The video cube puzzle: On investigating temporal coordination

Abstract

We have created a novel computer-based 3D puzzle, named Video Cube Puzzle to investigate human beings' temporal coordination abilities. Ten adult participants were studied solving ten cubic video puzzles of varying difficulties using a within-subject design. The ten puzzles have two segmentation variations, 2x2x2 and 3x3x3, and five texture variations, solid colours and four videos of drastically different contents. Only 60% of the subjects were able to complete the entire problem set. The results indicate that random imagery and "active" videos make for easier Video Cube Puzzles. Similarly, a geometric increase in difficulty was noted as the number of segments in the puzzle increased. The challenging nature of temporal video cube puzzles appears to be partly due to people's poor ability to process temporal information when using a spatial representation of the timeline using a three dimensional volume. Additional studies are suggested to explore this further. As a new type of game however, the Video Cube Puzzle allows the complexity of the puzzle to be easily varied from simple to extremely complex providing a way to have a continuous pathway to skill and control leading to a satisfying experience when the puzzle is solved. © 2010 Springer-Verlag.