Sense-a-Ball Pong

Abstract

The attraction of classic computer games wasn't their verisimilitude. Games like Battlezone and Elite blended perception and action through interactivity that flowed around the immateriality of the game object; cinematic tropes then emphasised this in films like Tron and Minority Report. Arguably this reveals a facet of perception we have passed over in favour of the fixed outlines of objects. But if this is a part of perception per se rather than being limited to the screen, shouldn't we be able to experience this within the physical world? Sense-a-Ball Pong explores this by making the classic computer game of Pong "physical". A grid of vanes will orientate themselves towards the "ball" implying its position whilst it will be invisible. Utilising distance sensors player's will then use their hand to play with the ball. If perception does flow around the object it should become evident in this work.