Touch Screen Board Game Integration via Physical Overlay
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Solution Overview
Problem
Board games often require expensive electronics for integration, limiting their appeal due to high costs and lack of robust interactivity, while touch screen devices offer new interaction possibilities that are not fully utilized in traditional board games.
Innovation Solution
An electronically integrated board game system that uses a touch screen device, such as a tablet, with a game board that includes touch input interfaces and a processor to detect and route touch inputs, allowing for robust interactivity without the need for expensive electronics, by using the tablet's processor to execute game logic and present game elements on the screen.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If expensive electronics are integrated into board games, then interactivity and electronic functionality are improved, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a touch screen device as an intermediary between the physical game board and electronic processing. The touch screen device receives touch inputs from the game board components and processes game logic, eliminating the need for expensive electronics to be embedded directly in the board game. This mediator approach maintains interactivity while reducing device complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows the touch screen device to serve itself by using its own processor and display capabilities to handle game logic and presentation. The board game components themselves (physical pieces, boards) remain simple passive elements that only provide touch inputs, while the sophisticated electronic functions are handled by the self-sufficient touch screen device.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional board game components are used, then manufacturing cost is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but interactivity and electronic integration are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The touch screen device serves multiple functions: it acts as the game board display, the processor for game logic, the input device for player actions, and the output device for game results. This multi-functional approach allows traditional simple board game components to be enhanced with robust electronic capabilities through a single universal device.
3Ease of operation
If completely electronic board games are implemented on touch screens, then interactivity is improved, but physical game experience and enjoyment are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the physical and electronic aspects by placing physical game board components (boards, pieces) over the touch screen display. Players physically manipulate these components on the screen surface, combining the tactile satisfaction of physical games with the interactivity and visual feedback of electronic displays. This hybrid approach retains the enjoyment of physical game elements while enabling robust electronic integration.
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with one implementation disclosed in the present application, an electronically integrated board game includes a game board having an overlapping region that is configured to cover a touch screen of an electronic device. The game board also includes a touch input interface configured to route a touch input from a play area of the game board to the touch screen of the electronic device through the overlapping region. The game board can also include an opening configured to expose the touch screen of the electronic device. The overlapping region can surround an opening of the game board, where the opening is configured to expose the touch screen of the electronic device.