Input and output for media

1
Input and output for media

• Areas for research
• Gesture recognition
• Brain interfaces
• Video projection
• Console Wars
• Markets
• Underlying philosophy
• Driven to invent
• References

2
Gesture recognition systems

• Gestures a valuable sub-channel of non-verbal
  communication
• Question what is a gesture?
• And how do gestures vary between people?
• May include facial expression recognition systems
• A hands-off system, may be important in some
  areas
• May enable mood-sensitive interfaces
• Commercial uses beyond the PS2 EyeToy!

3
Gesture recognition systems

• Touch-interface gestures can be useful too
• The Apple iPhone and some versions of the iPod
  have a well respected gesture-based touch screen
  input system
• The Nintendo DS uses a touch screen to enable
  innovation in games input
• Some games use it in a mouse-like way
• Others require gestures
• Many use it for drawing and annotating

4
Computer to Brain interfaces

• Sony Corporation has patents for a non-invasive
  system and process for projecting sensory data
  onto the human neural cortex
• Has many applications depending on the quality
  and depth of sensations possible
• Far from commercialisation
• And a long way from the technology of The Matrix

5
Advanced Image projection

• System are just appearing which can project onto
  non-white, patterned and non-flat surfaces
• Systems use per-pixel recalibration for more
  accurate colour output and the reduction of
  distortion
• Enables information projection in environments
  previously impossible
• For 3D images, some systems project data onto
  curtains of mist or project stereoscopic images
  into your eyes

6
Console Wars

• Recent years have seen intense rivalry between
  game console manufacturers
• Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft are the big three
  players at the moment
• Market share for the previous generation of
  consoles
• Sony Playstation 2 about 70
• Microsoft XBox about 16 (unpopular in Japan)
• Nintendo GameCube about 14

7
Markets Problems and Opportunities

• Nintendo was a bigger player in the past
• Sega was also a major console manufacturer, it
  still exists but purely as a software company
• Microsoft was able to get the next generation
  XBox 360 out for Christmas 2005
• Sony struggled to get the PS3 out for Christmas
  2006
• Nintendos Wii console started shipping in
  November 2006

8
Philosophy

• Sony and Microsoft compete on
• CPU power
• Ultra-high resolution graphics
• Networked game support
• (Imperfect) backwards compatibility
• Console buyers were historically not particularly
  cost-sensitive but new technology is very
  expensive
• Both Microsoft and Sony initially sold units at a
  loss
• But Microsofts XBox division was their only loss
  maker in 2006-2007

9
Price and Cost

• The XBox 360 was rumoured to cost Microsoft 150
  more than the selling price at launch
• After a year of development they were able to
  make about 75 profit per unit
• The PS3 is reported to have been initially sold
  at a loss of 240 per unit!
• Nintendo has publicly stated that it intends to
  make a small profit on the Wii from day one

10
Driven to Invent

• Nintendos console is an updated GameCube
• Good for development teams build on experience
• Good for manufacturing build on experience
• Bad for publicity not as new as competitors
• Wii competes on gameplay (interactivity)
• It does not use traditional joysticks/gamepads
• Motion sensitive controllers
• Asymmetrical, two handed controls
• Gamepads are available but not the default option

11
The Wiimote and nunchuck
Sound and vibration feedback in both hands
Deliberately resembles a TV remote control
12
Designing for the public

• Nintendos designers decided that fighting Sony
  and Microsoft for hardcore gamers was a losing
  battle
• So they chose to try and engage new users
• "The consensus was that power isn't everything
  for a console, too many powerful consoles can't
  coexist." (Shigeru Miyamoto)

13
References

• Brain interfaces for VR - http//www.trnmag.com/Ro
  undup/2005/TRN_Research_News_Roundup_10-3-05.html
  thoughtswanderin, http//patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/n
  ph-Parser?Sect1PTO2Sect2HITOFFp1u/netahtml/
  search-bool.htmlr1fGl50co1ANDdptxts165
  36440.WKU.OSPN/6536440RSPN/6536440
• 3D holographic video displays http//www.trnmag.c
  om/Stories/2003/032603/3D_holo_video_arrives_03260
  3.html
• Image projection - http//www.trnmag.com/Roundup/2
  005/TRN_Research_News_Roundup_9-12-05.htmlproject
  ingawell

14
References

• 'Teardown' finds Sony taking a bath on each PS3
  http//www.eetimes.com/news/latest/showArticle.jht
  ml?articleID194400596
• Miyamoto Wii Originally Intended To Cost Under
  100 http//www.gamasutra.pair.com/php-bin/news_i
  ndex.php?story11735
• Analysts 'Zelda' Demand Driving Nintendo Wii
  Sales http//www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,232145,0
  0.html

15
Images and Movie Clips

• Simple touch-based gesture demo
  http//gizmodo.com/gadgets/macworld2007/multi-touc
  h-gesture-interface-227431.php
• YouTube Wii Advert http//www.youtube.com/watch?v
  CkS2DJ6VX_g
• Various images http//ms.nintendo-europe.com/wii/
  ?sitesoftware.htmllenGB
• E3 movies http//www.wiitopsites.net/index.php?a
  pageidnintendo_wii_videos
• Video clips and trailers http//www.watchwii.com/
  index-4.html
• Advert http//www.gameklip.com/media/flashshell.s
  wf?vg18361ceRQPaW4N