A Universal Interface for Video Game Machines Using Biological Signals.pdf

A Universal Interface for Video Game Machines Using Biological Signals Keisuke Shima, Nan Bu, Masaru Okamoto, and Toshio Tsuji Graduate School of Engineering, Hiroshima University, Japan {keisuke, bu, okamoto, tsuji}@bsys.hiroshima-u.ac.jp http://www.bsys.hiroshima-u.ac.jp Abstract. This paper proposes a universal entertainment interface for operation of amusement machines, such as video game machines and radio control toys. In the proposed interface system, biological signals are used as input, where users can choose some specific biological signal and configuration of signal measurement in accordance with their preference, physical condition (disabled or not), and degree of the disability. From the input signals, users’ intention of operation can be estimated with a probabilistic neural network (PNN), and then, control commands can be determined accordingly. With the proposed interface, people, even those with severe physical disabilities, are able to operate amusement machines. To verify validity of the proposed method, experiments were conducted with a video game machine. 1 Introduction Recently, a variety of amusement machines, such as video game machines, radio control toys, and entertainment robots, have been rapidly developed, and has found wide application in people’s daily lives. It has been confirmed that amuse- ment machines can be used as a method of rehabilitation therapy for people with physical disabilities [1]-[3]. However, operation of amusement machines might be difficult for the disabled, since movements of the users’ body are necessary to operate input devices, such as switches and buttons. To deal with this problem, universal entertainment interfaces are required, with which even people with severe physical disabilities can enjoy amusement machines. In the field of entertainment interfaces, a lot of research has been carried out to enable people with physical disability to operate amusement machines [4], [5]. Most of this research attempts to d