“The technologies which have had the most profound effects on human life are usually simple.” -Freeman Dyson
I have chosen to investigate the topic of Graphic Controllers.
Video PC board – ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 Graphics Controller with 256 MB of discrete video memory
Product Details
Brand: HP
Product Line: ATI
Model: Mobility Radeon X1600
MPN: 409979-001
UPC: 5704327135289
Specs:
Type: Graphics adapter
Interface: PCI Express x16
Graphics Processor: ATI Mobility Radeon X1600
Compatibility: PC
Graphics Processor Manufacturer: ATI
Expansion / Connectivity
Compatible Slots: PCI Express x16
Video Input
Input Type: None
From the research I have conducted, graphic controllers are a video card (which can also be referred to as a video adapter, display card, graphics card, graphics board, or graphics adapter), which is an expansion card that generates a feed of output images to a display. Most video cards offer various functions such as accelerated rendering of 3D scenes and 2D graphics, MPEG-2/MPEG-4 decoding, TV output, or the ability to connect multiple monitors (multi-monitor).
For my final project, I want to create an open source portable gaming device, much like a Game Boy, Nintendo DS, PSP, or PS Vita. I have been searching for a way to implement each idea and topic into my final project somehow. After some research, I think I have started to make progress on my initial vision for the final project. In the beginning (no joke, maybe), I had planned on creating a simple device that would only be able to play a simple game of follow the dot, ping pong or a downgraded form of Tetris. It was at this juncture where the graphics controller would play a crucial role in the project.
The initial idea was to use a graphics controller to take in feedback from the Arduino Board itself. It would then supply the information needed to display all the gameplay from the game on the monitor. As I went along, I thought maybe I could implement motion controls into it and still plan on doing so. However, the problem I had encountered was would there be any practical usefulness towards implementing an idea (i.e motion controls) that would serve no purpose for a product other than to play a simple game? In a way, I would only be wasting the full potential of these ideas.
It was not until I was in class dissecting a circuit board when the idea suddenly came to me. Maybe I do not have to simply forsake the quality of my initial vision. A realization occurred that I could stop looking at the situation one-dimensionally (and stubbornly) by changing my approach and thinking in regards to the final project. As a result, I could add to my growing bank of information and apply this new knowledge as well as these techniques to an Arduino based project while still being able to apply all of my other ideas. I can only hope that I will be successful in implementing all of my ideas into this project. My goal is not to reinvent the wheel, but maybe change how it is perceived and what the potential of its limits in terms of hardware and software can be.
For more information about how Graphic Controllers work:
This is an excellent post. You did a great job laying out the information and tying it together and the videos were spot on!