36.2 Hardware: Interface devices

Interface devices

The game controller is one of the most popular interface devices to be used in the entirety of video gaming. Game controllers are an evolved version of the joystick. This is due to the similar features however it has just been redesigned to better suit the hand and to feel comfortable when using it. This is because of how the analogue sticks are placed, the four action buttons, a directional pad and four trigger buttons. The analogue sticks are used for movement and direction, you can look up and down and move in any direction. The way this works is that whatever input or action the user does e.g. moving the analogue stick up, if the controller supports Bluetooth technology, it will send that information to the source device and then the effect will occur on the screen. The speeds of the input are very fast for PC however for consoles there is a small delay. Users prefer the games controller over the mouse and keyboard as it may be much more comfortable for them but also because its easier to learn the controller than the mouse and keyboard as the learning curve is greater also for certain games using a mouse and keyboard may be much more difficult.

The keyboard is an interface device and it has been the standard for not only typing but controlling the computer system. A standard keyboard is for standard use of the computer system and it wasn’t meant for gaming. Therefore, all the keys placements and the design isn’t suited for gaming. For gaming, a gaming keyboard is used as there have been many modifications to the keyboard to allow it to be ergonomic and comfortable for gamers. You can see some shapes of the keyboard which shows how gaming has evolved the designs of keyboards. You can see that the keyboard pictured offers much more than the standard keyboard, this is because its precise and organised. For key configuration, the user can have LED lights for the main controls of a game which means all the focus will be on those keys instead of the other irrelevant ones which could grant the user a faster reaction time. Also, some keys could be removed from the keyboard to make it much cleaner and for it be lightweight. Also, with the keys, they have been modified to give input the computer system faster, this is a benefit for gaming as you can do things much faster and it will register within the game causing less latency. E.g. if you press the key as soon as you touch the key the action will occur on the display.

The mouse is an interface device which is used along with the keyboard when playing video games on the PC. Not only this, but the mouse allows the user to control where the pointer or character is moving towards whether that’s forward, backwards, left, right and it can look and move in any angle. For gaming, this allows it to be realistic movement for games which are 3D. The mouse is very important for gaming as for competitive games like first person shooter games such as Call of Duty, the user will aim their gun at the enemy using the mouse and using the reticle on the gun they can dispose of the enemy. This is how mouse technology has advanced as there are different settings for the mouse as well as gaming mice. A setting which can be modified with the mouse is the DPI (Dots Per Inch) this is the speed which the cursor moves depending on the physical movement of the mouse. This allows the user to feel much more comfortable as its to their liking. With gaming mice, they have advanced to contain more buttons on the side and middle of the mouse. This is useful for gaming as it can provide shortcuts and may be faster to click than to press a key. Also gamers like to use mouse and keyboard over a games controller as there is less input delay but the precision and accuracy is improved and is much easier and better.

A steering wheel and pedals are an interface device which is used to simulate real life and can be a much more comfortable way to play the game. An example of this would be racing games. This would be beneficial as if a user knows how to drive, they can use their experience with the steering wheel and pedals and apply it to the game which could be advantageous. This is because the wheel and pedals simulate an actual car which provides a realistic and new gaming experience. However, they have very limited uses such as they’re only for racing games as if they’re used for other games it would be difficult and uncomfortable and wouldn’t be fit for purpose. The steering wheel also has buttons on it for accessibility, so a controller doesn’t have to be used while browsing the menu etc. Also, the way it works is that if in the game R2 is to accelerate on the controller, the pedal would be assigned to that button and it will be the acceleration button when it is pressed down.

Virtual Reality (VR) headset is an interface device which makes use of computer technology to create a simulated environment. However, instead of the user viewing the experience like a screen, it is 3D so it seems to them as they’re integrated with it and it seems realistic. The user can interact with the simulated environment by using the VR remotes. Senses are also simulated such as vision, sound, touch and smell. VR is used for gaming as the game is presented in 3D which imitates the real-world environment which helps the user experience the VR environment as realistic. An example of this would be Grand Theft Auto. When driving in VR, it bypasses the potential motion sickness issue of walking which is solved by using teleportation for movement. When driving, the body is still (relative to the vehicle) and the same discrepancy isn’t present.

VR Headset

VR Controller

There are two types of controller which are wireless and wired. Wireless controller allows for the controller to be connected the console via Bluetooth technology. This means the controller requires no wiring to the console and you have more movement available, so you can be in a comfortable relaxed position. This also means less ports on the console are taken up and can be used for other matters. For example, on the Xbox 360 there are two USB ports, but you can connect four controllers, so this means you can’t have four wired controllers, and this is the same if you have a USB stick within the console. Whereas, if you have four controllers connected wirelessly, you have two ports free which can be used for external memory if needed or a headset etc. But having a wireless controller means you must set up the connection for it which can be difficult for users than just plugging in the wire. Also, wired controllers don’t require rechargeable batteries or any type of power supply externally besides from being connected to the console. Whereas, wireless controllers will have to be charged often and have the batteries replaced. If the user is someone who plays a lot, then they will have to make sure they charge the controller or have new batteries each time they play.

There are two types of signal which are used within technology to transfer data/information and they’re called analogue and digital. They’re different because of their wavelengths. Analogue has continuous waves whereas digital has a fluctuating wave like a binary wavelength. Each signal has its own use. An example of a use of analogue signal is an analogue T.V, this would transfer data through a frequency with the broadcast signal. However, due to technological advancements many TVs now use digital as its much more flexible and has less signal loss and stronger signals. For gaming, analogue is used for sound and audio on the other hand digital is used for electronics. Within the pictures, you can see the difference between analogue and digital very clearly as one is like a bar and the other is a wavelength. An example of these signals in gaming is within the games controller, the four buttons and directional pad are directional whereas the analogue sticks and triggers are analogue.

Analogue signal

Digital signal