Over this afternoon laboratory and seminar session, participants will learn the basics of building tangible user interfaces for videogame control, using off the shelf and reclaimed electronic components. The class covers an overview of game controller devices from historic and human computer interaction theory standpoints, alongside practical tools related training. All participants will be assisted in designing and building their own custom hardware control device. The resulting bespoke interface devices can be used to control a wide range of multimedia applications in addition to videogames, including musical and visual creative software.

Topics covered

• Videogame controller history
• The anatomy of a joypad controller
• Digital and analog inputs and outputs
• Sensor and switches
• Communication protocols
• Hardware controller construction, deconstruction, and recombination
• Affordances and constraints in tangible controller design

Participants should bring their own laptop. This workshop includes soldering.

Lecturer

Kieran Nolan

How to apply

There are eight places, please register up to one week in advance. Contact: Administrator, Arts Technology Research Laboratory, phone: 01 896 4921, email: atrl@tcd.ie and kinolan@tcd.ie

Fee

€50

Date, time and place

23 November 2013, 12 p.m.-4 p.m., in the Arts Technology Research Laboratory, Unit 13/14 Trinity Technology and Enterprise Campus, Pearse Street, Dublin 2.

Duration

Four hours