Battery-free Game Boy runs forever:
A hand-held video game console allowing indefinite gameplay might be a parent's worst nightmare.
But this Game Boy is not just a toy. It's a powerful proof-of-concept, developed by researchers at Northwestern University and the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) in the Netherlands, that pushes the boundaries of battery-free intermittent computing into the realm of fun and interaction.
Instead of batteries, which are costly, environmentally hazardous and ultimately end up in landfills, this device harvests energy from the sun — and the user. These advances enable gaming to last forever without having to stop and recharge the battery.
"It's the first battery-free interactive device that harvests energy from user actions," said Northwestern's Josiah Hester, who co-led the research. "When you press a button, the device converts that energy into something that powers your gaming."
[...] The teams will present the research virtually at UbiComp 2020, a major conference within the field of interactive systems, on Sept. 15.
[...] The researchers' energy aware gaming platform (ENGAGE) has the size and form factor of the original Game Boy, while being equipped with a set of solar panels around the screen. Button presses by the user are a second source of energy. Most importantly, it impersonates the Game Boy processor. Although this solution requires a lot of computational power, and therefore energy, it allows any popular retro game to be played straight from its original cartridge.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 05 2020, @03:25PM (5 children)
If it's feasible to make a device with a QWERTY+fn keyboard that can supply enough energy to support a wifi or cellular data connection, that would be game-changing. The power-hungry nature of wireless communications means that it probably wouldn't be very useful as an always-on receiver like a cellphone, but would be a great piece of emergency gear.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 05 2020, @03:47PM (4 children)
I bet the buttons are really hard to press. Ever spin one of those hand-cranked dynamos in a science museum that was hooked up to a lightbulb and feel the difference between when the bulb was on and off?
If you're a world-class cyclist, you can just barely make toast [youtube.com]!
(Score: 2) by takyon on Saturday September 05 2020, @04:34PM
Swole Boy Advance
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 05 2020, @04:46PM
Thee button press difficulty is an intentional part of what makes the game more challenging. It's not a bug, it's a feature.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 05 2020, @04:49PM (1 child)
Maybe they can add a crank on the side of the gameboy and figure out a way to incorporate that into the gameplay.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday September 06 2020, @06:23AM
NOAA all hazards cartridge.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 05 2020, @03:31PM
In the old days, we used to have to power games with our own effort like throwing a ball or running around. Now we can use advanced technology to harness that power to charge battery cells to play computer games.
(Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Saturday September 05 2020, @03:34PM (2 children)
So now you gotta play the thing outside in the bright sun? I hoe the screen can compensate. Why don't they put a flywheel inside, like those old self winding watches used to have?
La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
(Score: 2) by TheRaven on Saturday September 05 2020, @08:03PM
sudo mod me up
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 05 2020, @09:16PM
If this gets to the market, it's gonna flop. Won't work very long in the basement...
(Score: 1) by HammeredGlass on Saturday September 05 2020, @03:45PM (1 child)
"The teams will present the research virtually"
(Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Saturday September 05 2020, @04:08PM
Virtualware!
La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 05 2020, @04:17PM
Think about that for a second you lazy SOBs
(Score: 2) by seeprime on Saturday September 05 2020, @04:22PM
After ten seconds the screen goes out, while it buffers the power. This will happen forever. Not quite as advertised.
(Score: 2) by Bot on Saturday September 05 2020, @04:44PM
MAME >>> Hyper Olympics >>> piezoelectric buttons.
Account abandoned.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by FatPhil on Saturday September 05 2020, @05:21PM (7 children)
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 05 2020, @06:49PM
I had one as well, but it never kept time very well. I assumed I either had a dud, or I wasn't "holding it correctly." It did turn me off to getting another one.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 05 2020, @08:01PM (2 children)
I have a digital solar powered one that's been going for about 10 years now. It syncs to the radio time signal, so I don't have to worry about it drifting too much.
(Score: 2) by FatPhil on Sunday September 06 2020, @07:04PM (1 child)
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Muad'Dave on Tuesday September 08 2020, @01:53PM
I have a Casio PAW-1300 [rei.com] solar-powered, multi-function watch that's been going strong for a very long time. It charges from fluorescent lights (or sunlight), and has not stopped telling time once in the 15-20 years or so I've had it. It sets itself from the various time standard radio stations around the world. It tells baro pressure, altitude, etc. It's my favorite watch, hands-down. All I've had to replace (once) was the band.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 05 2020, @10:15PM
Automatic watches. A mass freely floating inside the watch provides the winding every time you move the wrist. You can get a timex for 150$.
(Score: 2) by mcgrew on Sunday September 06 2020, @04:28PM (1 child)
I had one of those. Old fashioned spring driven, with normal motions of the wrist winding the spring.
Impeach Donald Palpatine and his sidekick Elon Vader
(Score: 2) by FatPhil on Sunday September 06 2020, @06:06PM
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
(Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Sunday September 06 2020, @01:57PM (1 child)
It sounds like the perfect game for this device would be Track & Field [wikipedia.org]. No game ever required more, and more vigorous button pressing.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 2) by FatPhil on Sunday September 06 2020, @06:25PM
(Trigger alert! But were I to tell you what trigger it triggers, I'd trigger you, so I won't. Just don't read that article ever. Anyone.)
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves