The QuadStick can recognize a sequence of movements of the joystick (or any sequence of inputs) to trigger an output instead of just a simple single input. This gives the QuadStick the ability to, in-effect, recognize the shapes as letters. A sequence of up to eight input triggers, such as moving the joystick through its discrete zones (as shown in Figure 4), mixed with other inputs, can be strung together to trigger any output.
To use pattern recognition, the user moves the joystick into a zone and momentarily pauses to signal the QuadStick to detect that location. The QuadStick uses the velocity of the joystick dropping to a low value to determine the user's intention and flashes the center Blue LED when it registers that location while recording the pattern. If the user moves through a zone quickly, the QuadStick will not include that zone when matching the pattern, which makes it possible to create patterns that include non-adjacent zones..
Once the pattern matches the sequence of locations in the configuration for an output, the output is triggered. Nearly all patterns start and end at the joystick center position.
The following examples illustrate recognition patterns for the letters A, I and K. The full list of the default recognition patterns used in the Singleton follow:
