The Audio Adventurer

Nov.2007,
individual Master graduation project,
coach: Dr. Ir. Joep Frens

The Audio Adventurer adds a new dimension to portable audio. It is a portable device for playing audio adventure games. It is more than an interactive audiobook: It enables you to explore an audio world filled with objects, characters and a story, in your own pace. A relaxed interactive audio experience.

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The interaction with the device is simple yet expressive. It can be easily used with closed eyes and by visually impaired people.

To avoid navigation difficulties, the audioworld is constructed as a network of paths, rather than open spaces. Each path is a seperate scene with a distinct ambient sound.

Paths in the audioworld can be traveled in an analogue way by rotating one end of the device. By pressing the same part, you can perform an action that depends on the context in the audio world (e.g. talk to a character, pick up an object, go to another path). By sliding the device open, you open the player's inventory (virtual backpack). The same rotational part can now be used to browse the inventory. If an inventory item is selected and you close the inventory, the player-character tries to use the item at the current place in the audio world.