Scalable Maps of Random Dots for Middle-scale Locative Mobile Games

MPhil Thesis Defence


Title: "Scalable Maps of Random Dots for Middle-scale Locative Mobile 
Games"

By

Mr. Lu CHEN


Abstract

Locative games, or location-based games, are very popular nowadays because of 
their unique playing experience. They have been explored mostly for a 
large-scale space (e.g., urban areas) for multiplayers using localization 
technologies like GPS, or for a small-scale space (e.g., a table) for single 
player using vision-based method by feature matching.

In this thesis, we propose middle-scale locative games which allow multiple 
players to play digital games by physically moving in a middle-scale space 
(e.g. a classroom), to fill in the gap between aforementioned large-scale and 
small-scale locative games. We present a new scalable map to enable it. Our map 
is built upon the recent development of fiducial markers, specifically, the 
random dot markers. We propose a simple solution, i.e., using a grid of 
compound markers, to address the scalability problem. Our highly scalable 
approach is able to generate a middle-scale map on which multiple players can 
stand and position themselves via mobile cameras in real time. Our map could 
cover a large indoor area within a typical mobile phone's limited heapsize, and 
demonstrates higher localization accuracy over traditional map of ARToolkit 
markers. We show how a classic computer game can be effectively adapted to our 
middle-scale gaming platform.


Date:			Tuesday, 18 June 2013

Time:			2:00pm – 4:00pm

Venue:			Room 3494
 			Lifts 25/26

Committee Members:	Dr. Chiew-Lan Tai (Supervisor)
 			Dr. Pedro Sander (Chairperson)
 			Prof. Long Quan


**** ALL are Welcome ****