Logitech optical dance pad design papers

Collection — Container: digital collection

Identifier: 120.1024

Collection Scope and Content Note

This digital collection documents the development life of the Logitech optical dance pad, which began production in 2008. Developed by Joe Grand and Ralph H. Baer, the collection highlights design decisions and changes that occurred during the design process. The collection includes photographs of prototypes, design sketches, driver information, source code, patents, correspondence, and design budgets. The materials date from 2005 through 2016, with the bulk dates from 2005 through 2008.

The papers are arranged into four series. The access copies have been migrated into PDF/A format. Additional scope and content information can be found in the Collection Inventory section of the finding aid.

Dates

Creation: 2005- 2008, 2016
Creation: Majority of material found within 2005-2008

Creator

Grand, Joe (Person)
Baer, Ralph H. (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research use by staff of The Strong and by users of its library and archives. Digital collection is available to on-site researchers in a read only format.

Conditions Governing Use

Though the donor has not transferred intellectual property rights (including, but not limited to any copyright, trademark, and associated rights therein) to The Strong, they have given permission for The Strong to make copies in all media for museum, educational, and research purposes.

Historical Note

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The dance pad was first developed in the late 1980s by Bandai for Family Trainer, where it was called the "Power Pad". It was developed as a "soft" pad, which was a mat with sensors in it; while a commercial success, it wasn't until the release ofDance Dance Revolution in 1998 that dance pads truly took off. Dance pads became popularized first in arcades and later as personal devices in the 2000s, with the Logitech optical dance pad being one such personal device. Development on the device began in 2005 by Joe Grand and Ralph H. Baer as a solid state dance pad relying on proximity sensors to detect the placement of the user's foot on the device. It was released in 2008 after three years of development. Dance pads continue to be popular today, with games such asDance Dance Revolution regularly having large tournaments across the world.

Joe Grand is an engineer, inventor, and hacker who first gained prominence as a member of the hacker group "L0ft" in the late 1990s, which at their height of fame and influence participated in a Congressional hearing on cybersecurity in 1998. Grand received his bachelor's degree in computer engineering from Boston University in 1997 and has since received an honorary doctorate from the University of Advancing Technology in Tempe, Arizona. He appeared on the Discovery Channel show Prototype This!, where in 2009, he launched his research and development firm Grand Idea Studio; Grand Idea Studio focuses on product engineering, cybersecurity research, and tech training. Grand continues to teach about cybersecurity and hacking today (as of 2025).

Ralph H. Baer was an engineer, inventor, and video game designer who is today considered the "Father of Video Games." Born in 1922 in Germany, his family immigrated to the United States shortly before the World War II, where he first became involved with electronics as part of the war effort. After the war, he continued working on electronics, developing the first video game console in 1972. He went on to have at least 150 patents, was awarded the National Medal of Technology in 2006, and was inducted into the National Inventor's Hall of Fame in 2010. He passed away in 2014 at 92 years old.

Full Extent

66.1 Megabytes

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

This collection consists of design documents related to the Logitech optical dance pad, developed by Joe Grand and Ralph Baer. The materials date from 2005 through 2016, with the bulk dates from 2005 through 2008. The collection includes source code, software files, photographs, sketches, correspondence, and the patent for the device.

System of Arrangement

This collection consists of one box divided into four series.

Series I: Documentation 2005-2008

Series II: Firmware source code 2005-2006

Series III: Hardware schematics 2005

Series IV: Photographs 2005-2009, 2016

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The papers were donated to The Strong in April 2020 as a gift of Joe Grand in honor of Ralph Baer under object ID 120.1024. The collection was received from Joe Grand via digital transfer.

Related Materials

Ralph H. Baer papers, 1968-2010 [identifier 2013.baer]

The Ralph H. Baer papers are a compilation of correspondence, game designs, drawings, notes, reference materials, photographs, product descriptions, digital videos, schematics, electronic components, and manuals utilized by Ralph H. Baer throughout his lengthy career in the toy and game industry. The bulk of the materials are from 1975 through 1998.