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Position: Digital Telepathy The Growing Momentum of Motion Sensing
Two decades ago it would have been hard to imagine how “smart” the digital products of today could be. With a shake of your MP3 player you can switch a song; flip your phone over to switch into silent profile; or wave your hands to play games on the screen. Today’s technology is developing in the direction of mind-reading, enabling it to understand everyday needs and wishes of users by observing movement and gestures. The future world of fantasy depicted in days gone by has already manifested into our lives—in the form of motion sensing.
What is Motion Sensing?
Many would still remember Virtual Cop, the exciting shooting game that entertained us through childhood. Drawing the toy gun to shoot for the first time gave the very real feeling of being a peace-keeping soldier. Things have changed as time has passed on. Yet in this feeling of nostalgia, it is perhaps ironic to think that such an old-fashioned shooting game was, in fact, a motion sensing experience. Motion sensing games had their origin in shooting games such as Duck Hunt and Confront created for the Nintendo Family Computer. To play these games, a light gun accessory was required. Motion sensing games on the market today are available for Wii, Xbox360, and PS3 consoles, and have tended to replace traditional ways of playing sport. But such technology is not limited to digital gaming. What began in the computer game industry and achieved widespread popularity among enthusiasts has now flowed over into other digital products. What, then, are the mechanisms that allow users to interact with digital products through shaking, turning, waving, and other physical motions?
Motion sensing applications run on a combination of accelerometers and gyroscopes, both of which are micro-electron-mechanical systems (MEMS). Half of the MEMS are micromechanical components with micro sensors that convert mechanical motion into digital signals. An accelerometer uses two capacitors formed by a moveable plate held between two fixed plates. By detecting changes in capacitance, it can measure the motion of an object. A gyroscope, on the other hand, senses changes in capacitance through the movement of a gyro wheel, and thus measures the degree of rotation.
TIPS
At present, motion sensing is a somewhat ambiguous concept. Motion sensing in this article includes gravity sensing and light sensing, both of which realize a humanistic design philosophy where perception and operation are based on actual body movements.
Current Applications
Motion sensing applications developed as a natural progression from digital game input devices. In an age of 3D gaming prevalence, Nintendo decided to take a path less trodden. It launched the Wii console with motion sensing technology. Manufacturers such as Microsoft and Sony followed suit with their Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles, both of which employ tracking technology to compete with Nintendo’s Wii. The motion sensing system is made increasingly “smart” when users are allowed to become even more immersed in gameplay. Sony’s latest PlayStation Move platform can track its controller precisely within real 3D space, allowing users to play as if they are actually within the game. With Microsoft’s Xbox360, a camera and a microphone are integrated so that game players can intuitively interact with the computer. Speech and actions can be easily recognized by the computer.
It should not, however, be assumed that motion sensing only shines in the gaming industry. Increasingly, it is a feature of portable electronic devices, and Apple is undoubtedly the originator of this trend. As well as its impressive multi-touch function, iPhone is also famous for its futuristic gravity sensor—an important form of motion sensing. Gravity sensors have already been embedded into many high-end mobile phones. iPod Nano4 equipped with a gravity sensor can change the display from vertical to horizontal, or shuffle to another song when it is shaken. With the inclusion of gravity sensors, mobile phones are becoming increasingly smart. Pictures can be viewed from any angle, or the phone can be turned over on a flat surface to silence the ring. Perhaps more importantly, gravity sensing offers greater protection. If a phone is accidentally dropped while software is running, or if background operations are running, the gravity sensor will automatically shut off hardware—such as the storage device—to avoid shock damage. An inconspicuous tiny black dot is often hidden beside the earpiece of many mobile phones. This is a light sensor—another form of motion sensing. The light sensor brightens the display in strong sunlight and dims it in darker places. In a nutshell, motion sensing applications give a distinctly human touch to seemingly cold digital technology.
The Future
In the future, motion sensing will become more prevalent. It is increasingly incorporated into a wide array of technical products, giving people more enjoyment and convenience. Motion sensing is here to stay and improvements will continue to be made. Soon, game consoles, handheld devices, cameras, and MP3 players will not be the only devices with mind-reading qualities. Motion sensing applications will allow us to operate computers without keyboards or control the TV without a remote. The age of motion sensing is fast approaching—embrace it and enjoy it.
