Hardware Possible uses of the infrared port ?

[pachura]

I find the inclusion of the IrDA port in 3DS pretty bizarre, but let's try to guess what might it be used for ?

1. Exchanging data between two 3DS's when WiFi is not available - possible, but multiplayer gaming would be extremely difficult as both consoles would need to stay still, e.g. lie on a desk in front of each other. Not exactly 'mobile' gaming

2. TV remote - nothing to die for

3. Communication with Pokewalker - not my cup of tea, Tamagotchis are for kids

4. Communication with Wii - now this might be interesting, like Wii's camera detecting the location of 3DS, or just exchanging information (downloading/uploading photos, movies, profiles, unlocking hidden levels). Too bad I don't own Wii

Anything more you can think of ?

 

[Ultralex]

The PSP 1000 has an infrared port,too.
But nothing other than homebrew used it.

 

[FAST6191]

I recall the same thing on the GBC, I think datel or a company like that (I saw the device in an EB- real world chain now known as GAME) made a universal remote out of it. I do really regret not picking one of those up though.

I have had a few laptops with IR (mainly rebadged serial ports) although the only thing it was really ever used for was mobile phones, a select few tools, even fewer mice (most IR input devices were PS/2 with a dongle) and masochists who attempted networking with them but now bluetooth (along with wifi and USB these last few years) have stepped on that.

As for multiplayer having had one of the aforementioned keyboards unless they have some serious redundancy built into the device (bandwidth is hardly an issue for such things) or people make a habit of playing between two sides of a faraday cage in relatively dark rooms then wifi will beat it every time.

Best guess- low level transmission, a beacon of sorts or some measure of wii/wii successor functionality.

 

[pachura]

At which side of 3DS is the IR port located ? If 3DS' cameras do not have IR filters, they should be able to "see" the infrared ray. This could perhaps be used in augmented reality-type games...?

 

[popoffka]

Wii is not able to receive any IR info, it only has an emitter (sensor bar) and a camera that's only able to see an IR light, but not read it's info (wiimote).

Maybe it was there just for debugging purposes and will be removed when 3DS starts selling.

 

[DiscostewSM]

My assumption is that you place the 3DS in a docking port that comes with TV-Out, and use a remote to operate in picture/movie mode while sitting comfortably on the couch.

 

[thaddius]

The GBC used it's IR port to transfer 'Mystery Gifts' back and forth between copies of Pokemon Gold and Silver. It also let the GBC communicate with the Pocket Pikachu 1 and\or 2, for transferring 'watts' and mystery gifts as well.

And yeah, like someone said earlier, the PSP 1000 never used it outside of homebrew.

I don't think there'll be much of a point for the 3DS when you have local wireless and internet access...

 

[Deathmore]

Quick game set up, like how the IR is used in pokemon black and white

 

[duffmmann]

I don't even know if this can be accomplished via infrared, but I do that tvs communicate with remotes via infrared. So maybe the port can wirelessly display either DS screen on a tv via infrared. (I know, seems unlikely, but just a thought)

 

[Midna]

No. Doesn't work that way. A button press and full video is very different.

 

[Supersonicmonk]

to send a photo using IR on old phones took ages, imagine having to do the same with video. I'm no expert but I think that TV's are only wired up to select an input using IR

 

[pachura]

Quick game set up, like how the IR is used in pokemon black and white

Could you explain a little bit how did it work ?

 

[Urian1983]

An Infrared port? Why do you need an infrared port to send and receive data when you have something that is better?

 

[Rydian]

4. Communication with Wii - now this might be interesting, like Wii's camera detecting the location of 3DS, or just exchanging information (downloading/uploading photos, movies, profiles, unlocking hidden levels). Too bad I don't own Wii

Actually the "sensor bar" is just infrared lights. It just puts out infrared light, and it's the wiimote that has the camera and detects the bar, not the other way around.

EDIT: Late post...

 

[Deathmore]

Quick game set up, like how the IR is used in pokemon black and white

Could you explain a little bit how did it work ?

If you've played pokemon games on DS you know how tedious and time consuming it is to go to the pokemon centre, get your party pokemon, go to the union room but before u do you have save and watch animations until you get into the union room. Then one person would have to not do anything so that (lets call them player A and B) player A can talk to player B and then select trade from the list and then wait for a confirmation.

Now that's a bit tedious for a trade with someone right next to you. It's ok if it was someone who you didn't know and was in a populated place.

In pokemon black and white you recieve the Cgear which becomes the bottom screen. You tap the IR icon and select battle or trade without going to any pokemon centre, and that you can trade pokemon from boxes also. So if you just want to battle one person or trade with one person, you don't need to create a wireless lobby.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqfi2mp44UI

3 minutes in the video

 

[qlum]

the old gameboy collor had an infrared port you could use it like the link cable in some games for example you could trade using it in Pokemon trading card game and you could get items in Pokemon glod/silver/crystal

 

[lestar]

use the 3ds as a wiimote? infrared, accelerometer, gyroscope, come on, a wiimote with screens XD, maybe some games interact with the wii and play it it and using the 3ds as a controller, because other uses are useless, communication between 3ds we have wireless ad-hoc and Wifi, TV remote controler? so useless, pokewalker communication, only pokemon HG&SS use it and the cart have iR on it, only other use i see is little exchange of information between games, in pokemon B&W in battles says IR side to WIFI and Wireless communication, but i guess only a bunch of game (an scene in the future) will give it a use

 

[DiscostewSM]

use the 3ds as a wiimote? infrared, accelerometer, gyroscope, come on, a wiimote with screens XD, maybe some games interact with the wii and play it it and using the 3ds as a controller, because other uses are useless, communication between 3ds we have wireless ad-hoc and Wifi, TV remote controler? so useless, pokewalker communication, only pokemon HG&SS use it and the cart have iR on it, only other use i see is little exchange of information between games, in pokemon B&W in battles says IR side to WIFI and Wireless communication, but i guess only a bunch of game (an scene in the future) will give it a use

Used like a Wiimote? Hmmm. I know the new Batman game on the Wii allows a person to use a DS to play a character, and with the incorporated technology under the 3DS hood could potentially make it like a Wiimote, excluding data transmitted via Bluetooth (unless it has that too).

 

[DeMoN]

1. Local wireless is always available even when online WiFi isn't.
2. Err... no.
3. Possibly, but B/W are not compatible, and the IR sensor for HG/SS is built-in to the game itself already. Unless they did this so flash cart users can connect to a Pokewalker, which I doubt.
4. Maybe, seems a bit of a hassle with not enough reward.

I personally think that it's used to connect to laptops, since a lot of them have IR ports. I guess this is what they give us instead of bluetooth.

 

[chartube12]

Maybe the IR port is used for friendcode trading?