Human computer
interface (HCI)
The term human computer interface refers to the tools used
to physically control the computer and its running programs e.g. Console
controller, PC mouse/Keyboard, Handheld consoles, Mobile phone/Tablet touch
screen.
For each user there will be different preferences, for
example some gaming enthusiasts prefer the aesthetic feel of the console
controller due to its reduced number of buttons and ease of handling whereas
some prefer the PC keyboard because of the increased level of control options
and programmable hotkeys. When considering the touch screen of mobile devices
and the simplicity of the handheld game format, this is a medium which would
appeal more to the casual on the go gamer/user as it can be used anywhere are
for a multitude of purposes.
One thing that should be taken into consideration with the
difference in HCI's is that each one lends itself more to one kind of game than
others. With consoles and handheld games their ease and speed of use lend
themselves better to action/shooter and fighting games better than the keyboard
and mouse of a PC, which is better suited to the strategic game which would
require a more complete and calculated control device.
Looking at ergonomics the forerunner is most probably the
console controller due to the fact that it has been specifically designed to
fit the users palm and allow for all controls to be reached without actually
needing to move the whole hand, as opposed to the keyboard which requires the
user to move the entire hand to reach the full amount of possible controls. Even
though this does allow the PC user a vastly superior method for controlling
every aspect of their game play with unrivalled precision, it can seem
cumbersome to many users.
The mobile phone and tablet are also designed to fit the
users hands however not in the same way. This is due not only to accommodate a
display but it also needs to fit easily in the users pocket or bag, restricting
the possibilities for ergonomic design.
The games more commonly used by this control method are simple movement
and single action games that don't require anywhere near as much precision or
control as the other formats in this document.
Interface devices
Expanding on the subject of human computer interface, there
have been many different interface devices released on a plethora of gaming
platforms. These devices include such classics as;
- The
light gun for duck hunt on the NES (Nintendo Entertainment System)
-
The steel Batallion controller for XBOX
- the guitar hero controller Xbox360
- The Kinect Xbox360
All of these devices have offered new and innovative ways
for the player to interact with their games in a way that had previously been
impossible in the field of home gaming. By
giving the user the ability to actively participate in the same actions as the
characters on the screen these devices have offered new levels of immersion,
making the games that they have accompanied so much more memorable. There have
been exceptions to this, one being the light gun which on later consoles was
developed to accompany various other first person shooter games. The other
being the Kinect which has been released simply as a new way to control the
xbox's many multimedia capabilities as well as an ever increasing number of
games that have been designed exclusively for use with this device.
CPU (Central
Processing Unit)
The CPU is the hub
of the computers operations, it sends information and commands to the other
parts of the PC. The speed of the CPU is measured in cycles per second known as
Megahertz or Gigahertz.
As one of the most
important parts of the computer system it is definitely one of the aspects
worth considerable investment when purchasing a new PC or in fact any
electronic device that requires fast and unhindered actions. The most popular
brands for processors are intel and AMD, two companies that have over the years
proven that they can produce hardware capable of some of the most intense
computing tasks that can be carried out on a home computer. As time goes on the
speed and power of commercially available processors is constantly on the rise
due to the ever increasing demands of both industry standard programs and home
gaming, the latter being the big selling point of most of these products.
One aspect of the
CPU which allows for faster processing speed is the cache which carries out an
operation similar to that of RAM, in that it stores important data for
frequently used programs so that in the event of the same process needing to be
carried out again it can produce the same result with less time needed to carry
out the required calculations.
GPU (Graphics Processing Unit)
The GPU is, in
essence, very similar to the CPU. It carries complex calculations at high speed
to be sent to other parts of the system that are then displayed for the user.
However the major difference is that this processing unit is dedicated solely
to dealing with rendering of images that produces the GUI (Graphic User
Interface) or in simpler terms, the images that are displayed on the users
screen.
The GPU does bare
similar physical features to the CPU however it is, in most cases, much more
complex and capable of performing at a higher level than the CPU. However
instead of being fitted directly to the motherboard it is the main part of
another element which is called the Graphics card.
The two major
competitors in the field are AMD and NVIDEA, both of which produce high quality
graphics cards capable of producing truly stunning graphics and allowing the
user to play games that feature graphics that simply could not be played using
the CPU alone.
RAM (Random Access Memory
The purpose of
random access memory is to increase the speed at which a program can be
operated by storing commonly/frequently used information that the CPU/GPU has
already used. By doing this it reduces the amount of work that needs to be
carried out and increases the speed at which operations can be carried out.
This aids the user
experience in that loading times are reduced giving a more seamless appearance
to the processes being carried out and also over time increases the overall
productivity of a system when it comes to tasks that need to be repeated
multiple times.
Currently there are
many different forms of RAM available including DRAM (Dynamic RAM), SRAM
(Static RAM), DDR (Double Data Rate), DDR SDRAM (Double Data Rate Synchronous
Dynamic RAM).
RAM is always
measured in Gigabytes (GB) but not all types of RAM are compatible with all
motherboards, in order to find out if it is compatible you will need to find
out the frequency that the RAM is operating on, the most common frequencies for
RAM products are 1600MHz and 1333MHz.
Power supply unit (PSU)
The PSU is the means by which power is taken in by the
system and distributed to other components that require a direct link to the
power. Power supply units come in the form of internal and external, internal
being built in to a system such as a PC whereas the external would be the AC
adapter to be used with a console or laptop.
Connectivity
Connectivity between gamers has been in a constant state of advancement
for some time, and it is only in the last 8 years that it has really been
developed enough to offer a really satisfying and reliable experience. That's
not to say that there hasn't been problems; server crashes, security violations,
account bugs resulting in the loss of personal funds. However as time goes on
the technology and security is always being improved.
The different types of connectivity available are used in a
variety of ways, for example bluetooth can be used for the transfer of data in multiple
forms e.g. contact information, images, audio files and even live audio from a
voice call.
Wifi is the commercial name for WLAN (Wireless Local Area
Network) which is a wireless form of connectivity using radio waves in an extremely
localised area. This form of wireless connection, which was first named Wifi
sometime in 2000, allows for high speed data transfers without needing to
connect your device to a router or
another computer via any physical cables. Wifi technology has advanced to the
point where it has become so popular and commonplace that free wifi is
available in most public places, such as; public transport, pubs, hotels and
cafés.
Mobile internet/3G - 3G which stands for third generation is
the third generation of mobile internet technology (preceded by GPRS and
WAP). This connection allows for a
information transfer at rates of up to several Mbit/s and can be used to access
content on the internet as well as video calling and mobile television.
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