A few blogs ago I said we had created a model of the Lancaster University campus which we (myself and Carlos) would transfer to the mobile phone to test some 3D navigation ideas for pedestrians. We have managed to get the model into M3G (and working reasonably well despite not having yet optimised the code) and the next step is to build in GPS (and eventually Compass) data which will control a you-are-here globe which will move in real-time.

This extra data along with the colour selection of the buildings already seen in the video will allow us to explore how best to present 3D tour navigation to the user (for example first person, third personand, fly through etc) what type of control of the view and functionality is optimal for the user for a particular requirement i.e route navigation, POI information, etc . I’m hoping to build on my favourite paper ‘Exploring the design space of Smart Horizons’ form this year’s mobile HCI which looked at user viewing preferences of  3D  spatial data and POI. I will keep a record of this project progression going on the blog so perhaps the community can pitch in with any thoughts or ideas which will help us evolve the project.

I came across my old Atari Lynx at home and having been at the Nokia Games Summit I was inspired to bring it in to work to see if I could get it going. The original power supply was knackered but I managed to cobble something together to get it to work. The photo below shows how 1989 technology stacks up against an N95 and illustrates an evolution in mobile gaming.

Although the controls are very different the screen size is about the same butthe resolution and colour depth are lower. Interestingly the game on the Lynx is ‘Todd’s Adventures in Slime World’ which was a very playable game and would probably give many current mobile games a run for their money in terms of actual game play.