Interactive games are the rage at NextFest. One of the more challenging games was BrainBall, which is based on your ability to relax. Players strap on a fabric headband with small metal disk against their forehead and sit in front of a thin plexiglass table with a small round ball in the center. The table resembles a basketball court, but instead of hoops at each end are simple painted round circles. The object of the game is move the ball into the circle near your opponent—-and you move the ball by reducing your brain waves or relaxing.

As a competitive person, I had enormous issues trying to relax my brain waves and was beat each time by my opponent who said he was told her was a pretty laid back person. He and his daughter faced off and the competition was very interesting as the ball barely moved between the two.

Later in the day, some fellow GE employees played the game and the brain movement was at some of its highest levels.

So if you see this game elsewhere, give it shot—-but remember—-don’t think about this as a competition. Instead, focus on relaxing and you’ll be able to beat the pants off your opponent.