Page:Gametronics Proceedings.djvu/176

 XVI. VIDEO GAME CONTROLLERS

VICTOR KLEY

I Corporation

San Francisco, California

Flat panel graphics input tablets have been the device of choice whenever fast accurate positioning has been a design requirement. From a human engineering viewpoint, the flat panel provides a familiar user environment where the natural skills of drawing and writing may be readily utilized. In the past, flat panel input devices have suffered from two major failings–complexity and cost. Flat panel devices costing several thousands of dollars and having complex outputs have not found any widespread application.

For the first time, designers may look to flat panel devices costing less than two dollars. These new input devices, trademarked Joypad, emulate joystick functions and feature flat panel or pad–like architecture. Joypads are inexpensive and simple to use; they are capable of replacing conventional potentiometers in control applications. Made in a wide variety of sizes and having low profiles (approximately 1/10 inch), the graphics input device is available with the linearity and resolution to meet any control, or digitizing need. In addition, a clear device which is flexible and has a thickness of 1/20 inch or less will soon be available to meet a broad range of applications, including CRT overlays, menu overlays, positional input and plotting on three dimensional surfaces.

One exciting application of the joypad is in the area of character recognition. The microprocessor revolution has made immense computing power feasible for general application, but the ASCII Keyboard is both cumbersome and expensive. The use of a joypad for graphics input permits simple character recognition with personalized sequencing, for example a library of users may be built with 10 point character recognition algorithims. By eliminating the keyboard, the mechanics and cost of any microcomputing systems, such as one designed for home use, can drop to the $100 to $200 range necessary for a real growth in general use. The fact that data is input by writing on a tablet means that the naive user will not be threatened or frustrated by an imposing array of keys and switches. Studies have shown that cursive writing is the preferred