AIBO gets another shot at life, thanks to Wiimotes

Just when you think the world has seen its fill of questionably-useful Wiimote hacks, some pranksters have to go and get AIBO involved. Disguised as a research project on human device interaction, the Wiibot hails from University of Calgary and involves a pair of Wiimotes and nunchucks -- the nunchucks are naturally strapped to the user's biceps -- for bending the AIBO to their will. In the video after the break you can see this interface method pitted against archaic keyboard input, or you can check out the read link to see these nerds try to justify these kinds of shenanigans.

[NG @ Nov 18th 2007 10:07AM]

cute

[ipodrulz @ Nov 18th 2007 10:41AM]

Hey Look! A Boot Camp Shirt!

[Dragod @ Nov 18th 2007 10:58AM]

Is it me, or is the 360 the only real "gaming console" in the next generation?

It's just weird to me that the PS3 is being used as a Super Computer using Folding@Home and the Wii is being used for robots and Physical Therapy... The 360 is the only one actually being used for what it was meant to do, lol.

[Fank @ Nov 18th 2007 11:37AM]

Is it me, or are you an idiot? Why is it the only "gaming console" in the next generation? What is so new about their games? The level of graphics, that's what. But hey, the PS3 has better graphics! So there goes your stupid point.
And the Wii isn't used for robots, the controller is. And oh no! People are having fun during physical therapy! Call the killjoys! Idiot. Eat me.

[thethirdmoose @ Nov 18th 2007 12:17PM]

Dragod,
By that rational, the XBox was not a "real gaming console" because people used it as a media center...

[Dragod @ Nov 18th 2007 1:47PM]

Wow, hostility. I wasn't trying to bash any consoles. And, I said nothing about graphics... I was just saying that it's weird that gaming consoles are being used for things other than gaming/entertainment.

[Fank @ Nov 18th 2007 2:00PM]

Gaming consoles that are being used for other things than gaming is as old as the Famicom.

[ethana2 @ Nov 19th 2007 3:19AM]

The console is irrelevant. The only console that's worth crap for anything other than the manufacturer's intent is the PS3, and even then the GPU and wireless are screwed.

We're talking peripherals.

[wokoman @ Nov 18th 2007 11:41AM]

@Dragod : Yes it's you, actually the 360 seems to be the only one that can only play games, the Wii and PS3 can obviously do much more :-)

[snitch @ Nov 18th 2007 12:25PM]

can you believe the Wii is still goin for like $350 on ebay? My friend works at best buy and he tell me everytime they get a huge shipment of then it only last 2 days. I personally got a Ps3 but got rid of it within a month because the games where kind of boring and where just getting me dizzy as hell, I never try the 360 though but I have head that the Wii is more fun as far as gaming goes, but I just wish they could develop games like wold of warcraft for consoles

[Thomas @ Nov 18th 2007 12:55PM]

Maybe you should take a break from World of Warcraft and work on your grammar. Reading that last sentence of yours made ME dizzy.

[BubbaGump @ Nov 18th 2007 7:08PM]

Dear snitch,

Your last sentence is about 3 sentences buddy.

Did you ever attend something when you were a kid called the 3rd grade???

Sincerely,

BubbaGump

[SJ @ Nov 18th 2007 2:15PM]

I actually ran a study comparing the Wiimote to traditional analog sticks for games like Waverace 64.

The participants were traditional non-gamers, and overwhelmingly people found the analog stick to be easier. There is a tendency to oversteer using the wiimote. The motion controls were: holding the wiimote in one hand and just rotating it left and right to steer. The "tight-ness" of the analog stick was better overall. So I would suggest Nintendo to stick with the analog stick if they are going to create a Waverace sequel.

[KC @ Nov 18th 2007 2:43PM]

Now, that's pretty cool. They should bring back the Power Glove. Remember that? Imagine if you had 2 Power gloves, with Wii-mote motion sensing...

[Fruition @ Nov 18th 2007 4:03PM]

I suspect scientists will one day use the Wiimote to cure cancer.

[Steven DallaVicenza @ Nov 18th 2007 4:21PM]

One of the authors was my Intro to programming prof . . .

[Sparky @ Nov 18th 2007 9:03PM]

As long as they don't put a shoe on my head or do a barrel roll.

Signed
Sparky the Aibo

[ethana2 @ Nov 19th 2007 3:16AM]

Get a bluetooth dongle, two candles, and find the input software for the OS that you use. I think all three major platforms have what you need.