourself at FOS Future Lab at the Festival of Speed, 9^th–12^th July 2026.

Randox is a global leader in diagnostics, revolutionising patient outcomes through innovative technologies, including its patented biochip technology. This pioneering diagnostic platform allows for the simultaneous detection of multiple biomarkers from a single sample, delivering faster, more accurate, and comprehensive results. Operating in over 145 countries, Randox develops advanced laboratory instruments, high-quality reagents, and innovative testing solutions to improve global healthcare.

Randox Health brings this cutting-edge technology directly to individuals, offering bespoke, preventative health testing programs. With world-class laboratories and personalised health insights, Randox Health enables early detection of a wide range of conditions, helping individuals take control of their health.

Together, Randox and Randox Health are redefining diagnostics and preventative healthcare. For more information, visit www.randox.com and www.randoxhealth.com.

Tickets for the Festival of Speed are limited. Only Thursday admission remains but hospitality packages for all four days are available. Missed out on a ticket for Friday or Saturday? Find out how you can access our sold-out days with one of our new packages.

If you’re not already part of the GRRC, joining the Fellowship means you can save ten per cent on your 2026 tickets and grandstand passes, as well as enjoy a whole host of other on-event perks.