bpalmer@bbn.com (Brian Palmer) (11/22/89)
Does anyone have any info on the InterActive Vision "toy" by ViewMaster? The TV ads make it seem as though this box gives your VCR limited interactive access. For some of us that would like to play with interactive video as a hobby, this looks like it may be a cheap way to start. Has anyone pulled one apart yet? Can you make your own tapes with this unit? Brian
fischer@tesla.sgi.com (Ron Fischer) (11/28/89)
I had a chance to look over the Viewmaster unit about a month ago at a San Francisco Bay Area Home Store. The does provide a limited form of interaction in a very very clever way. The unit is plugged in >>between the TV and VCR<<. Cables run from the outputs of the VCR to the ViewMaster unit and from there to the TV. I believe it requries a stereo VCR for reasons that will become clear. In essence, it uses each channel of the stereo soundtrack, and two sides of the TV image, switching these on and off as appropriate. Also, some limited graphics are generated in the same style as those on the tape, lending a kind of integration to the whole show. I presume that at times the machine is playing one sound track and downloading game software on the other. They may have timing marks on the interlace as well as data on the soundtrack. Its one of those engineering marvels working against a very limited medium. How its used: The tape I saw played runs beginning to end with no stops. Uncle Scrooge Duck (?) introduces various animated sequences from Disney short subjects starring Donald Duck and clan. Then, Uncle Scrooge intros a little game, all typically simple hit the object type games. The videotape provides the background, the game unit generates typical game graphics over this. A timer is displayed in the frame showing how much time is left to score. That display is probably just recorded on the videotape. After several games Uncle Scrooge says "OK, let's see how you did." A score is listed in the semi-handwritten style of the video tape images. Then Uncle Scrooge appears >>on the left or right of the screen<< giving either a "Good job!" or "Better luck next time!" message. The video unit chooses the appropriate soundtrack and blacks out the opposite side of the screen. A neat idea. Its lifetime depends on how quickly CDI and whatnot enter the consumer market. ron();