Demo of iPhone 3GS Digital Compass Used as View Control
posted by Blake Patterson on June 25th, 2009 2:33 PM EDT in NewsiPhone developer Ziconic has released a video that demonstrates usage of the digital compass in the new iPhone 3GS as a view control mechanism.
A prototype build of the developer's AirCoaster 3D [App Store], an app that allows users to design and ride 3D roller coasters on the iPhone and iPod touch, allows the user to move the iPhone about in order to change the viewpoint of the rider.
[ Full HD version | Low Bandwidth version ]
The compass-based view control is expected to arrive in a future update of the application. Ziconic also recently released a video comparing the 3D performance of the new iPhone 3GS to that of the iPhone 3G, using AirCoaster 3D as a benchmark.
App Store Link: AirCoaster 3D, $0.99
A game called Ghost Buddy (and another similar game) did something similar to this using just the iTouch/Phone accelerometer. The problem was that it really wasn't full 360 views. Using the built in compass one can bring that sort of idea to the next level.
Imagine, if you will, a true first person game, where moving the device itself changes the direction to which you are looking. Want to view something behind you? Turn your body around while holding the device up to your face. No need to move the device only as you can move your entire body in tandem with the device. In essence the little iTouch/Phone platform becomes something akin to a virtual reality device.
Hopefully Apple has the foresight to add in the digital compass to the next iPod touch. I admit to being blind to the possibilities such a capability had for games, but I've now seen the light.
I hope they do. I know its primary purpose is for maps navigation, but even Apple noted how it can be used for games. So, I think it will be included since the iPod Touch is a gaming platform.
I sketched out designs for several such games when the iPhone first came out and I misunderstood what it could do. Now it really CAN do what I thought
Hope I didn't throw away those design docs….
Yeah, exactly the same with me!
When I first thought of the idea for a flying game for the iPhone (which became SciFly), I thought I'd be able to use the accelerometer to control the yaw, pitch and roll of the plane. Of course, you can't so I had to limit it to just 2 of the 3. I wonder if the magnetometer is sensitive enough to be used along with the accelerometer, or if there's some trick you can do to derive the orientation when the accelerometer is confused.
Boy, I blew off the compass thing, now I see this is REVOLUTIONARY!
How effective it will be depends on interference and other issues (which i'm sure they are aware of.
If it works for games though, it should work for displaying video by moving the screen around. Check out this video for a demo.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLZSn_6LPgo
obviously this is fake, but it could work…
nathan
Interference is a problem indeed. The compass works ok outside but is a little flaky indoor. But I'm sure things will improve rapidly.
The update that includes compass support is now live on the app store. Folks with a 3GS – enjoy.