Gauntlet

From GDC

The Gauntlet Project

This project is ambition from beginning to end. The aim of this project is to develop a new customised game controller/computer input device based around the movements of the human hand, hence Gauntlet as it will form a glove around the hand.

Beyond the development of the hardware itself, hopes for this project are that it's completion [not the end, more completion of prototypes] will coincide with a game project which will benefit from the integration of this device into it's control structure. It is hoped that this will help in producing a game with greater interactivity and player commitment.

Initial conceptualisation and idea development has led to the decision that initial prototyping work will be based around common keyboard structures to make the build easy, minimise startup costs, utilise existing hardware drivers and as a proof of concept. This will be based on the left hand not only because the primary hardware developer is left handed but also because this preserves the ability to use a computer mouse without hindrance.

This prototype device will provide simple digital information concerning the state of the fingers based on the first and second knuckles with a possibility of implementing tactile information concerning the fingertips contacting an object. As initially this project is a fairly large leap into unknown peripheral territory [...] it will have a wired connection to the computer, with hopes of eventually upgrading to a wireless link to reduce the physical restraint on motion for the gamer.

While this initial prototype will have only digital inputs, future developments of this project based on this initial model may handle analog input information and not only provide information about the position of an individual finger [bent or unbent in basic terms] but also provide information about the motion of the hand that the device is worn on using accelerometers. Further this project is not limited to only ever being a single hand but will focus on one hand for active development, then apply the same design across to the other hand with separate mapping to differentiate between separate hands.

In accordance with these future development proposals not only will the hardware be an important aspect but programming will become highly valuable as not only will we want the device to interface with a single program/game but be cross-applicable to others, this will require custom drivers to give the required support for all input information.

Over coming months this page will be updated with progress updates.

Thanks for reading, if you would like to offer any comment/advice/help please feel free to contact the club who I am sure will be able to put you in contact with the appropriate people.

22/11/2009 Evolution of conceptual design has led to a near complete rethink of design materials.

6/2/2010 Given the current design model requires dealing with 512 basic states for just the fingers and thumb of 1 hand (262144 for this level of input from both hands...) the physical development of this project is on hold until I have completed more of my University approved studies of microcontrollers and other electronics. If anyone has any advice, direction or desire to help with this project please feel free to contact 1060_Printer on the GDC Forums