Anyone can cut a Wiimote into pieces. But can they interview the musically-named Benedetto Vigna about MEMS units? I don’t think so. That’s where we need the New York Times.
Michel Marriott, the Ponce De Leon of controller exploration, discusses how Bluetooth, IR, and tiny accelerometers all work together to make Link ride around on a horse.
He said the motion sensors, using the technology that activates vehicle air bags, can accurately sense three axes of acceleration: up and down, left to right, and forward and backward.
This is mostly achieved within the MEMS, micron-size machines that depend on submicroscopic structures carved into the silicon. For example, one structure moves like a tiny diving board, stimulated by the actions of the game players.
I had a submicroscopic structure once, but I passed it after drinking lots of juice.
When I read this earlier today (prior to it being posted on CrunchGear) I was pretty excited. It is somewhat surprising that Mr. Marriott is continuing to promot the misnomer of “accelerometer” as the actual chip or MEMS measures force rather than acceleration, and then acceleration is generated by observing the force. But otherwise a very cool article in the NYTimes, which has been letting me down recently with their bland ScienceTimes and Tech sections.
As for submicroscopic structures, I hope yours passed painlessly John.
Looks like the battle of the Jons has reached new levels of lunacy! What I find funny about this picture is look at the battery… just about everything in this remote is high tech to say the least… run by… a 30 year old AA battery. I wonder why they didn’t go with something more “proprietary” like their rival Sony, Samsung and LG are so great at doing. Yet another vote for the Wii for being incredibly smart… and caring about its customers!
As for your submicroscopic structures… better hope they didn’t meet other submicroscopic structures while visiting your body… otherwise you may have far more friends then you realize John.
Jon
Submicroscopic structures indeed – I too felt the twang of one of these. Hopefully I never have to endure one the magnitude of what was depicted by the ever so racist Michael Richards on an episode of Seinfeld.
As for the controllers, they work nicely despite being thrown and dropped repeatedly.
I wish it had a microphone for SingStar like games…