Heart rate sensor controls games' difficulty
by John Bardinelli 
{ Jun 29th 2007 at 4:15PM }
Throughout the history of mankind, our heart has been used for one thing: pumping blood. Now researchers at the University of Udine in Italy have come up with a better use: making videogames more challenging. Using a pulse oxymeter sensor worn around the upper body, players can control games by moving back and forth. As you move your heart pumps faster and the game responds by increasing the difficulty. The system is meant to be used to help maintain the right level of exertion during exercise. Being physically active is great, but if you ask us, we'd rather play with the intimate controller.
[Via Engadget]
[Via Engadget]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jose @ Jun 29th 2007 4:22PM
Why not just implement this into mice design? It would dynamically adjust the difficult of a game, right? They already have manual controls on gaming mice for sensitivity, but to have automatic controls for difficulty would be awesome. Maybe I missed the point...
Zertoss @ Jun 29th 2007 4:31PM
"Using a pulse oxymeter sensor worn around the upper body"
Maybe it's just me, but it looked like the 3D Accelerometer was worn on the upper body and the Pulse Oxymeter was worn on the ear lobe and in the pants pocket.
Neat idea though for getting a good workout while gaming.
baby sea tuna @ Jun 29th 2007 4:32PM
Oh man, can you imagine if they implemented this in something like Condemned or Resident Evil?
Grendel Pr1me @ Jun 29th 2007 4:34PM
Tomonobu Itagaki just crapped himself thinking of how many heart attacks he could make with Ninja Gaiden.
yoshi @ Jun 29th 2007 4:39PM
http://ign64.ign.com/objects/004/004081.html
ts ts ts I thought Joystic would remember that Nintendo actually did this on N64...
why not the LS2/LS7? @ Jun 29th 2007 4:44PM
Now just add electric shock feedback and you've got the electronic gambling game portrayed in "Never Say Never Again".
baby sea tuna @ Jun 29th 2007 4:49PM
#5
Huh, I'd never heard of that one and I'm guessing (it being Japanese only) Joystiq might not have either. Good catch though.
Wonder how well that Tetris game worked...
Myrpok @ Jun 29th 2007 5:15PM
I'd hit it.
spamulike05 @ Jul 2nd 2007 7:15AM
@ 5
I remember getting really excited reading about that in ONM years ago, alongside articles for the 64DD, which also never made the journey outside Japan.