Windows:

1. Download the free MDT and purchase a MindSet (remember, there is a 21-day risk-free return policy!)
2. Open Visual Studio 2005*.
3. Create a new project:
   1. Use the “Visual C/C++” > “Win32” > “Win32 Console Application” template
   2. Name the project “thinkgear_testapp”
   3. Put the new project in an existing Solution or a new Solution.
   4. Click OK.
4. When the Win32 Application Wizard pops up, select “Application Settings”:
   1. Under Application type, make sure “Console application” is selected
   2. Under Additional options, make sure only “Empty project” is selected
   3. Under common header files, make sure nothing is selected
   4. Click Finish
5. Use Windows Explorer to copy the “thinkgear.h”, “thinkgear.lib”, and “thinkgear_testapp.c” files we provided to the new thinkgear_testapp project directory.
6. In Visual Studio, right-click on the “Source Files” folder:
   1. Select “Add” > “Existing Item…”
   2. Select the “thinkgear_testapp.c” file in the thinkgear_testapp folder
7. Right-click on the “Header Files” folder:
   1. Select “Add” > “Existing Item…”
   2. Select the “thinkgear.h” file in the thinkgear_testapp folder
8. Right-click on the “thinkgear_testapp” project itself:
   1. Select “Add” > “Existing Item…”
   2. Select the “thinkgear.lib” file in the thinkgear_testapp folder (you may have to change “Files of type” at the bottom to “All Files”, and then ignore any prompts to create rules)
9. Build the project (The “thinkgear_testapp.exe” file should appear in Windows Explorer in the “SOLUTION\Debug\” folder)
10. Use Windows Explorer to copy the “thinkgear.dll” file we provided into the same folder as the “thinkgear_testapp.exe” (“SOLUTION\Debug\”), or into any folder on your system PATH.
11. Make sure your ThinkGear headset is connected to the computer on COM5 **.
12. Run the “thinkgear_testapp.exe” file and watch the EEG brainwave values.
13. Read, understand, and adapt the code in thinkgear_testapp.cpp to your project to obtain data from ThinkGear Headsets. Refer to the API documentation for details about the ThinkGear API functions.
14. Check out the App Notes and Tutorials to try step-by-step tutorials to create your own projects, including Flash and Arduino.

*: Any version of Visual Studio or Visual C++ should work.

**: Use Device Manager to change the ThinkGear COM port to 5 if necessary.

If you need more information, or feel like developing more detailed applications and games for the MindSet, feel free to jump over to the Casual Developers or Professional Developers track.