Nestled discreetly in a quiet suburban neighborhood in northern East Lansing lurks a man who calls himself "Dr. Evil."

His office, not unlike the workstations used by other men of his kind, is discombobulated: Half-sheets of paper inscribed with random numbers decorate his desk between computer chips, circuit boards, a computer and other random paraphernalia.

But, unlike his counterpart in the Austin Powers movie series - the inspiration for the nickname "Dr. Evil" - Alex Terrazas is a man bent on helping society, not conquering it.

The inventor hopes his creation, the "Wireless Walden," will accomplish that goal while making him a couple dollars in the process.

"It's a totally unique approach," he said. "Everyone can do it."

The 41-year-old, who has a doctorate in psychology and neuroscience, has developed a system that rewards users with access to recreational outlets such as TVs or computers only after they've earned points. Points can be earned in a variety of ways, including exercise.

However, Terrazas is in the midst of developing more uses for his equipment, which combines wireless technology with a version of positive reinforcement.

Soon, he'll receive word on one of three $100,000 National Institute of Health Grants he hopes to receive. The inventor still has about two years to wait until his patent application is potentially approved.

"Wireless Walden," named after the book "Walden Two" written by famous psychologist B.F. Skinner, features sensors that, for example, can be implanted in a barbell. When the barbell is lifted, the sensors sends signals to a watch or belt buckle-sized accumulator that records earned points.

When a person wants to watch TV or use another applicable device, points are sent to a connected base module that translates the points into time.

Terrazas, the former associate director of the MSU MIND Lab, expects the cost of outfitting a family of five, with devices for two TVs and a computer, to hover around $350.

"They measure the intensity of your acceleration or movement," Terrazas said of the sensors. "They detect the points you earn by how hard you move. Then you go home and turn the points in."

Terrazas, and his collaborator, Edmond Ducommun, are quick to point out the system has more uses than simply helping motivate people to exercise.

"This could be used in a whole slew of situations," said Ducommun, a Lansing doctor and neighbor of Terrazas. "This is something that really is very unique with how it can be applied."

It could make a significant impact on children both at home and school, in addition to its dietary uses, he said.

"It takes a lot of stress out of parenting," Terrazas said. "A Webcam can be mounted in my child's room and it takes a picture of the room and analyzes it for how clean it is."

If the room is up to snuff, he said, parents can manually award the child points.

Contrary to potential concerns about the automation of parenting, Terrazas sees his system as an opportunity to allow parents more positive interaction with their children.

"You're still there to help the child read or to go out and exercise with them," he said, noting he is about to start using the process with his three young children. "You have plenty of time for parenting."

In the classroom, the system can be used to wirelessly reward students for positive behavior, though Terrazas envisions it specifically for students with Attention Deficit Disorder and other behavioral conditions.

But Terrazas admits there have been criticisms of operant conditioning - the method his invention employs.

"The common one is that you're 'bribing' someone to behave in a way they should naturally," he said. "It's totally unfounded. Positive reinforcement lasts long after you stop giving it than certainly drugs do. You teach someone to exercise then they can get the other benefits from exercise that can be reinforcing.

"You lose weight and people tell you, 'You look good,'" he said. "You feel healthy and get less depressed."

Terrazas also understands people will try to trick the system into thinking a person is exercising when they really aren't.

"That's my constant worry," he said. "I use all kinds of sophisticated methods to tell you whether or not a kid is exercising or driving the weights around in a car."

One way to prevent people from cheating, he said, is to make it easier to earn points at the beginning of the program and to slowly make it harder.

"A kid that's never exercised can run around the block a couple times and get all the TV they want," Terrazas said. "You make it progressively harder until they don't need the device anymore."

Between now and his patent's potential approval, Terrazas is working on formulating a business strategy to market his product, including the possible use of infomercials.

"I had been in talks with Richard Simmons but he fell through," Terrazas said. "Richard Simmons actually thinks I'm obnoxious."