I recently put together a fun little project using an arduino, headphones and an accellerometer.
When you put on the headphones, you hear a sound that is cycling through a sequence indicating its approach. The sound is somewhere on the left-right axis in the headphones. If the sound is to your left, you have to tilt your head to the left until the sound is centered. If you tilt your head (the paddle) to the right position in time, you hit the ball an continue, the ball’s approach speeding up each time. If you fail to hit the ball a buzzer and light go off to punish you and the game is over.
I am interested in using senses differently and getting people to focus on their senses in novel, interesting and engaging ways.
My first implementation is very rudimentary. My sound generation capabilities are limited to square waves at full volume so there isn’t true panning - just left, right and centered. In addition to real panning, I would like volume control to indicate the ball’s approach rather than the tone sequence I have now. I need to figure out what kind of RC circuit would smooth the PWM output to act like volume control, or use a digital potentiometer.
I also hope to build a transceiver into the game so that it can be multiplayer. Potentially there could be a number of players and it would be like audio hackey sack.
Another thought for extension is to use the other axis on the accelerometer so that one could use forward and backward motion in competitive play. A violent motion forward ’spikes’ the ball at the other player - just like in real ping pong.
I used the Protoshield, which is a handy way to consolidate a small arduino project.
This project was inspired by an exhibit at Disneyland The Exploratorium.
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:05 pm
This is awesome, Mike! Much creds for cranking out these projects on your spare time.
Sure, you could use better sound generation for a more enjoyable experience, but key is precision in game play, and enough margin of error for the player, so that you can play at a high level without losing instantaneously to the ever-precise computer master.
I am kind of deaf on my right ear, does it come with a calibration utility? .`)
I wrote a blog entry on this, you can check it out on intwo.ca!
April 25th, 2008 at 5:50 am
I’ve always had a soft spot for games focusing on senses other that sight, especially since my work with the deaf. I’ve had concepts for a couple of auditory-centric games, but just haven’t sat down and started punching out code :p
Good work! The only things that could make it better you’ve already touched on, proper panning, and volume control. Although, I think if you get one you’ll get the other fairly easily. My only suggestion is maybe to have an occasional reference *beep* at the tone where the “goal line” would be at first? Just to give some kind of spatial reference.
A multiplayer setup would be loads of fun, even if it’s just 2 players.
April 25th, 2008 at 5:53 am
I just realized.. this could be accomplished easily on an iPhone… I just purchased one… PROJECT TIME!
3-axis acclerometers, full stereo sound support (of course), it’s the perfect base device! A little expensive, but still…
April 25th, 2008 at 10:07 am
muriani - great idea. Program this into an iPhone and clip it to your hat! A bit more computing power than the Atmega128, too.
April 26th, 2008 at 4:13 am
Your invention is an exciting idea for accessible gaming. Games are needed for kids with disabilities (and adults) who have visual impairments or need hands free games- and this game would work. I have quadriplegia and can tell you that I’ve researched accessible gaming and the field is wide open.
April 26th, 2008 at 10:40 am
Hey, did you steal Audio Pong from the Exploratorium without crediting us , or did you re-invent this independently? We’ve had this on our floor for three years, though not with an accelerometer as the input device, that’s a nice wrinkle. BTW, Bill Meyer was the developer of the Explo exhibit.
April 26th, 2008 at 11:04 am
OOPS! My bad… you DID credit the Explo. How did I miss that?? Sorry.
May 2nd, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Check out Sonic Body Pong- http://www.sonicbodypong.com/
Same thing, but you get to WEAR the paddle!!
May 2nd, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Ross - Ha! that’s awesome! I hadn’t seen that. I feel less dorky already.
Ray - I hope you don’t feel robbed. I love the exploratorium. It is true, though, that every time I go there I leave with more ideas than I came with.