Results

Speed of Execution and Accuracy

The speed and accuracy of our codes was sufficient to meet the NTSC video generation standards and produce a signal with no tearing, flickering, or other video artifacts.

Safety Considerations

Our goal was to provide a game unit that would meet or exceed the safety of a common video game console. Users ideally will not have access to the internal components of the game unit. After household AC voltage is converted to DC by the adapter there is no risk of electric shock. The user will need to exhibit reasonably safe behavior around the television set, the safety considerations of which are the responsibility of its manufacturer and the end user.

Interference

All interaction between the users is handled either through the two push buttons on the base unit, used to select game options, and the two controllers, which the players use during the game to control their respective on-screen paddles.

Of the two buttons on the base unit, one is used to choose between the one and two player games, and the other is used to start the game.

The controllers consist of two potentiometers, which the player uses to control their on-screen paddle, and an LED, which lights up when the player either scores a point, or wins the game. The slide potentiometer is used to control the motion of the paddle in the up/down direction and the twist potentiometer is used to control the paddles motion in the left/right direction. A full sweep of the slide potentiometer will move the paddle through its range of vertical motion, which is from the very top to the very bottom of the screen. A complete turn of the twist potentiometer will move the paddle completely through its horizontal range of motion, which is from a few pixels in front of the back boundary to approximately ¾ of the way across its half of the screen.

Usability

The usability of our design is very high. Players, as described above, interface with the game using two potentiometers, which are arranged in an intuitively clear manner and which provide visual, on-screen confirmation of motion. The buttons provide click-force feedback and on-screen visual confirmation of use.

The only user limitations on use are reasonable tactile function of the hands, capable of manipulating a slider and a twist knob, as well as moderate visual acuity, capable of resolving a 128x100 black and white screen.

True portability was achieved by the post-demo addition of a 9V battery DC adapter and an RCA video output header.