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The Mechanics of Motion Sensing
Dr. Eggman writes, "The AP has a short technology piece on the mechanics that go into the motion-sensing capabilities of the Wii and PS3 controllers. It also details some of the past uses of the technology and gives a nice overview of just how far the technology has come from the earliest missile-guidance sensor equipment."
Interesting, but I have one question. Do the silicon springs recalibrate every so often, or will they wear out and break? My old N64 controller did this.
It would be cool to incorporate this type of controller into a portable device. You could have portable laser-tag like games with real-time mapping, or incorporate some type of ball and it automatically keeps score and records the game. You could have "operations" players indoors that have some different role (view the maps, for instance, and direct the players)
With networking and GIS in a portable device, it's almost necessary to have new interfaces to use all the new space it knows about. In gaming it's the most fun but these types of thing could be used in more professional ways also.
Cool! Amazing Toys.
In all seriousness I believe Nintendo would actually allow it. They really haven't blocked non-family content since the ESRB has been around and people have been able to get a better idea of the game content before they buy it through it's rating. Also have you seen the number of dating sims available for the DS that deal with "touching" not just in Japan but in the US too.
The biggest roadblock to "adult" Wii entertainment isn't Nintendo but retailers, your EBGames, BestBuys, and Walmarts refuse to carry any "AO" rated titles meaning if a company did release them they'd get very limited to almost non-existent exposure... in the US at least (most of the rest of the world is a bit less prudish).
Collector's Edition
http://www.freescale.com/files/sensors/doc/data_sh eet/MMA7260Q.pdf
A good picture of a two-axis accelerometer can be seen here: http://users.wpi.edu/~cfurlong/me-593Mech.html (second picture down). Sensing is usually performed by capacitive combs, structures which act as capacitors, with their capacitance varying with displacement.
MEMS accelerometers have dropped in price in recent years because there's a big market: the automotive sector. A typical new car needs two accelerometers, one for the traction control system measuring roughly plus-or-minus 2 to 4g, and one for airbag deployment measuring more like 50g.
Two big manufacturers are Analog Devices and ST Microelectronics, though others exist.
The high demand of the automotive sector has driven prices right down; sensors which would have cost hundreds of dollars in the past can now be purchased in bulk for less than $4. In fact, you could order one right now; component retailers will sell you one for less than $15.
"Goodness me, how unlike the FBI to abuse the trust of the American public." -- The Onion
One of these days, your doctor will figure out the dosage and your posting will cease. Truly a sad day for all.
Slashdot - where whining about luck is the new way to make the world you want.
Axises?? How can you mispluralize one of the most entertaining plurals around? Axes, dammit.
there is no need to sign your posts. this isn't usenet. your username is right there above your post. stop it.
The Nintendo Wii Remote one-ups the Sony controller by including an infrared camera.
I think they meant to say: The Sony controller dumbed down the Wii Remote by excluding the infrared camera.
Hobby Robotics
Right from the source: http://www.st.com/stonline/products/literature/ds/ 11115.pdf
These things are not exactly new. They are used in the automotive sector, or for "stabilizers" in camcorders.
The sooner you fall behind, the more time you have to catch up.
Consumer gear is often behind military tech. Perhaps you have heard of velcro, or GPS, or the internet.
so I can finally keep Mario from falling down the bottomless pit by jerking the controller above my head?
It has accelerometers AND the sensor thing. Tennis actually just uses the accelerometers, it works quite well no matter where you're facing.
Username taken, please choose another one.
Tilt sensors indirectly measure orientation (tilt). They look at the change in the gravitational acceleration vector with respect to the sensor coordinate frame.