Operating Manual¶

• Operating Manual
  • Introduction
  • Setting up the Holoseat
  • Using Holoseat in game
  • Configuring Holoseat with the Desktop App
  • Troubleshooting
    • I am pedaling, but my character is not walking.

Introduction¶

Welcome to the Holoseat. We hope it serves you as well as it has our development team (yes, we really use it). Please be sure share your experience online.

The Operating Manual covers the set up and use of the Holoseat. It starts with the steps needed to prepare the Holoseat for first time use. It then moves on to how to use the Holoseat hardware while playing your games, followed by instructions for the desktop configuration app. Finally, the Operating Manual closes with some troubleshooting steps.

Setting up the Holoseat¶

There are two physical components to the Holoseat: the sensors which are attached to your exercise pedals and the controller which is connected to the sensors and your computer.

1. Begin setting up the Holoseat by placing your pedals in front of your computer at a comfortable distance from your chair. Pedal a few times from your preferred position for gaming to ensure you can use the pedals while playing.
2. Next, place the Holoseat controller next to your computer so you can reach the Enable button (the large green button on the Holoseat controller, it will light up when the Holoseat is enabled)
3. Connect the Holoseat sensors to the Holoseat controller using a Cat5 cable
   <insert joint pics of the ethernet jacks as a single image>
4. Connect the Holoseat controller to the computer using a UBB cable. The sensor lights should light up, and if you are using the standard default settings the Holoseat controller Enable button should be lit indicating the Holoseat is enabled and that pedaling will result in keystrokes on the computer.
   <insert pics of Holoseat controller in enabled mode and the sensor lights lit>
5. Test the Holoseat by opening a text editor (e.g. Notepad on Windows) and pedaling forward. If you are using the standard default settings, you should see a string of 'w' characters printed in the text editor.
6. If you are running Windows and have not already installed the desktop configuration app, download it from here and unzip the files to Documents\Holoseat.
7. Be sure to adjust the resistance on your pedals to a level that is not too easy and not too hard (you are looking for a resistance level that challenges you while still allowing you to pedal for long periods of time). If the resistance is too low you will overshoot your walk cadence and have difficulty using Holoseat in games. If you set it too high you will tire yourself out before the end of a gaming session and have difficulty getting your character to walk.

Using Holoseat in game¶

As you will see, using the Holoseat in game in intuitive and only takes a few minutes to learn. Once you are in a game which uses keyboard controls to control motion (e.g. wasd) all you have to do to use the Holoseat is pedal to move and stop pedaling to stop.

If you pedal forward your character will walk forward. If you pedal backwards, your character will walk backwards. Holoseat currently supports to walking speeds: single step and continuous walking. To single step, simple pedal one rotation (either forwards or backwards). To walk continuously (forward or backward), you need to pedal at or above your trigger cadence (controlled in the desktop configuration app). While you are pedaling you will see the sensor lights blink off as you pedal past each sensor. This behavior indicates the sensor recognizes your pedal activity. If you do not see the lights blink off adjust the magnet/sensor placement until you do.

<insert pic of sensor light off due to trigger>

The Holoseat can be disable so you can use the pedals without triggering keystrokes during non-gaming activities. Press the green Enable button on the Holoseat controller to disable or enable Holoseat. The Enable button will be lit when Holoseat is enabled and unlit when it is disabled. Note, you can also disable/enable Holoseat from the desktop configuration app.

<insert pics of enabled and disable state for button>

Configuring Holoseat with the Desktop App¶

The desktop configuration app resides in the Windows system tray. Start it by running Documents\Holoseat\HoloseatConfigurator\HoloseatConfig.exe. Then bring up the user interface by clicking the 'h' icon in the system tray.

You can use the desktop configuration app to make live updates to Holoseat's settings (these changes are not preserved when Holoseat loses power, e.g. when it is unplugged) and to update its default settings (these changes are preserved when Holoseat loses power). Before using the configuration app, ensure the Serial Port is set correctly (it usually finds the correct port) and the Hardware select box is set to feather.

Be sure to select the appropriate COM port.

• Enable/Disable
• Cadence
• Keys

To make any changes live updates, click the ??? button. To make any changes updates to the default values, click the ?? button.

Troubleshooting¶

I am pedaling, but my character is not walking.¶

There are a couple of things to try when your character is not walking.

1. Is the Enabled button lit?
   If not, enable the Holoseat by pressing the Enable button or using the desktop configuration app.
2. Are the sensor lights winking off when you pedal past them?
   If not, adjust the placement of the magnet/sensors until they do.
3. Check the resistance on your pedals and the trigger cadence in the desktop configuration app to ensure they are set properly for you.