The Wii (pronounced “We”) is Nintendo’s latest foray into the home video game market. While Sony and Microsoft battle over the high definition gamer, Nintendo chose to innovate in new gaming technologies that allow the console to detect and respond to the motion of the game controller. While there are myriad technologies used to make this innovation happen, the one that glues everything together is Bluetooth wireless technology.
Nintendo’s system supports up to four wireless controllers (nicknamed “Wiimotes” due to their close resemblance to a television remote). The controller has the familiar face buttons that have been on every Nintendo pad since the original Nintendo Entertainment System. What’s hidden inside is a motion sensor that can accurately measure controller movement and orientation. But detecting motion is only half the job. How do you get the information to the console?
The classical method has been with cables. But with the multiple types of controllers available for the Wii, requiring every controller to be plugged in would be both confusing and frustrating—nobody would be interested in untangling their controllers every time they sit to play. With wireless controllers available from both Sony and Microsoft in their respective consoles, the Wii would be the odd man out.
But wireless isn’t such an easy thing to implement either. The first wireless controllers used the same infrared technology that you’ll find in any TV remote—with the same limitations. Early adopters discovered that it was frustratingly easy for the controller to point the wrong direction; and with how integral controller motion is to the Wii, line of sight renders infrared pretty useless for video games.
The second generation of wireless technology used radio frequency (RF) technology to solve the line of sight problem, but imperfect implementations created new problems. Early RF wireless technology was power-hungry, requiring users to invest a fortune in either standard-issue batteries or a charger system. They also had problems with input latency—a phenomenon where there is a noticeable delay between when the button is pressed and when the input is processed, sometimes referred to as “input lag.” Not so bad when you’re watching TV, but it tends to render a video game unplayable.
With Nintendo’s selection of Bluetooth technology for the wireless component of its system, it has eliminated the complication, confusion, and inconvenience of cables, while maximizing battery life and maintaining the response time of a wired controller. That’s because Bluetooth is designed to work efficiently and deliver the low latency needed for “real-time applications” which is often a code-word for video games.
Bluetooth may also provide an intriguing opportunity for system expansion. The Wii only recognizes up to 4 Wiimotes, but the Bluetooth specification allows for up to 7 Bluetooth-capable devices. That leaves three slots for other Bluetooth devices such as headsets, cell phones, or printers (which may sound strange, but would not be Nintendo’s first interaction with a printer). Whatever Nintendo has planned, using standard technologies means that future innovation will be faster and less expensive.
