1) A human-computer interface (HCI) allows interaction between humans and computers through input/output devices. HCI is important for game platforms as it allows control of games through devices like mice, keyboards, and controllers. 2) Components like the central processing unit (CPU), graphics processing unit (GPU), random access memory (RAM), and display are vital for game platforms. The CPU processes commands, GPU handles graphics, RAM temporarily stores active data, and the display shows the visuals of the game. 3) Other important components include sound systems for audio, storage media to hold game files, interface devices for interaction, and connectivity for networking and multiplayer functions. A power supply provides necessary power to

1. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 20: Computer Game Platforms and Technologies
Brief 1_Task 2
Name:Tom Crook Researched Definition (include URL
link)
Explanation in your own
words
Imagery Why is this
important to
hardware
technologies for
game platforms?
Human
Computer
Interface
human-computer interface (HCI) The means of
communicationbetweena human user anda computer
system, referring in particular to the use of input/output
devices with supportingsoftware. Devices of increasing
sophisticationare becomingavailable to mediate the human-
computer interaction. These include graphics devices, touch-
sensitive devices, and voice-input devices. Theyhave to be
configured ina waythat will facilitate an efficient and
desirable interactionbetween a person andthe computer.
Artificial intelligence techniques of knowledge representation
maybe used to model the user of a computer system, andso
offer the opportunityto give personalizedadvice on its use.
The design ofthe machine interface mayincorporate expert-
systemtechniques to offer powerful knowledge-based
computingto the user.
http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O11-
humancomputerinterface.html
Basicallya HumanComputer Interface is
referring to a device you canuse witha
computer suchas a mouse, keyboard even
speakers. Basicallyanything whichcanbe
pluggedin andcontrolled bya humancanbe
seenas a Human Computer Interface.
HumanInteractionwithcomputers can
make it mucheasier to control and
computers and to perform certainactionas
some computers andor software require an
accessoryto helpperformthe task in which
you wanted to do. So in some cases it is a
necessity. Most forms of Computer Human
Interface are USBBasedandcanbe plugged
in andusedveryeasily.
https://images
-na.ssl-images-
amazon.com/i
mages/G/01/u
s/pcs/aplus/B0
0EWEHI5K_img
1.jpg
This is important for game
technologies as most games
now-a-days require other
forms of control suchas a
mouse or keyboardand
controller which theyall fall
into the categoryof HCI as
theyall allow for human
interface sowithout these
forms of mediathe games
wouldnot be playable.
Central
Processing
Unit (CPU)
Stands for "CentralProcessing Unit." The CPU is the primary
component of a computer that processesinstructions. It runs
the operatingsystemand applications, constantlyreceiving
input fromthe user or active software programs. It processes
the data andproduces output, which maystore byan
applicationor displayedon the screen.
http://techterms.com/definition/cpu
The CPU or the central processing unit is
usedto basicallyprocesscommands given to
the computer bythe user. It is the main
component that helps runthe systemand
applications. The CPU is constantlyreceiving
informationonwhat the user is doing andit
is carrying out the tasks.
http://johnzpc
hut.com/word
press/wp-
content/uploa
ds/2011/12/int
el-xeon-5600-
cpu.jpg
The CPU is veryimportant in
game platforms as again
without the CPU the games
wouldn’t be able to be
player or evencreatedso
this is a veryvital
component of this.

2. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 20: Computer Game Platforms and Technologies
Brief 1_Task 2
Graphic
Processors
Stands for "Graphics ProcessingUnit." Like the CPU (Central
Processing Unit), it is a single-chipprocessor. However, the
GPU is used primarilyfor computing 3D functions. This
includes things such as lighting effects, object
transformations, and 3D motion. Because these types of
calculations are rather taxing onthe CPU, the GPU canhelp
the computer runmore efficiently.
http://techterms.com/definition/gpu
The GPU or Graphics Processing Unit is
similar to the CPU inthat it is a single- chip
processor but the GPU focuses more on
graphics andis here to helpthe performance
of aspects suchas Lighting effects and other
3D motions as these tasks wouldbe too
much for the CPU too handle. https://upload.
wikimedia.org/
wikipedia/com
mons/4/44/66
00GT_GPU.jpg
The GPU can helpthe game
platform as it canbe the
borderline of how goodthe
game canbe as it cancapof
the graphics soingames the
GPU contributes mainlyto
the graphics side of playand
creation.
Memory
(RAM)
RAM(random access memory) is the place in a computer
where the operating system, applicationprograms, anddata
in current use are kept sothat theycanbe quicklyreached by
the computer's processor. RAMis muchfaster to readfrom
and write to than the other kinds ofstorage ina computer,
the hard disk, floppydisk, andCD-ROM. However, the data in
RAMstays there onlyas long as your computer is running.
When you turn the computer off, RAMloses its data. When
you turn your computer onagain, your operatingsystemand
other filesare once againloadedinto RAM, usuallyfrom your
hard disk.
http://searchstorage.techtarget.com/definition/RAM-random-
access-memory
RAMor RandomAccess Memoryis where
the operatingsystemand data currently
being usedis savedso that I canbe quickly
accessed bythe user RAMis much faster to
read from and to write to thananyother
kinds ofstorage built for computers. The
DATA in your RAMwill stayas longas your
computer is running. When your computer
us turnedoffit will lose its data. And then
once you turn it back onit will loadyour files
and applications fromyour hard disk.
http://s.hswsta
tic.com/gif/ra
m-ch.jpg
The RAMis important in the
fact that it can help store
saveddata to the game soif
the game is a large game
havinga lot of RAMcan
reallyhelpas noone wants
to have to restart a game
after the playit.
Display DisplayScreen Equipment(DSE) is a device or
equipmentthathas an alphanumeric or graphic display
screen,regardless ofthe displayprocess involved;it
includes both conventional displayscreens and those
used in emerging technologies such as laptops,touch-
screens and other similar devices.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/dse/
Displayscreenequipment is veryimportant
as without it you wouldn’t be able to do
anything as youwouldn’t be able too see.
you can have manyresolutions but the basic
is around420p. So this component is very
important as without it you wouldn't be able
to do anything onyour device.
http://images.
apple.com/eur
o/displays/c/ge
neric/images/o
verview_hero1
.jpg
Displayis important in
games platform as it is the
mainreasongames can be
played as without any
displayyou can not see the
game anddependent on the
resolution ofthe screenwill
also determine howgood
the game will looksoit also
contributes to visuuals.

3. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 20: Computer Game Platforms and Technologies
Brief 1_Task 2
Sound Sound effects (or audio effects) are artificiallycreated or
enhancedsounds, or soundprocesses usedto emphasize
artistic or other content offilms, televisionshows, live
performance, animation, videogames, music, or other media.
In motionpicture and television production, a soundeffect is a
soundrecordedandpresented to make a specific storytelling
or creative point without the use of dialogue or music. The
term often refers to a process applied to a recording, without
necessarilyreferringto the recording itself. Inprofessional
motionpicture and televisionproduction, dialogue, music, and
soundeffects recordings are treatedas separate elements.
Dialogue andmusic recordings are never referred to as sound
effects, eventhoughthe processes applied to such as
reverberationor flangingeffects, oftenare called"sound
effects"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_effect
soundor soundeffects are artificially
createdor enhancedaudiowaves. used to
make things more entertaining such as TV,
Games and other form ofmedia. soundcan
be capturedin manyways using recording
devices it wither it is through natural sounds
or digitallyenhancedsounds using midi
techniques.
http://www.softpi
anola.co.uk/sound
card.jpg
soundis important ingame
platforms as it can enhance
the game usingsounds such
as a sound ofa bullet can
immerse the player and
make the believe the game.
So in mayways soundis
onlyhelpful ingames to
helpprofessionalism andit
is also goodto helpthe
game be more entertaining.
Game
Storage
Medium
For games andconsole to work theyneed to be storedona
disc, as the idea ofdownloadinggames has onlybecome a
new thing, for decadestheyhave beenstoredon discs
meaningthat DVD's & opticaldiscs would needto have been
usedto burnthe ISO image of the game ontothe disc and
then these could be used to runthe game. However, as DVD's
have a maximumstorage of5.7 GB, this means that games
couldn't exceedthisamount unless theywere multi-disc
games. As console could onlyuse suchDVD's for their games
to run from, theywere limitedto only5.7 GB of space
meaningthat large expansive games would needto be
slimmed downto fit onthe disc.
http://dfgamestechnologies.blogspot.co.uk/2012/
05/game-storage-mediums.html
Basicallyfor games andconsoles to actually
work theyneedto be stored somewhere,
This reallyhelps withdownloadinggames.
The basics of Game storage medium is that it
is storage you findon a console but this
storage Is verylimited unless you buysome
excess storage.
http://3.bp.blo
gspot.com/-
c22u_2TY2cs/T
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AAAAAAAJ4k/_
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320/PS%2BVita
%2BMemory%
2BCard.jpg
Game storage mediumis
important as like RAMit is a
form of strorage but with
this it is what you would use
when out ofmemoryas it
can be bought multiple time
to helpenhance the
memoryon anyconsole or
device allowing for better
interface withthe game
platform.
Interface
Devices
IDF alsostands for intermediate distributionframe . An
interface device (IDF) is a hardware component or system of
components that allows a human beingto interact with a
computer, a telephone system, or other electronic
informationsystem. The termis often encounteredinthe
The basics of thisis it is usedto helppeople
interact withcomputers and programs. most
of this term is usedwhile speaking about
mobile and telephone communication. It
also helps to make some devices compatible
http://newslett
this is important in games
platform as it canhelpyou
with the wireless
connectionto apc somaybe

4. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 20: Computer Game Platforms and Technologies
Brief 1_Task 2
mobile communication industry where designers are
challengedto buildthe proper combinationof portability,
capability, andease of use into the interface device. The
overall set ofcharacteristics provided byaninterface device is
often referredto as the user interface (and, for computers - at
least, inmore academic discussions - the human-computer
interface or HCI ). Today's desktopand notebookcomputers
have what hascome to be calleda graphical user interface (
GUI ) to distinguishit from earlier, more limitedinterfaces
such as the commandline interface ( CLI).
http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/interface-device-IDF
with others. er.atxx.de/htm
l/img/pool/HID
oDevice.JPG
it can allow for multiple
people to playa console this
is mainlyused onis the
Nintendo Wii as multiple
people canplayallwith
wireless connections.
Connectivity A computer buzzword that refers to a programor device's
abilityto link withother programs anddevices. For example, a
program that can import data froma wide varietyof other
programs and canexport data inmanydifferent formats is said
to have good connectivity. On the other hand, computers that
have difficultylinking into a network (manylaptopcomputers,
for example) havepoor connectivity.
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/C/connectivity.html
Connectivitycan be used indifferent ways it
could be connectingto anexternal device
such as a wifi or something like Bluetooth
could be involved but it mainlyinvolves tow
ports whichcaneither witha wire connect
too one andother or wirelesslyconnect to
one another it is great for transferringData
without anydifficult techniques.
http://zaielaca
demic.net/net
working/image
s/modem.jpg
Connectivitycan be used to
enhance the multiplayer
aspect of a gamingplatofrm
trough playingwithfriends
through Bluetoothand
using wifi you canplaywith
people fromaroundthe
world.
Power
Supply
Also calleda power supplyunit or PSU, the component that
supplies power to a computer. Most personal computers can
be pluggedintostandardelectrical outlets. The power supply
then pulls the requiredamount of electricityandconverts the
AC current to DCcurrent. It also regulates the voltage to
eliminate spikesand surges common in most electrical
systems. Not all power supplies, however, doanadequate
voltage-regulation job, so a computer is always susceptible to
large voltage fluctuations.
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/P/power_supply.html
Basicallya power supplyunit is usedto
power allof the things your devicesruns off
of. its power will dependon what wattage
your computer or console takes toomuch
and it can over heat andtoo lessandthe
power supplywillnot work soit is allabout
gettingthe correct amount of power to
supplywhatever it is you wishto applythe
power too.
http://core0.st
aticworld.net/i
mages/article/
2013/01/stand
ard-psu-
100021930-
gallery.jpg
power supplyis goodfor
gaming platform as without
the correct power supplyit
wouldbe impossible to play
some games. alsoit would
be impossible to run certain
aspects ofaccessories as it
wouldbe impossible
without the correct power
supply.

5. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 20: Computer Game Platforms and Technologies
Brief 1_Task 2