Human Controller Interface

Level 3 Games Design

Unit 20 computer games platform and technology 

Task A Understanding hardware technologies for games platforms

The HCI or Human Computer Interface are pieces of equipment that help you control something for example a mouse and keyboard and how they move things. In consoles they usually have there own HCI for example the Xbox has a Xbox controller and the PS4 has a PS4 Controller.

List of HCI

Keyboard For PC

Mouse For PC

Xbox Controller For Xbox

PS4 Controller For PS4

Wii Remote For Wii

Wii U pad For Wii and Wii U

Pedals For Arcades 

Xbox Kinect For Xbox

Play Station Move For PlayStation

Wheel For Arcades and Wii

Play Station Camera For PlayStation

ETC

Explanations

I shall be explaining 6 of the HCI's that are in the list

1. Key Board

The Keyboard is used mainly for a Computer but it can be used for other things as well. The keyboard can come in different sizes and styles and can also come with different things that can help people use it for example Grit that can help people who can't see as well use it. Most of the Keyboards are easy to use and don't take much effort. The keyboard is safe because all of the coners are rounded and so there are no sharp edges

2. Mouse

Mouses are usually used with a Computer but they could be used for moving the cursor on the screen or clicking something to load or do something that the games wants it to. Computer Mice are usually quite comfortable and they can also come in different sizes so that they can fit it more peoples hand and this can make them more comfortable. The Mouse is safe because it has no sharp edges to hurt yourself and also it doesn't look like there are easy ways to hurt yourself with it

3. Pedals

Pedals are sometimes used on arcade machines for racing or car games and they are used to move the car in these types of games and because that they are arcade machines they need to be used by kids as well so the pedals can't be to far down but the pedals can change between certain types of arcade machines and so how the pedals feel can be different for each machine. The pedals on arcade machine could be dangerous because of the fact that you could get your foot stuck under it or it could go wrong and end up trapping your foot.

4.Wheel

A Wheel can be used on arcade machines but also different types of consoles but i will be talking about the one for arcade machines and they are usually used for racing or car games and so they usually resemble a steering wheel in a car. They are usually easy to use and also they can be different sizes depending on the arcade machine and also they can't be to big because kids play on the machines but they can't be to small because it could become a danger hazed.

5.Wii Remote

The Wii Remote is used for the Nintendo Wii and and it is used for navigation and also to play the games it is also able to fit in your hand and feels quite comfortable and so it is easy to use but the censor can be a little bit off because it can sometimes loss connection. The Wii remote is not very big and so it is easy to move around. as you can see on the image below there are also many buttons on the controller and this is so that you can play a wider range of games. The Wii remote can be unsafe if you don't have the strap around your wrist because it could end up being throw around the room.

6.Xbox Original

The original Xbox controller is used for the original Xbox and i find it quite comfortable and i find that it fits my hands well and doesn't feel uncomfortable and i have quite small hands and i am sure you could get different sized controllers so you can get the best one for you. the controller was well made and i found it easy to use for most of the games that there are for the Xbox original. The Xbox Controller isn't very dangerous because all of the sides are smooth and they don't have sharp corners

Task B - Understanding Hardware technologies for game platforms

NES Controller The NES Controller is an old controller for a console called the NES and the controller itself is small and doesn't have many buttons to it and all it was it a Start, Select, Movement, A and B Buttons to the controller and because it is so small it is easy to carry and is not that heavy so it is not annoying to use it is also easy to use. The NES controllers don't have smooth corners and so it can be a bit unsafe.

PS4 Controller the PS4 Controller is a new controller for the PS4 and it is easy to use it is also easy to carry but it is quite big and so for people who have small hands it can be harder to use. The controller has many buttons and now it also has a touch pad. The PS4 controller can be wired and wireless so it is more portable than most controllers. The PlayStation controllers are smooth and don't have sharp corners and so it is not that unsafe.

Comparing:

These two controllers are quite similar in their design and their portability but even though they are similar in how portable they are the PS4 controller is more portable because it can be wireless but the main difference in these two is the touch pad because the PS4 has a touch pad and the NES doesn't but because if this it means that the NES controller is smaller than the PS4 one and so it can be easier to carry. The controllers both have some safety problems but the one with teh most would be the NES controller because of the fact that it has sharp corners