From: Jeremy Crampton <ELE@PSUVM.PSU.EDU>
Subject: Re: U-Force!!??!!??
Date: Saturday, 31 Mar 1990 15:58:34 EST
Organization: Penn State University


In article <$2H [sorry, netnews ate it..]

>gt0852c%prism@gatech.edu (Daniel Rothman) writes:
>
>>just saw an add for a nintendo gadget called u-force; consists of
>>two perpendicular plates, each faced with what look very much like
>>solar panels.  apparently it's designed to improve the user interface,
>>by detecting hand motions in the volume defined by the perpendicular
>>planes.
>
>>could this be thermal?  sonic - this i found doubtful.  any clues out
>>there in netland?

>I can't be sure... but in the same TV add I thought I saw the guy
>pounding on the pads.
>To be honest?... It looks lame.

Mebbe; we won't know until we try it.  One thing is for sure though, it
is the logical next step on the way to cyberspace or VR.  Here's a short
description from last fall's _Mondo 2000_:

  "The player doesn't have to touch, wear, or hold anything in order to
interact with the machine.  U-Force is able to do this by generating a
three-dimensional infrared light grid that picks up and measures all
movement within its field...Broderbund [makers of U-F for Nintendo] will
be marketing U-F in this country.  They claim that exactly how U-F works
is a proprietary secret, with two patents still pending..summer shipping..
retail $69.95..Broderbund Software, 17 Paul Drive, San Rafael, CA 94903-
2101, (415) 492-3200."    (_Mondo 2000_ #7, Fall '89, p. 35.)

Any West coasters wanna call?
--                                                      ele@psuvm.psu.edu
jeremy..                                        crampton@yon.geog.psu.edu