Wed Sep 25 04:29:07 UTC 2024: ## Rotary Phone Reimagined: Lithuanian Hackers Control Doom with “Dialrhea”
Vilnius, Lithuania – A group of Lithuanian hackers have created a unique and utterly useless device that is surprisingly functional: a rotary phone repurposed to control the classic first-person shooter game Doom. Dubbed “Dialrhea,” the project was born during the “Internet Of Shit” hackathon, a competition focused on building utterly useless but functional gadgets.
“Dialrhea” operates via Bluetooth, allowing users to control Doom by spinning the rotary dial. It even boasts a bug that causes the player to “leap” forward rapidly, a quirk the creators embraced as a feature.
This innovative device garnered attention at the hackathon, winning both the “Least Shitty Project” award and the “Public Prize.” The team, consisting of Donatas Valiulis, Džiugas Bartkus, and the author, explained that the inspiration came from a casual brainstorming session over a few beers.
The project gained further recognition at various events, including Maker Faire, a hacker camp, and a music festival. It even caught the eye of Valdas Lašas, a prominent Lithuanian entrepreneur, who was unable to resist testing the device.
While “Dialrhea” may seem absurd, the creators, inspired by their shared love for Doom, highlight the game’s remarkable ability to run on various hardware. They cite the impressive examples of running Doom on potatoes, calculators, and even pregnancy tests.
The device itself is built on Arduino and utilizes Bluetooth LE for wireless communication. The team detailed the technical challenges they faced, particularly with Bluetooth stability, but ultimately found solutions through extensive testing and debugging.
While “Dialrhea” may not be a commercial success, its story demonstrates the creative potential of merging technology and gaming, even if it’s to control a classic game with a rotary phone. The team hopes their project inspires others to explore the boundaries of technology and have fun along the way.
First Piper 