Human- Computer Interface

Human–computer interaction (HCI) is the study of interaction between people (users) and computers. It is often regarded as the intersection of computer science, behavioral sciences, design and several other fields of study. Interaction between users and computers occurs at the user interface (or simply interface), which includes both software and hardware; for example, characters or objects displayed by software on a personal computer's monitor, input received from users via hardware peripherals such as keyboards mics and controllers etc.
 The Association for Computing Machinery defines human-computer interaction as "a discipline concerned with the design, evaluation and implementation of interactive computing systems for human use and with the study of major phenomena surrounding them."

Human Computer Interface
The HID consists primarily of devices that are used by humans to control the operation of computer systems. Typical examples of HID class devices include:

• Keyboards and pointing devices for example, standard mouse devices, trackballs, and joysticks.
• Front-panel controls for example: knobs, switches, buttons, and sliders.
• Controls that might be found on devices such as telephones, VCR remote controls, games or simulation devices for example: data gloves, throttles, steering wheels, and rudder pedals.

Many technological innovations rely upon User Interface Design to elevate their technical complexity to a usable product.
(1995). User Interface Design . Available: http://www.usernomics.com/user-interface-design.html. Last accessed 17 december 2009.

Interface Devices

Their are various devices that can be used to be able to play also some as extras to control the interface. Giving users physical ability to make a gaming experience more fun all which have different elements of hardware it comes with and some devices may be available in both for instance ports, camera, wired, cabled, analogy/digital, controller ports.

IMAGE LISTINGS

1. Paddles

2. Steering Wheel & Pedals 

3. Mouse

4. Key Pad

5. Key Board

6. Joy Stick

7. Eye Toy

Connectivity

Wireless Local Area Network

A wireless local area network (WLAN) links devices via a wireless distribution method (typically spread-spectrum or OFDM radio, and usually provides a connection through an access point to the wider internet. This gives users the mobility to move around within a local coverage area and still be connected to the network.


Wireless LANs have become popular in the home due to ease of installation, and the increasing popularity of laptop computers. Public businesses such as coffee shops and malls have begun to offer wireless access to their customers; sometimes for free. Large wireless network projects are being put up in many major cities: New York City, for instance, has begun a pilot program to cover all five boroughs of the city with wireless Internet access.

Local Area Network

A local area network (LAN) is a computer network covering a small physical area, like a home, office, or small group of buildings, such as a school, or an airport. The defining characteristics of LANs, in contrast to wide-area networks (WANs), include their usually higher data-transfer rates, smaller geographic area, and lack of a need for leased telecommunication lines.

General Packet Radio Service

General packet radio service (GPRS) is a packet oriented mobile data service available to users of the 2G cellular communication systems global system for mobile communications (GSM), as well as in the 3G systems. In 2G systems, GPRS provides data rates of 56-114 kbit/s

Bluetooth

Bluetooth wireless technology is a short-range communications technology intended to replace the cables connecting portable and/or fixed devices while maintaining high levels of security. The key features of Bluetooth technology are robustness, low power, and low cost. The Bluetooth specification defines a uniform structure for a wide range of devices to connect and communicate with each other.

Processor

The processor (really a short form for microprocessor and also often called the CPU or central processing unit) is the central component of the PC. It is the brain that runs the show inside the PC. All work that you do on your computer is performed directly or indirectly by the processor. Obviously, it is one of the most important components of the PC, if not the most important. It is also, scientifically, not only one of the most amazing parts of the PC, but one of the most amazing devices in the world of technology.

A graphics processing unit or GPU (also occasionally called visual processing unit or VPU) is a specialized processor that offloads 3D graphics rendering from the microprocessor. It is used in embedded systems, mobile phones, personal computers, workstations, and game consoles. Modern GPUs are very efficient at manipulating computer graphics, and their highly parallel structure makes them more effective than general-purpose CPUs for a range of complex algorithms. In a personal computer, a GPU can be present on a video card, or it can be on the motherboard. More than 90% of new desktop and notebook computers have integrated GPUs, which are usually far less powerful than those on a dedicated video card.

Game Storage Medium

Proprietary

The term "proprietary software" is often used to mean computer software which is, neither free or an open source. The term is commonly used in a narrower sense to describe software with restrictions on use or private modification, or with restrictions judged to be excessive on copying or publishing of modified or unmodified versions.

Flash Storage

Flash storage is a non-volatile storage which can be erased or deleted electrically an reprogrammed if wished. What is unique about flash storage is that there is no power needed in terms of storing files it is stored on a chip. It’s usually found in USB flash drives and memory cards which people use to save documents or media files on, using applications such as laptops, computers, mobile phones, digital cameras and audio players.


Various websites stated it has also gained popularity in video games console hardware. However, this is often used instead of EEPROM or battery- powered static RAM (SRAM) for game save data.
EEPROM stands for Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory. A technology website explained that “EEPROM is like an EPROM chip since it can be written in or programmed more than once. Unlike the EPROM chip, however, an EEPROM chip need not be taken out of the computer or electronic device of which it is part when a new program or data needs to be written on it”
.. (2009). What Is EEPROM?. Available: http://www.tech-faq.com/eeprom.shtml. Last accessed 17 December 2009.

UMD

Is an optical disc medium, UMD stands for universal media disc, which has recently been produced for the PSP handheld games console and developed by Sony.

The primary application for UMD discs is as a storage medium for PSP games, although the format is also used for the storage of motion pictures, and to a lesser degree, television shows for playback on the PSP. The video is encoded in the H.264/MPEG-4 AVC format, with the audio in ATRAC3plus.

Advantages

• Harder to make copies of the disc

• Small size and compact

• Copy Protection

• Magnetic tape/ case

Disadvantages

• Maybe more easily broken

• Memory (1.8) storage

• Not many formats

DVD

Nearly all computers in the last few years have added DVD/CD burners that support -R (read and write once) and -RW (read and re-write many times) disc burning. Lately, some Windows PC systems are adding internal Blu-ray Disc burners that support BD/DVD/CD-R/-RW, including Sony, Dell and Lenovo.