Physical Building Blocks for Video Game Interaction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies lack the ability to allow physical building blocks to interact with video games, providing both physical assembly and dynamic data interaction, specifically with relative orientation sensing and data communication capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A system of physical building blocks with interconnecting elements that enable both physical and electrical connections, allowing them to communicate with a video game device, with each block having input and output connection points for connection to other blocks and the game, and containing hardware/firmware/software elements that respond to orientation, enabling the blocks to interact with the game and display their configuration in a virtual environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If building blocks are made with communication and orientation sensing capability, then interaction with video game is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the complex functionality into separate components: connection points for physical and electrical connection, orientation sensing elements for detecting block arrangement, and communication interfaces for data transfer. Each block contains these segmented functional elements rather than integrating everything into a single complex unit, allowing modular assembly while maintaining interaction capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection points serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide physical mechanical connection between blocks, establish electrical connection pathways for data communication, and enable orientation sensing. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby managing complexity while enabling versatile interaction with the video game system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple blocks are interconnected to form complex structures, then physical assembly capability is enhanced, but data communication reliability becomes more difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where blocks detect their connection status and orientation relative to neighboring blocks, then communicate this information back to the central video game system. This feedback allows the system to verify proper assembly, detect connection errors, and maintain reliable data communication by adjusting for detected variations in block arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection points and communication interfaces are designed with tolerance and redundancy built in beforehand to accommodate variations in assembly precision. The system anticipates potential connection issues and includes error detection and correction capabilities that are already in place before communication begins, ensuring reliability even when blocks are interconnected in complex configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for video game physical interaction is provided for a host device with an associated interactive application by a plurality of physical building blocks each having at least one input connection point and one output connection point operable for connection to one or more of the remaining blocks. Detectable connection paths through the plurality of blocks allow determination of the shape of a structure created by the blocks and interfacing of the connection paths of the plurality of blocks to the host device creates an input to the interactive application. The application is then altered responsive to the connection paths.