I've recently spent some time developing a gaming application for Pin & Play, for a friend of mine interested in how users decide to configure the physical side of a control interface. Pin & Play is in essence a configurable, physical control interface - where the user can select which devices they want to use to control certain functions and also where they want that device placed on the said interface (i.e. adaptable input device).

Considering the problems in developing suitable control interfaces for videogames (e.g. IMO the Xbox controller is great for FPS games, but terrible for fighting ones - I prefer the PS2 controller for this task), a physically configurable input device might be preferable.

The game built for this project is a simple 2-player based cannon game, similar in style to Scorched Earth. Players take turns in aiming and firing a cannon at one another in an attempt to destroy the other player. The difference here is that the physical controls for angle, power and firing are chosen by inserting the desired input device into a Pin & Play board.

The control interface is also fully configurable during game-play. For instance, if a player selected a dial for power selection but was not comfortable with it's placement, they can remove it from the board and reinsert it somewhere else. In this manner the control interface reflects the personal taste of the individual player.

It may be that physically configurable interfaces may lead to improved task performance - as I'm only acting as a software developer on this project I'm not too sure as to the precise focus of the investigation (or I might not of been listening when it was mentioned, it's been a long week). However having played around with the application I can see such interfaces having a positive impact if not on task performance then the user's opinon of the control interface and therefore the device being controlled as a result of no longer being constrained as to what someone thought would be a suitable means of interaction.

Mood [17.22] | Ring: Black | ECG: N/A

Nearing the end of another project - this one involving how people build control interfaces in videogames using Pin & Play. Details to follow, though the game & device driver are finished I'm a little on edge as to how the application will perform when we test it tomorrow.

Mood [20.52] | Ring: Dark Blue | ECG: N/A

Decided to relax with a few games of Warcraft 3 on Battle.net since finishing a human performance project I've been working on, on and off for over a year. Sadly after so long since playing it I forgot why I stopped - my opponents are human. Many of which seem to lack that crucial quality of knowing when to shut up about "are you a noob? im pro, quit, quit, quit " and play the freaking game.

Normally I'd play LAN because at least then I can throw empty soda cans at opponents who act like dicks but no ones in the office at the moment - so screw it, I'm going back to Puzzle Fighter.

Mood [17:09] | Ring: N/A | ECG: N/A

Although I missed the Physicality Workshop and my chance to torture strangers in the name of science owing to work commitments, a small part of the event was brought back in poster form by Geoff Ellis - the Refusic 1000W.

A fridge / jukebox player that plays loud music on the inside of the fridge so no one can hear it unless it is open. In the interest of safety when the fridge is opened the music cuts out so the only way you can ever hear anything is with your ear to the side of the fridge. The idea behind this, so I'm told is to provide the experience of having loud music on without ever annoying anyone - you can be real rebel with this wonder without ever being visited by the police to have your sound system confiscated.

So what was this all in aid of you wonder? Well I'd be inclined to say the delegates hit the Hooch a little too hard Monday evening, however I'd be wrong - the real reason was a competition aimed at coming up with novel ways to break the properties of various devices.

As per usual the comedic value of Geoff's group won threw to take first place - sometimes I wonder if HCI researchers ever take themselves seriously. When I attended No One Opens Attachments Anymore - researchers were teamed up with artists in order to develop applications for e-Campus. My group designed the graffiti as viruses art installation, whereby participants used graffiti to create their own viruses to populate the campus with (displayed via a series of plasma screens, projectors and on-board bus displays). And what did we lose too? Geoff dressed up in a tin foil robot costume calling himself the Ticklebot! Yeah like that was ever going to be built. I'm only glad he's no longer able to rub the salt in the wound with that infernal trophy of his that use to sit opposite my desk.

And they wonder why I'm always so bitter.

Mood [15:09] | Ring: N/A | ECG: N/A