Moved from CL - The THUMB

[Dualnames]

Okay, so since I'm working on the thumb revision, yes the tool that is used for hitchhiking, so any bloody ideas on how to visualize a two button hitchhiking device? (Not sure if this goes here)

The thumb is an electronic device that allows hitchhiking on nearby ships. It has two buttons, one called Hitchhike and one called Engineer (Green and Red coloured)

I'm thinking something like this:

I want something that sort of obligates this movement:




or this one:


Any ideas?

[Wonkyth]

I'm not quite sure what you mean, but if you want a THUMB...

[OneDollar]

Doesn't Ford drop it in the game? That means it has to be hand-held and not strapped to the wrist or anything.

[Azraq]

How about something like a joystick?

[Misj']

The thumb is an electronic device that allows hitchhiking on nearby ships. It has two buttons, one called Hitchhike and one called Engineer (Green and Red coloured)

I want something that sort of obligates this movement:

Any ideas?

Personally I would probably go for some 'hyper-simplistic' idea like a thimble...but hightech-ed (I'm thinking holographic thumb-sign, fold-out display with buttons and scanner (that shouldn't be able to fit in the thimble in the first place, etc...)). The nice thing about a thimble is that it more or less forces the wearer to do the thumbs-up signal (more or less being more less than more more; but you get the picture).

[Ali]

I like the thimble. If it has two buttons because of dual functions, they could be triggered by thumbs up and thumbs down.

[Scarab]

Well if you wanted to make the 'thumbs up' sign essential to use it, you could just have a device that slips ovar the thumb (like a thimble or a ring), with the two buttons you mentioned on the inside of the hand. Therefore you would have to lift your thumb to access them.

S.

[Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens]

The Critics Lounge isn't for getting suggestions on how to go about drawing something but how to improve or work with something you've already drawn.  If you don't add some kind of wip image I'll have to move this to adventure.  I tossed together a concept to give you some ideas, though.  Fitting your thumb in the groove along the device to push the buttons (they could be sliders or dials) will reproduce a thumbs up gesture.

[IndieBoy]

I'm waiting for a the dildo comment...





How about a coin type object that you flip? And it will end up making your thumb point upwards?

[Technocrat]

I'd agree with Progz's shape in a way, I'd see it as something grippable in your hand with one's thumb along the side of it to reach the buttons.

[Mr Flibble]

Wasn't the thumb a small black box devoid of features? I'm not sure where I'm getting that from but it's how I always imagined it.

[Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens]

Waited a week for Dualnames to post some concept work of his own.  Moving to Adventure Talk.

[Renegade Implementor]

In the book the Electronic thumb is described as a "short, squat black rod, smooth and matt with a couple of flat switches and dials at one end."

It wouldn't be to hard to fashion a hand-held rod in the "hitchhiking thumb" pose.

As an aside, the cover for the original radio plays (cassette tape) has an illustration of Ford with an electronic thumb very similiar to ProgZmax's design, although the illustration had Ford wearing it.

[Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens]

Is this what you're referring to, Renegade?

[Renegade Implementor]

Indeed it is.  Thanks ProgZmax, now I don't have to borrow the library's copy to scan the cover.

[TerranRich]

That's why Google Image is your friend. I found it in 10 seconds flat using "hitch hiker's guide bbc audio" as my keywords.