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Unit 20 brief 1 task 2_worksheet (1)
- 1. Salford City College EcclesSixth Form Centre BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN Unit 20: Computer Game Platforms and Technologies Brief 1_Task 2 Name:Michael Hughes Researched Definition (include URL link) Explanatio n in your own words Imagery Why is this important to hardware technologie s for game platforms? Human Computer Interface human-computerinterface (HCI) The meansof communication betweenahumanuserand a computersystem,referringinparticulartothe use of input/outputdeviceswithsupportingsoftware. Devicesof increasingsophisticationare becoming available tomediate the human-computerinteraction. These include graphicsdevices,touch-sensitive devices,andvoice-inputdevices.Theyhave tobe configuredinaway that will facilitate anefficientand desirable interactionbetweenapersonandthe computer. http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O11- humancomputerinterface.html A HCI (Human Computer interface) is the communicatio n betweena personand theircomputer system. This includes everything fromvoice inputdevices to touch sensitive devices. The HCI is a prettycrucial thingfor gaming eversince the explosionof touch sensitive technologyof the xbox kinect and Wii to the newerandmore modern explosionof the Virtual Reality oculusrift headsets. Central Processing Unit (CPU) CPU (pronounced as separate letters) is the abbreviation forcentral processing unit. Sometimes referred to simplyas thecentral processor,but more commonly called processor,the CPU is the brains ofthe computer where mostcalculations take place.In terms of computing power, the CPU is the mostimportantelementofa computer system. http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/C/CPU.html A CPU or Central procressing until isthe part of the computer where most calculations CPU’s are neededwhen gamingon any PC or console due to it making all of the calculationsand code actually
- 2. Salford City College EcclesSixth Form Centre BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN Unit 20: Computer Game Platforms and Technologies Brief 1_Task 2 are done.Itis one of the core elementsof the PC. executable from the disc or downloaded file. Graphic Processors A graphics processing unit (GPU) is a computer chip that performs rapid mathematical calculations, primarily for the purpose of rendering images. http://searchvirtualdesktop.techtarget.com/definition/ GPU-graphics-processing-unit A GPU or Graphics processingunit isa chipthat formsup the displayona computer screen. Withoutthis, thingslike videogames and movies requiringVideo driverscan’t run. A graphics processorisa mustwithinthe gamesindustry and gamingin general.It displaysthe pixelsona screenand withoutone computersface manyerrors and blackscreens, BSOD’setc. Memory (RAM) Alternatively referred to as main memory, primary memory, or system memory,Random Access Memory (RAM) is a hardware device that allows information to be stored and retrieved on a computer. RAM is usually associated with DRAM, which is a type of memory module. http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/r/ram.htm RAM is the random access memory in a PC. It allows all kinds of information to be stored until itis moved or retrieved by the PC. Itis a type of memory Module along with other memory units. RAMis a requirementfor a lot of games nowadays and the amountof ram neededis onlygoingupas the yearsgo on.
- 3. Salford City College EcclesSixth Form Centre BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN Unit 20: Computer Game Platforms and Technologies Brief 1_Task 2 Display The display resolution or display modes of a digital television, computer monitor or display device is the number of distinct pixels in each dimension that can be displayed. It can be an ambiguous term especially as the displayed resolution is controlled by different factors in cathode ray tube (CRT) displays, flat-panel displays (including liquid-crystal displays) and projection displays using fixed picture-element (pixel) arrays. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Display_resolution Your displayis the computer monitorin termsof a PC. It works througha set numberof pixelsandthat isdisplayed correctlywith resolution optionsonthe PC. The displayof a monitoris pretty important,like mentionedon the graphics processor section.Display isneededin orderto truly connect someone toa game. Sound A sound card (also known as an audio card) is an internal computerexpansion card that facilitates economical input and output of audio signals to and from a computer under control of computer programs. The term sound card is also applied to external audio interfaces that use software to generate sound, as opposed to using hardware inside the PC. Typical uses of sound cards include providing the audio component for multimedia applications such as music composition, editing video or audio, presentation, education and entertainment (games) and video projection. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_card The soundcard ina PC(also knownas an audiocard) handles internal audio signals. Howeveritcan alsodeal with external soundssuchas speak recognition. A soundcard is requiredfora PC or Games console asmost gameswithout sound(unless it’s a part of the gameplay) usuallyare not as immersive to the playerand can make the playerfeel unattachedto the game.
- 4. Salford City College EcclesSixth Form Centre BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN Unit 20: Computer Game Platforms and Technologies Brief 1_Task 2 Game Storage Medium computers, a storage medium is any technology (including devices and materials) used to place, keep, and retrieve data. A medium is an element used in communicating a message; on a storage medium, the "messages" - in the form of data - are suspended for use when needed. The plural form of this term is storage media. Although the term storage includes both primary storage (memory), a storage medium usually means a place to hold secondary storage such as that on a hard disk or tape. A GSM or (Game storage unit) refersto placesthat keepandcan retrieve data. Aka:USB, Flash drives,External Hard drives etc. These are useful interms of addingmore memoryto a unitto allowit to store more gamesperhaps, Or more downloadable contentfor videogames. Interface Devices An interface device (IDF) isahardware componentor systemof componentsthatallowsahumanbeingto interactwitha computer,a telephonesystem,orother electronicinformationsystem.The termisoften encounteredinthe mobilecommunicationindustry where designersare challengedtobuildthe proper combination of portability,capability,andease of use intothe interface device.The overall setof characteristicsprovidedbyaninterface device isoften referredtoas the user interface(and,for computers - at least,inmore academicdiscussions - the human- computerinterface orHCI ).Today's desktopand notebookcomputershave whathascome to be called a graphical userinterface ( GUI ) to distinguishitfrom earlier,more limitedinterfacessuchasthe command line interface ( CLI). http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/interface- device-IDF A interface device isa hardware componentof a computeror entertainment systemthat allowsa humanbeing to interact withthe computerina particularway. Voice communications and Virtual Realityare becomingall the more prominent invideogames nowadays. Meaningthat More and more people are optingto use these rather than text speechand standard gameplaywhich aren’tas much of an interface device.
- 5. Salford City College EcclesSixth Form Centre BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN Unit 20: Computer Game Platforms and Technologies Brief 1_Task 2 Connectivity This refers to the ability of a software application or piece of equipment to connect to another application or piece of equipment (e.g. computers). 'Poor connectivity' means it is difficult for that machine or software to share data, usually because it is using a proprietary data protocolthat few other systems use. On the other hand good connectivity is likely to mean that the network, equipment or software is using a common protocol. Connectivityis the abilityto connectto a another applicationor piece of equipment.For instance, computerscan connectto the internetusing a modemor router. It allowspeople to connectto the internet, Meaningif connectivity wasn’ta thing, People wouldn’t be able to play the gamesthey enjoy,use social media.All video gameswouldbe offline based etc. Power Supply Short for power supply and sometimes abbreviated as PSU, which is short for Power Supply Unit. Apower supply is an internal hardware component that supplies components in a computer with power. The power supply converts a 110-115 or 220-230 volt alternating current (AC) into a steady low- voltage direct current (DC) usable by the computer and rated by the number of watts it generates. For example, the image to the right, is of an Antec True 330, a 330Watt power supply and an example of a computer power supply. http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/p/ps.htm A power supplyisan internal componentin a computer that supplies the power converting froma set numberof wattsto a steadylow voltage. Overclocking can pushthis. A powersupply iscrucial for gaming,A good powersupply can pusha computer’s specsto new heights,For instance a bettergraphics card needsa betterpower supplysoit doesn’tburn out easily.