Ball-IT has developed a very cool solution combining a physical object with some motion control technology to become a game control for different platforms. Enabled by ST’s MEMS technology, which uses standard semiconductor technology to mass produce precise micron-sized structures that interact with the physical world, Ball-IT’s wireless ball controller responds to changes in position, direction, speed and acceleration, down to the most delicate movements, and translate those movements into immediate on-screen action.

Additionally, you can even squeeze the ball — effectively making it as effective as a joy stick — letting you do things like shoot guns, hit a tennis ball, or zoom in and out on maps (depending on the game or application, the squeeze function can be interpreted in different ways). The ball senses geomagnetic field, orientation, direction, speed, air pressure and acceleration — letting it do a bunch of things I haven’t seen its competitors able to do. The ball would cost about $20, but the company hopes to make money from licensing fees it would get for software to interact with the ball.

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Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008 at 1:21 pm | by Kur-nia-one |