[games_access] RE: game access for learning disabled

[Reid Kimball]

http://reid.rbkdesign.com/?p=41 - I wrote a little bit about the
concept of Earcons in games.

-Reid

On 5/9/06, Reid Kimball <rkimball at gmail.com> wrote:
> Interesting info, thanks for sharing. I think the concept of Earcons
> is actually used extensively in games. A classic example is Mario,
> jumping has a distinct "boing" sound and collecting coins has another
> specific sound. The sounds when distinct and tied to only one action
> clue the user that they have accomplished something. In more complex
> 3D games, a player may not see they are collecting objects, but
> because of the "earcon" they know they must have done the action that
> the earcon represents.
>
> -Reid
>
> On 5/9/06, Lynn Marentette <lynnvm at alltel.net> wrote:
> >
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> > Hi-
> >
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> >
> > I haven't had much time to interact here lately, between work and taking
> > classes.
> >
> >
> >
> >  I've done some thinking about game access for people with learning
> > disabilities and attention deficits. I am a school psychologist, so I have
> > worked with many students who have milder disabilities over the years. Most
> > of the students I know really like to play computer or video games, but some
> > get frustrated with certain genres.
> >
> >
> >
> > A few months ago I wrote about the concept of "Universal Design for Gaming",
> > based on the principles of Universal Design for Learning developed by David
> > Rose and Anne Mayer at CAST (Center for Applied Special Technology -
> > http://www.cast.org.In a nutshell, in an ideal world, all games (and
> > instruction), would be designed from the very beginning with Universal
> > Design principles in mind.
> >
> >
> >
> > Many of the students I work with have auditory processing problems,
> > short-term auditory memory deficits, or problems with working memory.  Even
> > thought they might have an average or higher IQ, this can be a problem when
> > they play games, as it is in life.
> >
> >
> >
> > Icons would make many games more accessible for people with a wide range of
> > disabilities.  For example, for those who have memory problems, icons could
> > be embedded in the game (with the option of turning them off or on), to give
> > the player hints throughout the game.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Earcons might have some use in making games more accessible for people who
> > have auditory processing problems. I've noticed that in many games,
> > background sounds, even background music, provide players with hints about
> > what is about to happen next.  Gamers who have auditory processing problems
> > may not pick up on this, even though they hear the sounds. An earcon could
> > serve the same purpose.  The earcon option could be turned on or off.
> >
> >
> >
> > Here is someone's webpage about earcon research:
> >
> > http://www.dcs.gla.ac.uk/~stephen/research.shtml#earcons
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > There are plenty of people who have visual-spatial difficulties - they don't
> > play games where they are likely to get lost and frustrated. Hints- through
> > earcons, icons, text, or a clear map system (in-game GIS?) might be helpful.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > This is off the subject a bit: I noticed that there was a link to Priority
> > Woods school, in the UK.  Is that the school that was linked to the old
> > Peepo.com?  Some of the students I work with have severe disabilities, and I
> > used to take them to Peepo.com sometimes.
> >
> >
> >
> > Lynn Marentette
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> >  From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
> > On Behalf Of games_access-request at igda.org
> >  Sent: Friday, May 05, 2006 12:00 PM
> >  To: games_access at igda.org
> >  Subject: games_access Digest, Vol 22, Issue 7
> >
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> >
> >
> >
>