Back when it was just a prototype, the iPawn game pieces had us scratching our heads over how they interacted with a touchscreen. But now that they’ll officially be available this month, we have a better idea of how they turn the iPad into an interactive board game.
https://gizmodo.com/tell-us-how-this-object-detecting-iphone-game-works-pl-5619578
Unlike Disney’s toys that interact with an iPad through the use of metal pads on their underside, the iPawn tokens are apparently made from a special ABS plastic that conducts the energy from your fingers to the iPad’s display. So while just sitting on the screen the pieces aren’t recognized, but once a player moves them to a new location, their position will be detected triggering animations, sounds, and presumably keeping track of the game’s progress and score. The iPawn tokens will be sold in $16 kits with a free accompanying app, each customized for a specific game including paddles for Air Hockey and miniature ladders for Snakes & Ladders. And while it’s a clever use of the technology, I think the real innovation here is that they’ve found another way to distract kids with an iPad, without them having to get their greasy fingerprints all over it. [iPawn via Coolest Gadgets]
https://gizmodo.com/disneys-new-toys-want-to-play-with-your-ipad-5844175
