This software has a real-time dynamics simulator. All of objects behave under rigid body dynamics. They also have their weight and center of gravity. When players interact with computer-generated characters like penguin or pucks, they can feel the difference of weight between penguin and puck.

A typical play style is collaborating with the automotive penguin of same team and throwing in pucks to enemy's goal hole. But subsidiary players who doesn't have a grip can join same time, because the floor screen is too large for children's view. If subsidiary (or just waiting) players help for main player to tell whole characters location. It means making a cooperative communication using off-line space in our system. We think it is important design for children's game system.

When the penguins of rival groups block their goal by their movement. Player should push penguins by full body movement. If player make a collision to them, system represents heavy feel and penguins' voice.

This content was designed like interactive bricks toy having automotive wills and dynamics. Then to get a win isn't so important. Collaborating with penguin, throwing in pucks sharply or touching some characters are just interesting experiences.

There are results from visitor who played "Penguin Hockey" at an exhibition. In this case, we installed our prototype system at an event that was prepared for children including handicapped individuals (August 1-7th, 2001 in Osaka Japan). From all players, we got their impressions by questionnaire. There were 361 persons who had played in 7 days. No injured children are there. Numbers of players in the age of 12 or below was 336 (93%). Average age in this group was 7.53. The youngest was aged 1. The ratio of gender is 57/42 (boys/girls). 97% of players answered [Joyful/Amused]. 93% of players could touch the virtual objects. In answer to the question, "How do you feel when you touch these Invisible objects?"" 45% replied with [wonder/mysterious] and 29% replied with [Amused]. We can find a difference about reply for this question between 3-5 (infancy) and higher age. Infancy feel haptics as [Amused] but higher age feel it as [wonder/mysterious]. We think this result reasons by growing of recognition. We also asked for the player's favorite TV game title, and we asked that, "In addition, do you like our penguin hockey rather than your favorite?" later. Then 59% children said [Yes]. 

Please see video to get detail of activities(YouTube)

[A Screen shot of "Penguin Hockey"]
Projection this image to floor screen. 
The blue ball is avatar of player.

[A design of characters]
In this case, the penguin is 5 times heavier than the puck. And for faster collision detection, penguin's physical shape was rounded as same as snowman.

[Promotion movie of "Penguin Hockey"]
Video(YouTube)

[A geographic sandbox]

[A hot air balloon simulator]

We plan some of content examples for Tangible Playroom now. Especially, it can represent force and haptics with safe. Additionally, tangible grip can change for other tangible toys. It looks like ROM cartridge on current game systems.

Upper picture is one of examples for future application, "A geographic sandbox". It looks likes a Virtual Kindergarten's sandbox. But floor screen shows players neighborhood map. The girl can make and touch a dune her self. Now a boy is kicking to break the dune but he will miss because of it is just an image. She just can touch her geo design.

Lower picture is one of examples using image recognizer, "A hot air balloon simulator". The tangible grip is a hot air balloon. A girl grasps a fan. Image recognizer can detect her motion, then it makes a wind to the balloon. Tangible Playroom can represent force then they can feel a wind force via balloon. Of course, it can change to other tangible toy like a plane.

These examples are just a plan now. However this isn't a dream when our system becomes usual.