Hello, today I would like to tell you about how I invented a basic version of what now people would recognise as the Wii some 25 years or so before.
It all began when I would use my BBC Micro computer to play games, I didn't have a joystick and so had to use the keys to move and fire in games. One game Daley Thomsons Decathlon especially would require constant and heavy use of the Z and X keys as I recall.
I thought to myself there must be a better way. I knew that my BBC B had an analogue port which was capable of measuring voltage. Then I realised that human muscles produce electricity when in use. I connected a wire to the analogue port, then the other end to an adapted special wrist band which was worn by the user. I then setup a special mat on the floor for the user to run on, as not to wear out the carpet.
I wrote the software which would take the voltage reading from the analogue port then move a graphic of a human along the screen, the athlete would only move on the screen if there was a voltage of a certain amount, then move faster proportionally to the amount of energy being generated by the real human wearing the wrist band.
It was a very simplistic game, but provided many hours of fun, and impressed some of my friends at the time.
Ultimately I discontinued development of the technology, as at the time I thought it to be ludicrous that people would prefer to exercise in their house as opposed to outside in reality. I imagined that the computer game version of running could not be as popular or worth while as the real activity itself. I was wrong.
I also failed to imagine other applications, or trying a variety of other sports such as golf. I did not file a patent to my invention which now seems most regrettable given my current meager financial situation.
