Human Factors Guidelines for Interactive 3D and Games-Based ...

The Nintendo Wiimote and Nunchuk
controllers (shown in Figure 7) are a good
illustration of this problem. Whilst these
devices may provide considerable
entertainment for gamers in home
settings, their use as intuitive interactive
control devices for serious games and
other i3D applications is highly
questionable, despite the findings of
recent small-sample studies. Take, for
example, a report in the medical training
domain which resulted in considerable
Internet news announcements (e.g.
technology.newscientist.com, 19 January,
2008). The researchers reported that, on
the basis of a sample of only 8 trainee
doctors, playing with certain Wii games
can improve a surgeon's performance in
the operating theatre! One of the
researchers even stated that: “the whole
point about surgery is to execute small,
finely controlled movements with your
hands, and that is exactly what you get
Figure 7: Nintendo Wiimote and Nunchuk in use.
Source: Edmonton Journal (www.canada.com)
playing Wii”. Surgical dexterity demands much, much more than the rather gross manual
experiences delivered by games exploiting wrist and arm movements alone.
To summarise then, inappropriate use of data display or data input devices, either in isolation or
combined within an integrated interface, can seriously compromise any attempt on the part of the
simulation designer to achieve engagement or believability (sometimes referred to as the
“suspension of disbelief” – a term first coined by Samuel Taylor Coleridge in 1817 and applied more
recently to the immersive goals of VR and mainstream entertainment games).
“Hybrid” input-display technologies refer to devices where display and control elements are evident
within a single device. For example, controls exist that provide the end user with haptic feedback or
some other form of sensory stimulus (e.g. confirmatory visual or auditory cueing), integrated within
a multi-axis data input device, such as a mouse, joystick or other multi-axis controller. The Novint
Falcon haptic (force/touch) feedback system, shown earlier in Figure 5, is a good example of a
hybrid input-display technology.
To conclude this section, it should be stressed that, as well as a technological arena in desperate
need of significant and regular Human Factors contributions, the i3D and serious games
communities also have the potential to revolutionise the way the Human Factors specialists
themselves conduct their research. One of the biggest problems facing those in the HF and
Systems Engineering communities has been the absence of affordable, accessible tools supporting
rapid and timely investigations into new equipment concepts, hypothetical scenarios, user interface
designs, ergonomics prototypes, part-task training needs, and so on. In other words,
uncomplicated tools that are usable in the defence and industrial arenas by more than just those
with strong software or i3D competencies.
The serious gaming community looks set to provide those tools – not only under “free-for-research”
licensing conditions, but, increasingly, as freely distributable, Open Source engines, many of which
are emerging from academic institutions and defence research organisations 17 . The HFI DTC has,
since 2004, been investigating the suitability of i3D and serious games technologies for concept
demonstration and early HF assessment purposes.
17 See also www.devmaster.net.
16