From richard at audiogames.net  Sun Oct  1 02:27:38 2006
From: richard at audiogames.net (AudioGames.net)
Date: Sun, 1 Oct 2006 08:27:38 +0200
Subject: [games_access] from RobertFlorio speech thank you.  Recovery.
References: <000801c6e4ec$b137d980$6601a8c0@Inspiron>
Message-ID: <002c01c6e522$b4eb0df0$6402a8c0@Delletje>

Hi Robert,

I'm really happy to hear to you finally made it after all and that your 
speech was a success. I was really sorry to hear about Michelle's airport 
madness too :(

*quote*
I'm debating whether or not to contents of video a smaller file to play on 
my web site because I don't know if I can do that or not and if I want 
everyone to be able to have access to something like that I'm not sure I 
know what do you think someone needs to see it more than just myself.
*quote end*

If you want to put video on your website and you're worrying about traffic, 
you mind want to consider YouTube. But from an accessibility-point-of-view, 
using a .wmv with a SMIL file (captioning) is more accessible. However, then 
you need to host the file yourself as YouTube does not support extra text 
files for captioning. By the way, we're always happy to host a vid at 
Game-Accessibility.com?

Greets,

Richard



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Florio" <arthit73 at cablespeed.com>
To: "'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'" <games_access at igda.org>
Sent: Sunday, October 01, 2006 2:01 AM
Subject: RE: [games_access] from RobertFlorio speech thank you. Recovery.


> Thank you so much Michelle that means a lot that sounds like crazy airport
> madness. I still have to catch on some school work buying my book classes
> start again the end of the quarter October 2.  What an experience I think 
> I
> did a really good job considering I wrote that speech today's before going
> to the hospital didn't have anything else or you'll have taught me and my
> own passion I got great responses and really inspired me even more to get 
> an
> initiative started.  Maybe get to speak at their next conference as a
> keynote speaker.
>
> I got your e-mail when I got home.
>
> I'm debating whether or not to contents of video a smaller file to play on
> my web site because I don't know if I can do that or not and if I want
> everyone to be able to have access to something like that I'm not sure I
> know what do you think someone needs to see it more than just myself.
>
> I thought you had my cell phone number I think you called me on it but 
> don't
> worry about it I'm very anxious go to work in that vote I think that will
> help to get out our message so much got very much good response positive
> from that remark.  The book.
> Robert
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
> On Behalf Of d. michelle hinn
> Sent: Saturday, September 30, 2006 2:30 PM
> To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [games_access] from RobertFlorio speech thank you. Recovery.
>
> Hi Robert! Sounds like everything went GREAT and I'm glad that you
> are out of the hospital -- what a scare!
>
> I hope you got my message about being stuck at the Atlanta airport
> all day Thursday -- I finally ended up just turning around and flying
> back to Illinois at the end of the day because I just could not get
> out of airline limbo. My cell phone wasn't working either so I had no
> one's number and you left messages on my home phone -- which is fine
> since the cell wasn't working but I didn't know you had that number
> so I didn't call to check messages to see if you'd left your number.
> Ah well! It's just airline madness. Frustrating, yes, but what can
> you do?
>
> REST UP!!!!! And I'm so proud of you for the great job you did at
> Games for Health!
>
> Michelle
>
>>Thank you everyone so much with the sig.  I had autonomic dysreflexia 
>>after
>>my spinal cord injury things like building pressure in my bladder and in 
>>my
>>colon was so severe killer headaches lethal blood pressure.  Diagnosed 
>>with
>>FOS (full of S...).
>>
>>It was such a terrible pain I was happy to be at the hospital from
> September
>>20 got out the 28th discharge just-in-time wealthy enough because I told 
>>my
>>doctor I wouldn't do that speech at Baltimore University of Maryland games
>>for health conference which I've made.  It was amazing I have it recorded
> so
>>sorry Michele couldn't make it go to have numbers but I left her messages 
>>I
>>hope she's doing well look forward to hearing from you so much.
>>
>>I'll have to give you a report but it was amazing the response from
> everyone
>>even people from England three people asking great questions on my video
> let
>>me know the best way I can let you all see it?  Of course it will be in my
>>documentary.
>>
>>I wish I could talk to you more but I'm resting up as much as I can have
>>found a new rejuvenated more than I already had again from my first injury
>>10 years ago strengthening my faith in Christ and my passion for game
> design
>>accessible gameplay.  I came out of four walls and went into another room
>>with four walls to give this speech but I felt so liberated their everyone
>>was listening to what I had to say and never had that experience like that
>>before and I wrote my speech two days before hospital visit and showed my
>>video news clipping and basically all the knowledge I learned so far about
>>accessible gameplay and our sig, about our book and much more.
>>
>>Actually the symptoms of my dysreflexia started almost immediately
> September
>>13 the pain just wouldn't go away without painkillers now I cleaned out my
>>trying to recover my brain from the pain that still triggers sometimes.
> Not
>>intense but uncomfortable.  Thank you everyone so much for your friendship
>>allowing me to be a part of something great I know it's going to come
>>together soon.  Our goals will be realized and achieved and beyond.
>>
>>I'm actually going to ask Ben Sawyer since the few people in my session
>>truly one of my speech to the part of larger speech keynote speakers they
>>felt everyone in here and was very eager to get everyone involved to make
>>these things come true.  One quote from the audience was, "this is
>>absolutely fascinating and loves what [I'm] doing (we are doing)."
>>
>>Robert
>>Robert Florio
>>Art Institute online SGA President
>>Quadriplegic Artist
>>www.RobertFlorio.com <http://www.RobertFlorio.com>
>>arthit73 at cablespeed.com <mailto:arthit73 at cablespeed.com>
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>games_access mailing list
>>games_access at igda.org
>>http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
> _______________________________________________
> games_access mailing list
> games_access at igda.org
> http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>
> _______________________________________________
> games_access mailing list
> games_access at igda.org
> http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access 



From barrie.ellis at oneswitch.org.uk  Sun Oct  1 10:15:27 2006
From: barrie.ellis at oneswitch.org.uk (Barrie Ellis)
Date: Sun, 1 Oct 2006 15:15:27 +0100
Subject: [games_access] Ping article
Message-ID: <00e001c6e564$0b9c70d0$0202a8c0@OneSwitch>

"Accessibility for Blind People" - good article - although doesn't mention gaming...

http://www.pingmag.jp/2006/09/29/accessibility-for-blind-people/
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From hinn at uiuc.edu  Sun Oct  1 15:08:19 2006
From: hinn at uiuc.edu (d. michelle hinn)
Date: Sun, 1 Oct 2006 14:08:19 -0500
Subject: [games_access] from RobertFlorio speech thank you.  Recovery.
In-Reply-To: <000801c6e4ec$b137d980$6601a8c0@Inspiron>
References: <000801c6e4ec$b137d980$6601a8c0@Inspiron>
Message-ID: <p06230900c145c2194769@[192.168.1.100]>

>I thought you had my cell phone number I think you called me on it but don't
>worry about it I'm very anxious go to work in that vote I think that will
>help to get out our message so much got very much good response positive
>from that remark.

Yeah, I did but it was on my cell phone which wasn't working (and 
still isn't!) so I couldn't access the phone book. Ah well, things 
happen and it sounds like you pulled it off with style! :)

Michelle


From arthit73 at cablespeed.com  Mon Oct  2 13:40:58 2006
From: arthit73 at cablespeed.com (Robert Florio)
Date: Mon, 2 Oct 2006 13:40:58 -0400
Subject: [games_access] from RobertFlorio speech thank you.  Recovery.
In-Reply-To: <002c01c6e522$b4eb0df0$6402a8c0@Delletje>
Message-ID: <001901c6e649$ecd522f0$6401a8c0@RobertFlorio>

Thank you Richard for the offer showing the video on Game-Accessibility.com.

Only thing though I don't want anyone to be able to download and keep it for
themselves on our forum web site do that or YouTube do that or how else can
I save it so that that feature is locked out on my own web site?

It was a lot of fun still have some symptoms from my autonomic dysreflexia
but trying to balance out.  And

Robert Florio
AI online SGA President
arthit73 at cablespeed.com 
www.RobertFlorio.com 

-----Original Message-----
From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of AudioGames.net
Sent: Sunday, October 01, 2006 2:28 AM
To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
Subject: Re: [games_access] from RobertFlorio speech thank you. Recovery.

Hi Robert,

I'm really happy to hear to you finally made it after all and that your 
speech was a success. I was really sorry to hear about Michelle's airport 
madness too :(

*quote*
I'm debating whether or not to contents of video a smaller file to play on 
my web site because I don't know if I can do that or not and if I want 
everyone to be able to have access to something like that I'm not sure I 
know what do you think someone needs to see it more than just myself.
*quote end*

If you want to put video on your website and you're worrying about traffic, 
you mind want to consider YouTube. But from an accessibility-point-of-view, 
using a .wmv with a SMIL file (captioning) is more accessible. However, then

you need to host the file yourself as YouTube does not support extra text 
files for captioning. By the way, we're always happy to host a vid at 
Game-Accessibility.com?

Greets,

Richard



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Florio" <arthit73 at cablespeed.com>
To: "'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'" <games_access at igda.org>
Sent: Sunday, October 01, 2006 2:01 AM
Subject: RE: [games_access] from RobertFlorio speech thank you. Recovery.


> Thank you so much Michelle that means a lot that sounds like crazy airport
> madness. I still have to catch on some school work buying my book classes
> start again the end of the quarter October 2.  What an experience I think 
> I
> did a really good job considering I wrote that speech today's before going
> to the hospital didn't have anything else or you'll have taught me and my
> own passion I got great responses and really inspired me even more to get 
> an
> initiative started.  Maybe get to speak at their next conference as a
> keynote speaker.
>
> I got your e-mail when I got home.
>
> I'm debating whether or not to contents of video a smaller file to play on
> my web site because I don't know if I can do that or not and if I want
> everyone to be able to have access to something like that I'm not sure I
> know what do you think someone needs to see it more than just myself.
>
> I thought you had my cell phone number I think you called me on it but 
> don't
> worry about it I'm very anxious go to work in that vote I think that will
> help to get out our message so much got very much good response positive
> from that remark.  The book.
> Robert
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
> On Behalf Of d. michelle hinn
> Sent: Saturday, September 30, 2006 2:30 PM
> To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [games_access] from RobertFlorio speech thank you. Recovery.
>
> Hi Robert! Sounds like everything went GREAT and I'm glad that you
> are out of the hospital -- what a scare!
>
> I hope you got my message about being stuck at the Atlanta airport
> all day Thursday -- I finally ended up just turning around and flying
> back to Illinois at the end of the day because I just could not get
> out of airline limbo. My cell phone wasn't working either so I had no
> one's number and you left messages on my home phone -- which is fine
> since the cell wasn't working but I didn't know you had that number
> so I didn't call to check messages to see if you'd left your number.
> Ah well! It's just airline madness. Frustrating, yes, but what can
> you do?
>
> REST UP!!!!! And I'm so proud of you for the great job you did at
> Games for Health!
>
> Michelle
>
>>Thank you everyone so much with the sig.  I had autonomic dysreflexia 
>>after
>>my spinal cord injury things like building pressure in my bladder and in 
>>my
>>colon was so severe killer headaches lethal blood pressure.  Diagnosed 
>>with
>>FOS (full of S...).
>>
>>It was such a terrible pain I was happy to be at the hospital from
> September
>>20 got out the 28th discharge just-in-time wealthy enough because I told 
>>my
>>doctor I wouldn't do that speech at Baltimore University of Maryland games
>>for health conference which I've made.  It was amazing I have it recorded
> so
>>sorry Michele couldn't make it go to have numbers but I left her messages 
>>I
>>hope she's doing well look forward to hearing from you so much.
>>
>>I'll have to give you a report but it was amazing the response from
> everyone
>>even people from England three people asking great questions on my video
> let
>>me know the best way I can let you all see it?  Of course it will be in my
>>documentary.
>>
>>I wish I could talk to you more but I'm resting up as much as I can have
>>found a new rejuvenated more than I already had again from my first injury
>>10 years ago strengthening my faith in Christ and my passion for game
> design
>>accessible gameplay.  I came out of four walls and went into another room
>>with four walls to give this speech but I felt so liberated their everyone
>>was listening to what I had to say and never had that experience like that
>>before and I wrote my speech two days before hospital visit and showed my
>>video news clipping and basically all the knowledge I learned so far about
>>accessible gameplay and our sig, about our book and much more.
>>
>>Actually the symptoms of my dysreflexia started almost immediately
> September
>>13 the pain just wouldn't go away without painkillers now I cleaned out my
>>trying to recover my brain from the pain that still triggers sometimes.
> Not
>>intense but uncomfortable.  Thank you everyone so much for your friendship
>>allowing me to be a part of something great I know it's going to come
>>together soon.  Our goals will be realized and achieved and beyond.
>>
>>I'm actually going to ask Ben Sawyer since the few people in my session
>>truly one of my speech to the part of larger speech keynote speakers they
>>felt everyone in here and was very eager to get everyone involved to make
>>these things come true.  One quote from the audience was, "this is
>>absolutely fascinating and loves what [I'm] doing (we are doing)."
>>
>>Robert
>>Robert Florio
>>Art Institute online SGA President
>>Quadriplegic Artist
>>www.RobertFlorio.com <http://www.RobertFlorio.com>
>>arthit73 at cablespeed.com <mailto:arthit73 at cablespeed.com>
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>games_access mailing list
>>games_access at igda.org
>>http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
> _______________________________________________
> games_access mailing list
> games_access at igda.org
> http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>
> _______________________________________________
> games_access mailing list
> games_access at igda.org
> http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access 

_______________________________________________
games_access mailing list
games_access at igda.org
http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access




From richard at audiogames.net  Mon Oct  2 17:22:05 2006
From: richard at audiogames.net (AudioGames.net)
Date: Mon, 2 Oct 2006 23:22:05 +0200
Subject: [games_access] from RobertFlorio speech thank you.  Recovery.
References: <001901c6e649$ecd522f0$6401a8c0@RobertFlorio>
Message-ID: <004a01c6e668$d01174b0$6402a8c0@Delletje>

Hi,

*quote*
Only thing though I don't want anyone to be able to download and keep it for 
themselves on our forum web site do that or YouTube do that or how else can 
I save it so that that feature is locked out on my own web site?
*quote end*

You can't. There is no way to publish a movie on the internet without people 
being able to rip it. Most regular embedded movies (.wmv) can be downloaded 
by looking up the source URL in the source code of the website. If you put 
it on YouTube or Google Video (or similar services), people can still 
download it using services provided by websites such as KeepVid.com. And 
even if you take extra measures such as using movie links in dummy movies, 
Flash/Shockwave or other technology, than users can simply record your movie 
with capture software, such as Auto Screen Recorder: 
http://www.wisdom-soft.com/products/autoscreenrecorder_free.htm . Whatever 
is visible on screen and what is heard over the speakers can be ripped, no 
exceptions.

If you're worried about copyright and stuff, simply add the information to 
the movie in the form of a title or credits. You could also use burned 
captions. If you want to have a big audience for your video, I really 
suggest putting it on YouTube and Google Video. Today I read that YouTube 
currently has about 100.000.000 downloads PER DAY. In YouTube, you can set 
your broadcast options to Public, meaning that everyone can see your movie, 
or "Private", meaning that the movie is only viewable by you and those you 
choose.

Hope this helps.

Greets,

Richard




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Florio" <arthit73 at cablespeed.com>
To: "'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'" <games_access at igda.org>
Sent: Monday, October 02, 2006 7:40 PM
Subject: RE: [games_access] from RobertFlorio speech thank you. Recovery.


> Thank you Richard for the offer showing the video on 
> Game-Accessibility.com.
>
> Only thing though I don't want anyone to be able to download and keep it 
> for
> themselves on our forum web site do that or YouTube do that or how else 
> can
> I save it so that that feature is locked out on my own web site?
>
> It was a lot of fun still have some symptoms from my autonomic dysreflexia
> but trying to balance out.  And
>
> Robert Florio
> AI online SGA President
> arthit73 at cablespeed.com
> www.RobertFlorio.com
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
> On Behalf Of AudioGames.net
> Sent: Sunday, October 01, 2006 2:28 AM
> To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [games_access] from RobertFlorio speech thank you. Recovery.
>
> Hi Robert,
>
> I'm really happy to hear to you finally made it after all and that your
> speech was a success. I was really sorry to hear about Michelle's airport
> madness too :(
>
> *quote*
> I'm debating whether or not to contents of video a smaller file to play on
> my web site because I don't know if I can do that or not and if I want
> everyone to be able to have access to something like that I'm not sure I
> know what do you think someone needs to see it more than just myself.
> *quote end*
>
> If you want to put video on your website and you're worrying about 
> traffic,
> you mind want to consider YouTube. But from an 
> accessibility-point-of-view,
> using a .wmv with a SMIL file (captioning) is more accessible. However, 
> then
>
> you need to host the file yourself as YouTube does not support extra text
> files for captioning. By the way, we're always happy to host a vid at
> Game-Accessibility.com?
>
> Greets,
>
> Richard
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Robert Florio" <arthit73 at cablespeed.com>
> To: "'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'" <games_access at igda.org>
> Sent: Sunday, October 01, 2006 2:01 AM
> Subject: RE: [games_access] from RobertFlorio speech thank you. Recovery.
>
>
>> Thank you so much Michelle that means a lot that sounds like crazy 
>> airport
>> madness. I still have to catch on some school work buying my book classes
>> start again the end of the quarter October 2.  What an experience I think
>> I
>> did a really good job considering I wrote that speech today's before 
>> going
>> to the hospital didn't have anything else or you'll have taught me and my
>> own passion I got great responses and really inspired me even more to get
>> an
>> initiative started.  Maybe get to speak at their next conference as a
>> keynote speaker.
>>
>> I got your e-mail when I got home.
>>
>> I'm debating whether or not to contents of video a smaller file to play 
>> on
>> my web site because I don't know if I can do that or not and if I want
>> everyone to be able to have access to something like that I'm not sure I
>> know what do you think someone needs to see it more than just myself.
>>
>> I thought you had my cell phone number I think you called me on it but
>> don't
>> worry about it I'm very anxious go to work in that vote I think that will
>> help to get out our message so much got very much good response positive
>> from that remark.  The book.
>> Robert
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: games_access-bounces at igda.org 
>> [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
>> On Behalf Of d. michelle hinn
>> Sent: Saturday, September 30, 2006 2:30 PM
>> To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [games_access] from RobertFlorio speech thank you. Recovery.
>>
>> Hi Robert! Sounds like everything went GREAT and I'm glad that you
>> are out of the hospital -- what a scare!
>>
>> I hope you got my message about being stuck at the Atlanta airport
>> all day Thursday -- I finally ended up just turning around and flying
>> back to Illinois at the end of the day because I just could not get
>> out of airline limbo. My cell phone wasn't working either so I had no
>> one's number and you left messages on my home phone -- which is fine
>> since the cell wasn't working but I didn't know you had that number
>> so I didn't call to check messages to see if you'd left your number.
>> Ah well! It's just airline madness. Frustrating, yes, but what can
>> you do?
>>
>> REST UP!!!!! And I'm so proud of you for the great job you did at
>> Games for Health!
>>
>> Michelle
>>
>>>Thank you everyone so much with the sig.  I had autonomic dysreflexia
>>>after
>>>my spinal cord injury things like building pressure in my bladder and in
>>>my
>>>colon was so severe killer headaches lethal blood pressure.  Diagnosed
>>>with
>>>FOS (full of S...).
>>>
>>>It was such a terrible pain I was happy to be at the hospital from
>> September
>>>20 got out the 28th discharge just-in-time wealthy enough because I told
>>>my
>>>doctor I wouldn't do that speech at Baltimore University of Maryland 
>>>games
>>>for health conference which I've made.  It was amazing I have it recorded
>> so
>>>sorry Michele couldn't make it go to have numbers but I left her messages
>>>I
>>>hope she's doing well look forward to hearing from you so much.
>>>
>>>I'll have to give you a report but it was amazing the response from
>> everyone
>>>even people from England three people asking great questions on my video
>> let
>>>me know the best way I can let you all see it?  Of course it will be in 
>>>my
>>>documentary.
>>>
>>>I wish I could talk to you more but I'm resting up as much as I can have
>>>found a new rejuvenated more than I already had again from my first 
>>>injury
>>>10 years ago strengthening my faith in Christ and my passion for game
>> design
>>>accessible gameplay.  I came out of four walls and went into another room
>>>with four walls to give this speech but I felt so liberated their 
>>>everyone
>>>was listening to what I had to say and never had that experience like 
>>>that
>>>before and I wrote my speech two days before hospital visit and showed my
>>>video news clipping and basically all the knowledge I learned so far 
>>>about
>>>accessible gameplay and our sig, about our book and much more.
>>>
>>>Actually the symptoms of my dysreflexia started almost immediately
>> September
>>>13 the pain just wouldn't go away without painkillers now I cleaned out 
>>>my
>>>trying to recover my brain from the pain that still triggers sometimes.
>> Not
>>>intense but uncomfortable.  Thank you everyone so much for your 
>>>friendship
>>>allowing me to be a part of something great I know it's going to come
>>>together soon.  Our goals will be realized and achieved and beyond.
>>>
>>>I'm actually going to ask Ben Sawyer since the few people in my session
>>>truly one of my speech to the part of larger speech keynote speakers they
>>>felt everyone in here and was very eager to get everyone involved to make
>>>these things come true.  One quote from the audience was, "this is
>>>absolutely fascinating and loves what [I'm] doing (we are doing)."
>>>
>>>Robert
>>>Robert Florio
>>>Art Institute online SGA President
>>>Quadriplegic Artist
>>>www.RobertFlorio.com <http://www.RobertFlorio.com>
>>>arthit73 at cablespeed.com <mailto:arthit73 at cablespeed.com>
>>>
>>>_______________________________________________
>>>games_access mailing list
>>>games_access at igda.org
>>>http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>> _______________________________________________
>> games_access mailing list
>> games_access at igda.org
>> http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> games_access mailing list
>> games_access at igda.org
>> http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>
> _______________________________________________
> games_access mailing list
> games_access at igda.org
> http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> games_access mailing list
> games_access at igda.org
> http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access 



From rkimball at gmail.com  Tue Oct  3 20:41:50 2006
From: rkimball at gmail.com (Reid Kimball)
Date: Tue, 3 Oct 2006 17:41:50 -0700
Subject: [games_access] Study: Games Effective Teaching Tools
Message-ID: <a6673b8d0610031741v539bcd86n12bafb00d1814a77@mail.gmail.com>

"A one-year study sponsored by Electronic Arts has concluded that
commercial games can be effectively utilized to teach in the
classroom."

http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3920&Itemid=2

It appears the study is available for free!
http://www.futurelab.org.uk/research/teachingwithgames/report_01.htm

So, this is where our accessibility issues become hugely important.

I think related, is Warren Spector's new article the The Escapist mag
"Fun is a Four Letter Word". He asks whether we should only be making
games that are "fun". He gives the example of a movie that wasn't fun
to watch, but was thought-provoking. I've read many books like that in
high school and see a need for similar type games used in the
classroom.

Warren's article:
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/issue/65/15

-Reid


From hinn at uiuc.edu  Wed Oct  4 07:37:37 2006
From: hinn at uiuc.edu (d. michelle hinn)
Date: Wed, 4 Oct 2006 06:37:37 -0500
Subject: [games_access] Study: Games Effective Teaching Tools
In-Reply-To: <a6673b8d0610031741v539bcd86n12bafb00d1814a77@mail.gmail.com>
References: <a6673b8d0610031741v539bcd86n12bafb00d1814a77@mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <p0623096ac1494c0b72fb@[192.168.1.100]>

Very cool!

On a side note, my game design class this semester is focused on 
creating games for a local museum...which also need to be accessible 
(because I said so and they agreed and so did the university, which 
owns the museum, and has to provide accessible materials). So, I 
agree -- our accessibility work is paramount to games in the 
classroom, ESPECIALLY commercial games...if EA and others want to 
have their games in the classroom...

Ernest Adams is here on campus right now and spoke to the dorm 
community I run -- Women in Math, Science, and Engineering -- last 
night. He was with us from about 6pm to 11:30pm! So it was a really 
cool experience -- the evening event was mainly about women in gaming 
but he and I got to touch base on GDC and he's excited to be one of 
the "contestants" for accessibility idol. :)

Michelle

>"A one-year study sponsored by Electronic Arts has concluded that
>commercial games can be effectively utilized to teach in the
>classroom."
>
>http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3920&Itemid=2
>
>It appears the study is available for free!
>http://www.futurelab.org.uk/research/teachingwithgames/report_01.htm
>
>So, this is where our accessibility issues become hugely important.
>
>I think related, is Warren Spector's new article the The Escapist mag
>"Fun is a Four Letter Word". He asks whether we should only be making
>games that are "fun". He gives the example of a movie that wasn't fun
>to watch, but was thought-provoking. I've read many books like that in
>high school and see a need for similar type games used in the
>classroom.
>
>Warren's article:
>http://www.escapistmagazine.com/issue/65/15
>
>-Reid
>_______________________________________________
>games_access mailing list
>games_access at igda.org
>http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access


From richard at audiogames.net  Wed Oct  4 08:48:28 2006
From: richard at audiogames.net (AudioGames.net)
Date: Wed, 4 Oct 2006 14:48:28 +0200
Subject: [games_access] Study: Games Effective Teaching Tools
References: <a6673b8d0610031741v539bcd86n12bafb00d1814a77@mail.gmail.com>
	<p0623096ac1494c0b72fb@[192.168.1.100]>
Message-ID: <002e01c6e7b3$644789d0$6402a8c0@Delletje>

Hi,

That's great to hear! Yesterday a blind colleague of mine enthousiastically 
approached me with a Daisy cd which contained a news item on Accessibility 
Idol (as well as an item on Audio Game Maker). He was really happy to hear 
the developments concerning that and game accessibility.

Greets,

Richard



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "d. michelle hinn" <hinn at uiuc.edu>
To: "IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List" <games_access at igda.org>
Sent: Wednesday, October 04, 2006 1:37 PM
Subject: Re: [games_access] Study: Games Effective Teaching Tools


> Very cool!
>
> On a side note, my game design class this semester is focused on creating 
> games for a local museum...which also need to be accessible (because I 
> said so and they agreed and so did the university, which owns the museum, 
> and has to provide accessible materials). So, I agree -- our accessibility 
> work is paramount to games in the classroom, ESPECIALLY commercial 
> games...if EA and others want to have their games in the classroom...
>
> Ernest Adams is here on campus right now and spoke to the dorm community I 
> run -- Women in Math, Science, and Engineering -- last night. He was with 
> us from about 6pm to 11:30pm! So it was a really cool experience -- the 
> evening event was mainly about women in gaming but he and I got to touch 
> base on GDC and he's excited to be one of the "contestants" for 
> accessibility idol. :)
>
> Michelle
>
>>"A one-year study sponsored by Electronic Arts has concluded that
>>commercial games can be effectively utilized to teach in the
>>classroom."
>>
>>http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3920&Itemid=2
>>
>>It appears the study is available for free!
>>http://www.futurelab.org.uk/research/teachingwithgames/report_01.htm
>>
>>So, this is where our accessibility issues become hugely important.
>>
>>I think related, is Warren Spector's new article the The Escapist mag
>>"Fun is a Four Letter Word". He asks whether we should only be making
>>games that are "fun". He gives the example of a movie that wasn't fun
>>to watch, but was thought-provoking. I've read many books like that in
>>high school and see a need for similar type games used in the
>>classroom.
>>
>>Warren's article:
>>http://www.escapistmagazine.com/issue/65/15
>>
>>-Reid
>>_______________________________________________
>>games_access mailing list
>>games_access at igda.org
>>http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
> _______________________________________________
> games_access mailing list
> games_access at igda.org
> http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access 



From richard at audiogames.net  Wed Oct  4 09:00:25 2006
From: richard at audiogames.net (AudioGames.net)
Date: Wed, 4 Oct 2006 15:00:25 +0200
Subject: [games_access] Study: Games Effective Teaching Tools
References: <a6673b8d0610031741v539bcd86n12bafb00d1814a77@mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <004e01c6e7b5$0efe4700$6402a8c0@Delletje>

Very interesting. I recently posted a link of an article about 
Games4Learning using brainwave interfaces on GA.com:

http://www.game-accessibility.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=147

By the way, you (Reid) also have News Posting privileges at 
Game-Accessibility.com (don't know if I ever approached you for that). So if 
you want to post news or interesting stuff on the website you can do so 
simply by posting the news in the News Forum 
(http://www.game-accessibility.com/forum/viewforum.php?id=14)
All news is collected here: 
http://www.game-accessibility.com/index.php?pagefile=news . I'll copy your 
post to the news now. Thanks again!!!

Greets,

Richard

www.audiogames.net
www.game-accessibility.com



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Reid Kimball" <rkimball at gmail.com>
To: "IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List" <games_access at igda.org>
Sent: Wednesday, October 04, 2006 2:41 AM
Subject: [games_access] Study: Games Effective Teaching Tools


> "A one-year study sponsored by Electronic Arts has concluded that
> commercial games can be effectively utilized to teach in the
> classroom."
>
> http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3920&Itemid=2
>
> It appears the study is available for free!
> http://www.futurelab.org.uk/research/teachingwithgames/report_01.htm
>
> So, this is where our accessibility issues become hugely important.
>
> I think related, is Warren Spector's new article the The Escapist mag
> "Fun is a Four Letter Word". He asks whether we should only be making
> games that are "fun". He gives the example of a movie that wasn't fun
> to watch, but was thought-provoking. I've read many books like that in
> high school and see a need for similar type games used in the
> classroom.
>
> Warren's article:
> http://www.escapistmagazine.com/issue/65/15
>
> -Reid
> _______________________________________________
> games_access mailing list
> games_access at igda.org
> http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access 



From arthit73 at cablespeed.com  Wed Oct  4 11:26:08 2006
From: arthit73 at cablespeed.com (Robert Florio)
Date: Wed, 4 Oct 2006 11:26:08 -0400
Subject: [games_access] Study: Games Effective Teaching Tools
In-Reply-To: <p0623096ac1494c0b72fb@[192.168.1.100]>
Message-ID: <009e01c6e7c9$6bd1eb80$6401a8c0@RobertFlorio>

I believe you mentioned before Michelle that material being used in a
classroom by law in the United States if it's a video game for example it
has to be made accessible so your example with the museum using something
for teaching having to be accessible a requirement by the museum actually
agree with you hopefully was something they were thinking of all ready not
just doing because you told them they should have it and agree.  It's good
they agreed anyway.  Thanks for that knowledge.

So what Reid is pointing out also if EA is looking at how videogames can be
used in the classroom are they in that document mentioning video game
accessibility features because by law do as I mentioned before these games
would have to be made accessible so why are they not considering that if
they aren't?  I need to read that article thoroughly.  If they are ignoring
still this accessibility features that is just fueling my frustration and
perseverance to get the word out.

Is it possible to play the game your students are creating I'd love to test
it be a game tester for you guys please?  By the way my class production
team art Institute online we completed our module in the never winter night
game I'll put on my web site soon and let you know so everyone can play it
it came out really well it was a challenge being the producer of the team
getting everyone motivated like to ring their necks but we didn't choose our
teammates.  What a learning experience tying all the knowledge I've been
learning about game design but we didn't get to incorporate any accessible
features unfortunately we didn't have the resources or anyone other than
myself interested.  They were all interested we just didn't have too much
knowledge in the engine to do something like that.  Also in only 11 weeks.

Robert

arthit73 at cablespeed.com 
www.RobertFlorio.com 

-----Original Message-----
From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of d. michelle hinn
Sent: Wednesday, October 04, 2006 7:38 AM
To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
Subject: Re: [games_access] Study: Games Effective Teaching Tools

Very cool!

On a side note, my game design class this semester is focused on 
creating games for a local museum...which also need to be accessible 
(because I said so and they agreed and so did the university, which 
owns the museum, and has to provide accessible materials). So, I 
agree -- our accessibility work is paramount to games in the 
classroom, ESPECIALLY commercial games...if EA and others want to 
have their games in the classroom...

Ernest Adams is here on campus right now and spoke to the dorm 
community I run -- Women in Math, Science, and Engineering -- last 
night. He was with us from about 6pm to 11:30pm! So it was a really 
cool experience -- the evening event was mainly about women in gaming 
but he and I got to touch base on GDC and he's excited to be one of 
the "contestants" for accessibility idol. :)

Michelle

>"A one-year study sponsored by Electronic Arts has concluded that
>commercial games can be effectively utilized to teach in the
>classroom."
>
>http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3920&Item
id=2
>
>It appears the study is available for free!
>http://www.futurelab.org.uk/research/teachingwithgames/report_01.htm
>
>So, this is where our accessibility issues become hugely important.
>
>I think related, is Warren Spector's new article the The Escapist mag
>"Fun is a Four Letter Word". He asks whether we should only be making
>games that are "fun". He gives the example of a movie that wasn't fun
>to watch, but was thought-provoking. I've read many books like that in
>high school and see a need for similar type games used in the
>classroom.
>
>Warren's article:
>http://www.escapistmagazine.com/issue/65/15
>
>-Reid
>_______________________________________________
>games_access mailing list
>games_access at igda.org
>http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
_______________________________________________
games_access mailing list
games_access at igda.org
http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access




From arthit73 at cablespeed.com  Wed Oct  4 11:28:31 2006
From: arthit73 at cablespeed.com (Robert Florio)
Date: Wed, 4 Oct 2006 11:28:31 -0400
Subject: [games_access] Study: Games Effective Teaching Tools
In-Reply-To: <002e01c6e7b3$644789d0$6402a8c0@Delletje>
Message-ID: <00a201c6e7c9$c0b5a3d0$6401a8c0@RobertFlorio>

Richard where is the advertisements I have not heard anything myself about
it yet is it advertised on IGDA's web site or something because I'd like to
know how I can help spread the word spread awareness?  Talking about
accessibility idol.  What is the thing with the audio game maker about?
Robert
AI online 
arthit73 at cablespeed.com
www.RobertFlorio.com 

-----Original Message-----
From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of AudioGames.net
Sent: Wednesday, October 04, 2006 8:48 AM
To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
Subject: Re: [games_access] Study: Games Effective Teaching Tools

Hi,

That's great to hear! Yesterday a blind colleague of mine enthousiastically 
approached me with a Daisy cd which contained a news item on Accessibility 
Idol (as well as an item on Audio Game Maker). He was really happy to hear 
the developments concerning that and game accessibility.

Greets,

Richard



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "d. michelle hinn" <hinn at uiuc.edu>
To: "IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List" <games_access at igda.org>
Sent: Wednesday, October 04, 2006 1:37 PM
Subject: Re: [games_access] Study: Games Effective Teaching Tools


> Very cool!
>
> On a side note, my game design class this semester is focused on creating 
> games for a local museum...which also need to be accessible (because I 
> said so and they agreed and so did the university, which owns the museum, 
> and has to provide accessible materials). So, I agree -- our accessibility

> work is paramount to games in the classroom, ESPECIALLY commercial 
> games...if EA and others want to have their games in the classroom...
>
> Ernest Adams is here on campus right now and spoke to the dorm community I

> run -- Women in Math, Science, and Engineering -- last night. He was with 
> us from about 6pm to 11:30pm! So it was a really cool experience -- the 
> evening event was mainly about women in gaming but he and I got to touch 
> base on GDC and he's excited to be one of the "contestants" for 
> accessibility idol. :)
>
> Michelle
>
>>"A one-year study sponsored by Electronic Arts has concluded that
>>commercial games can be effectively utilized to teach in the
>>classroom."
>>
>>http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3920&Ite
mid=2
>>
>>It appears the study is available for free!
>>http://www.futurelab.org.uk/research/teachingwithgames/report_01.htm
>>
>>So, this is where our accessibility issues become hugely important.
>>
>>I think related, is Warren Spector's new article the The Escapist mag
>>"Fun is a Four Letter Word". He asks whether we should only be making
>>games that are "fun". He gives the example of a movie that wasn't fun
>>to watch, but was thought-provoking. I've read many books like that in
>>high school and see a need for similar type games used in the
>>classroom.
>>
>>Warren's article:
>>http://www.escapistmagazine.com/issue/65/15
>>
>>-Reid
>>_______________________________________________
>>games_access mailing list
>>games_access at igda.org
>>http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
> _______________________________________________
> games_access mailing list
> games_access at igda.org
> http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access 

_______________________________________________
games_access mailing list
games_access at igda.org
http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access




From InRNette at aol.com  Wed Oct  4 21:33:34 2006
From: InRNette at aol.com (InRNette at aol.com)
Date: Wed, 4 Oct 2006 21:33:34 EDT
Subject: [games_access] Study: Games Effective Teaching Tools
Message-ID: <c80.2d7d89f.3255baee@aol.com>

YES YES YES~~~~~~~~~~~
 
My students would love to try out any accessible games!
 
Jeanette
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From barrie.ellis at oneswitch.org.uk  Fri Oct  6 11:16:42 2006
From: barrie.ellis at oneswitch.org.uk (Barrie Ellis)
Date: Fri, 6 Oct 2006 16:16:42 +0100
Subject: [games_access] JoyToKey - instructions on-line
Message-ID: <000f01c6e95a$6ed88590$0202a8c0@OneSwitch>

http://www.oneswitch.org.uk/2/I/JoyToKey/JoyToKey.htm

I have just uploaded instructions for JoyToKey - the keyboard and mouse emulator for the PC. Very useful for some disabled gamers.

Cheers all,

Barrie
www.OneSwitch.org.uk
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From barrie.ellis at oneswitch.org.uk  Thu Oct 12 12:30:30 2006
From: barrie.ellis at oneswitch.org.uk (Barrie Ellis)
Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2006 17:30:30 +0100
Subject: [games_access] Mind control over Space Invaders (with video)
Message-ID: <01e301c6ee1b$bc735300$0202a8c0@OneSwitch>

http://news-info.wustl.edu/news/page/normal/7800.html (via RetroBlast.com)

Teenager moves video icons just by imagination 




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From richard at audiogames.net  Mon Oct 16 06:10:44 2006
From: richard at audiogames.net (AudioGames.net)
Date: Mon, 16 Oct 2006 12:10:44 +0200
Subject: [games_access] How Was Futureplay?
Message-ID: <008b01c6f10b$6294efe0$6402a8c0@Delletje>

Hi guys!

How was the Futureplay Conference for you (Kevin, Eelke, Michelle)? I already talked a bit with Michelle who told me that it there weren't a lot of people. But she also said we had the best poster (beam...err)... anyone taken any pics? Did any of you get some good/bad reactions? And which poster did "better", the design pattern approach or the top 10 approach ;) ?
If there is anything newsworthy I can post about it on GA.com, please tell me and I'll psot it!

Greets,

Richard

http://www.game-accessibility.com  
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From arthit73 at cablespeed.com  Mon Oct 16 10:50:10 2006
From: arthit73 at cablespeed.com (Robert Florio)
Date: Mon, 16 Oct 2006 10:50:10 -0400
Subject: [games_access] GA.com Florio speech
In-Reply-To: <008b01c6f10b$6294efe0$6402a8c0@Delletje>
Message-ID: <004401c6f132$62848a70$6501a8c0@RobertFlorio>

Sorry guys I haven't been able to get my speech off-white DVD camcorder all
to you to get the I plan on doing that soon.  The speech I gave at
University of Maryland games for health conference in Baltimore.

Robert

www.RobertFlorio.com <http://www.robertflorio.com/>  

 

  _____  

From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of AudioGames.net
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2006 6:11 AM
To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
Subject: [games_access] How Was Futureplay?

 

Hi guys!

 

How was the Futureplay Conference for you (Kevin, Eelke, Michelle)? I
already talked a bit with Michelle who told me that it there weren't a lot
of people. But she also said we had the best poster (beam...err)... anyone
taken any pics? Did any of you get some good/bad reactions? And which poster
did "better", the design pattern approach or the top 10 approach ;) ?

If there is anything newsworthy I can post about it on GA.com, please tell
me and I'll psot it!

 

Greets,

 

Richard

 

http://www.game-accessibility.com  

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From richard at audiogames.net  Mon Oct 16 11:45:33 2006
From: richard at audiogames.net (AudioGames.net)
Date: Mon, 16 Oct 2006 17:45:33 +0200
Subject: [games_access] GA.com Florio speech
References: <004401c6f132$62848a70$6501a8c0@RobertFlorio>
Message-ID: <002001c6f13a$1ea64c50$6402a8c0@Delletje>

Hi Robert,

No worries! Looking forward to it but take yer time!

Greets,

Richard
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Robert Florio 
  To: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List' 
  Sent: Monday, October 16, 2006 4:50 PM
  Subject: RE: [games_access] GA.com Florio speech


  Sorry guys I haven't been able to get my speech off-white DVD camcorder all to you to get the I plan on doing that soon.  The speech I gave at University of Maryland games for health conference in Baltimore.

  Robert

  www.RobertFlorio.com 

   


------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org] On Behalf Of AudioGames.net
  Sent: Monday, October 16, 2006 6:11 AM
  To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
  Subject: [games_access] How Was Futureplay?

   

  Hi guys!

   

  How was the Futureplay Conference for you (Kevin, Eelke, Michelle)? I already talked a bit with Michelle who told me that it there weren't a lot of people. But she also said we had the best poster (beam...err)... anyone taken any pics? Did any of you get some good/bad reactions? And which poster did "better", the design pattern approach or the top 10 approach ;) ?

  If there is anything newsworthy I can post about it on GA.com, please tell me and I'll psot it!

   

  Greets,

   

  Richard

   

  http://www.game-accessibility.com  



------------------------------------------------------------------------------


  _______________________________________________
  games_access mailing list
  games_access at igda.org
  http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
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From list at pitaru.com  Wed Oct 18 10:00:18 2006
From: list at pitaru.com (Amit Pitaru [LIST])
Date: Wed, 18 Oct 2006 10:00:18 -0400
Subject: [games_access] first hello
Message-ID: <017201c6f2bd$bfe5ffa0$6400a8c0@IBMPITARU>

Hello, thank you for having me on the list. My name is Amit Pitaru, I'm a
game/toy designer and also a part-time educator at New York University. I
also teach art at Cooper Union, and occasionally exhibit my work
(http://pitaru.com <http://pitaru.com/>  and http://insertsilence.com
<http://insertsilence.com/> )

 

I learned about the SIG while working on a chapter for a book on games that
is commissioned by the MacArthur foundation. The chapter is based on a two
year project with a special-needs school in Long Island, where I devised
hardware and software for gaming accessibility. I hope to tell you more
about it as we chat along.

 

So again, thank you for having me, I think I finally found a good home-base
to learn and share my thoughts.

 

Cheerio

Amit Pitaru

 

 

 

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From richard at audiogames.net  Wed Oct 18 10:15:46 2006
From: richard at audiogames.net (AudioGames.net)
Date: Wed, 18 Oct 2006 16:15:46 +0200
Subject: [games_access] first hello
References: <017201c6f2bd$bfe5ffa0$6400a8c0@IBMPITARU>
Message-ID: <001901c6f2bf$e7e97570$6402a8c0@Delletje>

Hi Amit,

Thanks for joining the list. Be sure to also check out www.game-accessibility.com, a resource&community website concerning game accessibility. This website is part of the game accessibility activities of the Accessibility foundation in Holland and several people from the SIG participate in this website.

Greets,

Richard

http://www.audiogames.net
http://www.game-accessibility.com 
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Amit Pitaru [LIST] 
  To: games_access at igda.org 
  Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 4:00 PM
  Subject: [games_access] first hello


  Hello, thank you for having me on the list. My name is Amit Pitaru, I'm a game/toy designer and also a part-time educator at New York University. I also teach art at Cooper Union, and occasionally exhibit my work (http://pitaru.com and http://insertsilence.com)

   

  I learned about the SIG while working on a chapter for a book on games that is commissioned by the MacArthur foundation. The chapter is based on a two year project with a special-needs school in Long Island, where I devised hardware and software for gaming accessibility. I hope to tell you more about it as we chat along.

   

  So again, thank you for having me, I think I finally found a good home-base to learn and share my thoughts.

   

  Cheerio

  Amit Pitaru

   

   

   



------------------------------------------------------------------------------


  _______________________________________________
  games_access mailing list
  games_access at igda.org
  http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
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From arthit73 at cablespeed.com  Wed Oct 18 11:49:50 2006
From: arthit73 at cablespeed.com (Robert Florio)
Date: Wed, 18 Oct 2006 11:49:50 -0400
Subject: [games_access] first hello
In-Reply-To: <017201c6f2bd$bfe5ffa0$6400a8c0@IBMPITARU>
Message-ID: <002001c6f2cd$0ccf0870$6501a8c0@RobertFlorio>

Welcome Amit it's a pleasure to have someone with your experience involved
in this group.  Whenever we share together also check out
www.game-accessibility.com <http://www.game-accessibility.com/>  a few of us
including myself, gamers with physical impairments forum, moderate the
different forums for game accessibility.  I think what would be great to
learn from you is the techniques and technologies used to help people with
the game accessibility in Long Island.  Thanks for joining.  Feel free to
check out my web site and my artwork and efforts for game accessibility.  

 

Myself 24 years old living in Maryland United States a quadriplegic from my
spinal cord injury and I draw with my mouth and study game design at the Art
Institute online.

 

Robert

AI online SGA 

arthit73 at cablespeed.com 

www.RobertFlorio.com <http://www.robertflorio.com/>  

 

  _____  

From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of Amit Pitaru [LIST]
Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 10:00 AM
To: games_access at igda.org
Subject: [games_access] first hello

 

Hello, thank you for having me on the list. My name is Amit Pitaru, I'm a
game/toy designer and also a part-time educator at New York University. I
also teach art at Cooper Union, and occasionally exhibit my work
(http://pitaru.com <http://pitaru.com/>  and http://insertsilence.com
<http://insertsilence.com/> )

 

I learned about the SIG while working on a chapter for a book on games that
is commissioned by the MacArthur foundation. The chapter is based on a two
year project with a special-needs school in Long Island, where I devised
hardware and software for gaming accessibility. I hope to tell you more
about it as we chat along.

 

So again, thank you for having me, I think I finally found a good home-base
to learn and share my thoughts.

 

Cheerio

Amit Pitaru

 

 

 

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From list at pitaru.com  Wed Oct 18 16:03:03 2006
From: list at pitaru.com (Amit Pitaru [LIST])
Date: Wed, 18 Oct 2006 16:03:03 -0400
Subject: [games_access] first hello
In-Reply-To: <002001c6f2cd$0ccf0870$6501a8c0@RobertFlorio>
Message-ID: <021501c6f2f0$6d63aec0$6400a8c0@IBMPITARU>

Steve and Robert, thanks for pointing me towards the game-accessibility
website! 

 

> I think what would be great to learn from you is the techniques and
technologies

 

Thanks, and I'm happy share everything I've learned. I hope that this
chapter that I'm writing will include the most beneficial aspects of the
project. Very quickly - it will introduce design techniques for creating
inclusive games with care applied to retaining production costs and overall
playability. I'll talk about what needs to happen from the hardware,
software and policy standpoints. I'll also demonstrate the techniques by
retrofitting a simple tetris game for accessibility (very preliminary beta
version at http://pitaru.com/tetris), and discuss how some of these ideas
can follow through to hardcore games. I hope to get permission from the
school to interview the OT's, children and parents. It's all coming together
now so I'll have more tangible things to show soon enough.

 

Amit 

 

 

 

  _____  

From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of Robert Florio
Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 11:50 AM
To: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'
Subject: RE: [games_access] first hello

 

Welcome Amit it's a pleasure to have someone with your experience involved
in this group.  Whenever we share together also check out
www.game-accessibility.com <http://www.game-accessibility.com/>  a few of us
including myself, gamers with physical impairments forum, moderate the
different forums for game accessibility.  I think what would be great to
learn from you is the techniques and technologies used to help people with
the game accessibility in Long Island.  Thanks for joining.  Feel free to
check out my web site and my artwork and efforts for game accessibility.  

 

Myself 24 years old living in Maryland United States a quadriplegic from my
spinal cord injury and I draw with my mouth and study game design at the Art
Institute online.

 

Robert

AI online SGA 

arthit73 at cablespeed.com 

www.RobertFlorio.com <http://www.robertflorio.com/>  

 

  _____  

From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of Amit Pitaru [LIST]
Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 10:00 AM
To: games_access at igda.org
Subject: [games_access] first hello

 

Hello, thank you for having me on the list. My name is Amit Pitaru, I'm a
game/toy designer and also a part-time educator at New York University. I
also teach art at Cooper Union, and occasionally exhibit my work
(http://pitaru.com <http://pitaru.com/>  and http://insertsilence.com
<http://insertsilence.com/> )

 

I learned about the SIG while working on a chapter for a book on games that
is commissioned by the MacArthur foundation. The chapter is based on a two
year project with a special-needs school in Long Island, where I devised
hardware and software for gaming accessibility. I hope to tell you more
about it as we chat along.

 

So again, thank you for having me, I think I finally found a good home-base
to learn and share my thoughts.

 

Cheerio

Amit Pitaru

 

 

 

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From j.chetwynd at btinternet.com  Wed Oct 18 16:35:16 2006
From: j.chetwynd at btinternet.com (Jonathan Chetwynd)
Date: Wed, 18 Oct 2006 21:35:16 +0100
Subject: [games_access] first hello
In-Reply-To: <021501c6f2f0$6d63aec0$6400a8c0@IBMPITARU>
References: <021501c6f2f0$6d63aec0$6400a8c0@IBMPITARU>
Message-ID: <FEF17B56-F038-4A2B-B054-D56209EF4066@btinternet.com>

Amit,

loved your Tetris game, it seems that like me you are interested in  
web games.

perhaps you would consider writing a game in SVG?
SVG is a web standard and for many browsers doesn't require a plugin.
also the source is really open, and  being standards based, has some  
good accessibility features.
have you tried smiletris aka ksmiletris?

best wishes

Jonathan Chetwynd



I?ll also demonstrate the techniques by retrofitting a simple tetris  
game for accessibility (very preliminary beta version at http:// 
pitaru.com/tetris), and discuss how some of these ideas can follow  
through to hardcore games. I hope to get permission from the school  
to interview the OT?s, children and parents. It?s all coming together  
now so I?ll have more tangible things to show soon enough.



Amit







From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access- 
bounces at igda.org] On Behalf Of Robert Florio
Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 11:50 AM
To: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'
Subject: RE: [games_access] first hello



Welcome Amit it's a pleasure to have someone with your experience  
involved in this group.  Whenever we share together also check out  
www.game-accessibility.com a few of us including myself, gamers with  
physical impairments forum, moderate the different forums for game  
accessibility.  I think what would be great to learn from you is the  
techniques and technologies used to help people with the game  
accessibility in Long Island.  Thanks for joining.  Feel free to  
check out my web site and my artwork and efforts for game accessibility.



Myself 24 years old living in Maryland United States a quadriplegic  
from my spinal cord injury and I draw with my mouth and study game  
design at the Art Institute online.



Robert

AI online SGA

arthit73 at cablespeed.com

www.RobertFlorio.com



From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access- 
bounces at igda.org] On Behalf Of Amit Pitaru [LIST]
Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 10:00 AM
To: games_access at igda.org
Subject: [games_access] first hello



Hello, thank you for having me on the list. My name is Amit Pitaru,  
I'm a game/toy designer and also a part-time educator at New York  
University. I also teach art at Cooper Union, and occasionally  
exhibit my work (http://pitaru.com and http://insertsilence.com)



I learned about the SIG while working on a chapter for a book on  
games that is commissioned by the MacArthur foundation. The chapter  
is based on a two year project with a special-needs school in Long  
Island, where I devised hardware and software for gaming  
accessibility. I hope to tell you more about it as we chat along.



So again, thank you for having me, I think I finally found a good  
home-base to learn and share my thoughts.



Cheerio

Amit Pitaru







_______________________________________________
games_access mailing list
games_access at igda.org
http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access



From richard at audiogames.net  Wed Oct 18 16:45:10 2006
From: richard at audiogames.net (AudioGames.net)
Date: Wed, 18 Oct 2006 22:45:10 +0200
Subject: [games_access] first hello
References: <021501c6f2f0$6d63aec0$6400a8c0@IBMPITARU>
Message-ID: <004601c6f2f6$4e41f5a0$6402a8c0@Delletje>

Steve? Who's Steve... ?

(grin)
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Amit Pitaru [LIST] 
  To: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List' 
  Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 10:03 PM
  Subject: RE: [games_access] first hello


  Steve and Robert, thanks for pointing me towards the game-accessibility website! 

   

  > I think what would be great to learn from you is the techniques and technologies

   

  Thanks, and I'm happy share everything I've learned. I hope that this chapter that I'm writing will include the most beneficial aspects of the project. Very quickly - it will introduce design techniques for creating inclusive games with care applied to retaining production costs and overall playability. I'll talk about what needs to happen from the hardware, software and policy standpoints. I'll also demonstrate the techniques by retrofitting a simple tetris game for accessibility (very preliminary beta version at http://pitaru.com/tetris), and discuss how some of these ideas can follow through to hardcore games. I hope to get permission from the school to interview the OT's, children and parents. It's all coming together now so I'll have more tangible things to show soon enough.

   

  Amit 

   

   

   


------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org] On Behalf Of Robert Florio
  Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 11:50 AM
  To: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'
  Subject: RE: [games_access] first hello

   

  Welcome Amit it's a pleasure to have someone with your experience involved in this group.  Whenever we share together also check out www.game-accessibility.com a few of us including myself, gamers with physical impairments forum, moderate the different forums for game accessibility.  I think what would be great to learn from you is the techniques and technologies used to help people with the game accessibility in Long Island.  Thanks for joining.  Feel free to check out my web site and my artwork and efforts for game accessibility.  

   

  Myself 24 years old living in Maryland United States a quadriplegic from my spinal cord injury and I draw with my mouth and study game design at the Art Institute online.

   

  Robert

  AI online SGA 

  arthit73 at cablespeed.com 

  www.RobertFlorio.com 

   


------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org] On Behalf Of Amit Pitaru [LIST]
  Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 10:00 AM
  To: games_access at igda.org
  Subject: [games_access] first hello

   

  Hello, thank you for having me on the list. My name is Amit Pitaru, I'm a game/toy designer and also a part-time educator at New York University. I also teach art at Cooper Union, and occasionally exhibit my work (http://pitaru.com and http://insertsilence.com)

   

  I learned about the SIG while working on a chapter for a book on games that is commissioned by the MacArthur foundation. The chapter is based on a two year project with a special-needs school in Long Island, where I devised hardware and software for gaming accessibility. I hope to tell you more about it as we chat along.

   

  So again, thank you for having me, I think I finally found a good home-base to learn and share my thoughts.

   

  Cheerio

  Amit Pitaru

   

   

   



------------------------------------------------------------------------------


  _______________________________________________
  games_access mailing list
  games_access at igda.org
  http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
-------------- next part --------------
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From list at pitaru.com  Wed Oct 18 16:57:20 2006
From: list at pitaru.com (Amit Pitaru [LIST])
Date: Wed, 18 Oct 2006 16:57:20 -0400
Subject: [games_access] first hello
In-Reply-To: <004601c6f2f6$4e41f5a0$6402a8c0@Delletje>
Message-ID: <023601c6f2f8$01f7b520$6400a8c0@IBMPITARU>

Richard!

 

lol:) steve is the person I was talking with just before writing that email,
and so in my mind you both merged momentarily. That precise moment was
documented on this list for eternity.

 

Amit

 

  _____  

From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of AudioGames.net
Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 4:45 PM
To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
Subject: Re: [games_access] first hello

 

Steve? Who's Steve... ?

 

(grin)

----- Original Message ----- 

From: Amit Pitaru [LIST] <mailto:list at pitaru.com>  

To: 'IGDA Games <mailto:games_access at igda.org>  Accessibility SIG Mailing
List' 

Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 10:03 PM

Subject: RE: [games_access] first hello

 

Steve and Robert, thanks for pointing me towards the game-accessibility
website! 

 

> I think what would be great to learn from you is the techniques and
technologies

 

Thanks, and I'm happy share everything I've learned. I hope that this
chapter that I'm writing will include the most beneficial aspects of the
project. Very quickly - it will introduce design techniques for creating
inclusive games with care applied to retaining production costs and overall
playability. I'll talk about what needs to happen from the hardware,
software and policy standpoints. I'll also demonstrate the techniques by
retrofitting a simple tetris game for accessibility (very preliminary beta
version at http://pitaru.com/tetris), and discuss how some of these ideas
can follow through to hardcore games. I hope to get permission from the
school to interview the OT's, children and parents. It's all coming together
now so I'll have more tangible things to show soon enough.

 

Amit 

 

 

 


  _____  


From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of Robert Florio
Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 11:50 AM
To: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'
Subject: RE: [games_access] first hello

 

Welcome Amit it's a pleasure to have someone with your experience involved
in this group.  Whenever we share together also check out
www.game-accessibility.com <http://www.game-accessibility.com/>  a few of us
including myself, gamers with physical impairments forum, moderate the
different forums for game accessibility.  I think what would be great to
learn from you is the techniques and technologies used to help people with
the game accessibility in Long Island.  Thanks for joining.  Feel free to
check out my web site and my artwork and efforts for game accessibility.  

 

Myself 24 years old living in Maryland United States a quadriplegic from my
spinal cord injury and I draw with my mouth and study game design at the Art
Institute online.

 

Robert

AI online SGA 

arthit73 at cablespeed.com 

www.RobertFlorio.com <http://www.robertflorio.com/>  

 


  _____  


From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of Amit Pitaru [LIST]
Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 10:00 AM
To: games_access at igda.org
Subject: [games_access] first hello

 

Hello, thank you for having me on the list. My name is Amit Pitaru, I'm a
game/toy designer and also a part-time educator at New York University. I
also teach art at Cooper Union, and occasionally exhibit my work
(http://pitaru.com <http://pitaru.com/>  and http://insertsilence.com
<http://insertsilence.com/> )

 

I learned about the SIG while working on a chapter for a book on games that
is commissioned by the MacArthur foundation. The chapter is based on a two
year project with a special-needs school in Long Island, where I devised
hardware and software for gaming accessibility. I hope to tell you more
about it as we chat along.

 

So again, thank you for having me, I think I finally found a good home-base
to learn and share my thoughts.

 

Cheerio

Amit Pitaru

 

 

 


  _____  


_______________________________________________
games_access mailing list
games_access at igda.org
http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access

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From arthit73 at cablespeed.com  Wed Oct 18 17:01:02 2006
From: arthit73 at cablespeed.com (Robert Florio)
Date: Wed, 18 Oct 2006 17:01:02 -0400
Subject: [games_access] first hello
In-Reply-To: <021501c6f2f0$6d63aec0$6400a8c0@IBMPITARU>
Message-ID: <004201c6f2f8$865d4af0$6501a8c0@RobertFlorio>

Amit 

thank you for sharing that web site of the Tetris game I played the clicking
version it is very accessible and very thoughtful considerably thought
through.  One of the best amazing accessible games for the Internet I played
yet.  I look forward to your discussions here very much thank you so much
for joining.

 

I look forward to interviewing some of the occupational therapist myself
from the therapy I go to for my spinal cord clinic for treatment at Kennedy
Krieger in Baltimore.  Your game is at the beta version now is it OK to
share with people or are you just testing it for people you know?  I know
the beta is a great place to get other people's opinions of the game so
probably open for anyone.

 

A busy right now with schoolwork but in your book I want to learn more about
creating games for the web that I don't know scripting or C++ at all.  Your
book is not a crash course in learning it the chapter you're writing, please
let us know the book or we can get it also, just describes how if you know
to use that helped implement it accessible features on the need for
accessible game play?

 

I look forward to reading about the issues you talk about of product costs
and overall playability.  One thing I need to learn because I want to start
an organization someday is product costs and things like that.  Thanks for
sharing.

 

One thing in your game after you want to stop playing I'm not sure if I was
able to find a return button or a quick button that would get me back to the
main menu to choose between the two versions scanning or the other.  I
didn't play the other version not scanning with the other because I can hit
the keyboard keys but with the mouse that was amazing thank you so much for
showing proving that it can't be done to great example.

 

Would you recommend or what would you recommend I start picking up want to
definitely create games and flash which are my next to classes at the Art
Institute online?  I read I have a book titled "Micromedia Flash MX Action
Script for Fun and Games."  I have yet to start reading it but the two
before those classes start.  I picture myself starting to make games like
the one you have made.  And many wore just threw clicking.

 

Please add me to your e-mail sender list and if you have an e-mail address
can I do the same because if you don't mind I'd like to e-mail you when I
get to that step learning and creating games through flash?  

 

Robert

www.RobertFlorio.com <http://www.robertflorio.com/>  

arthit73 at cablespeed.com 

 

 

  _____  

From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of Amit Pitaru [LIST]
Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 4:03 PM
To: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'
Subject: RE: [games_access] first hello

 

Steve and Robert, thanks for pointing me towards the game-accessibility
website! 

 

> I think what would be great to learn from you is the techniques and
technologies

 

Thanks, and I'm happy share everything I've learned. I hope that this
chapter that I'm writing will include the most beneficial aspects of the
project. Very quickly - it will introduce design techniques for creating
inclusive games with care applied to retaining production costs and overall
playability. I'll talk about what needs to happen from the hardware,
software and policy standpoints. I'll also demonstrate the techniques by
retrofitting a simple tetris game for accessibility (very preliminary beta
version at http://pitaru.com/tetris), and discuss how some of these ideas
can follow through to hardcore games. I hope to get permission from the
school to interview the OT's, children and parents. It's all coming together
now so I'll have more tangible things to show soon enough.

 

Amit 

 

 

 

  _____  

From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of Robert Florio
Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 11:50 AM
To: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'
Subject: RE: [games_access] first hello

 

Welcome Amit it's a pleasure to have someone with your experience involved
in this group.  Whenever we share together also check out
www.game-accessibility.com <http://www.game-accessibility.com/>  a few of us
including myself, gamers with physical impairments forum, moderate the
different forums for game accessibility.  I think what would be great to
learn from you is the techniques and technologies used to help people with
the game accessibility in Long Island.  Thanks for joining.  Feel free to
check out my web site and my artwork and efforts for game accessibility.  

 

Myself 24 years old living in Maryland United States a quadriplegic from my
spinal cord injury and I draw with my mouth and study game design at the Art
Institute online.

 

Robert

AI online SGA 

arthit73 at cablespeed.com 

www.RobertFlorio.com <http://www.robertflorio.com/>  

 

  _____  

From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of Amit Pitaru [LIST]
Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 10:00 AM
To: games_access at igda.org
Subject: [games_access] first hello

 

Hello, thank you for having me on the list. My name is Amit Pitaru, I'm a
game/toy designer and also a part-time educator at New York University. I
also teach art at Cooper Union, and occasionally exhibit my work
(http://pitaru.com <http://pitaru.com/>  and http://insertsilence.com
<http://insertsilence.com/> )

 

I learned about the SIG while working on a chapter for a book on games that
is commissioned by the MacArthur foundation. The chapter is based on a two
year project with a special-needs school in Long Island, where I devised
hardware and software for gaming accessibility. I hope to tell you more
about it as we chat along.

 

So again, thank you for having me, I think I finally found a good home-base
to learn and share my thoughts.

 

Cheerio

Amit Pitaru

 

 

 

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From richard at audiogames.net  Wed Oct 18 17:02:35 2006
From: richard at audiogames.net (AudioGames.net)
Date: Wed, 18 Oct 2006 23:02:35 +0200
Subject: [games_access]One Switch Tetris / first hello
References: <021501c6f2f0$6d63aec0$6400a8c0@IBMPITARU>
Message-ID: <009d01c6f2f8$bccf47f0$6402a8c0@Delletje>

Hi,

I've spent an afternoon toying with a oneswitch-accessible Tetris. Have a look here: http://www.gluid.com/ost/ . This is not even a beta, like I said, this was done in a couple of hours, so here are the controls:

[enter] = toggle between One Switch Mode and Regular Mode (the game now starts in One Switch Mode)

One Switch Mode:
[space] = first select the rotation (piece will rotate automatically). After selection, the piece will move left and right. Push/Hold space to lower it. 

Regular Mode:
[cursor up] = rotate left
[cursor down] = rotate right
[cursor left] = move left
[cursor right] = move right
[space] = quick drop

Currently the cursorkeys also work in One Switch Mode. This is just a sketch. All things can be invidivually set (speed for moving left/right/down, rotation, automatic drop on/off in One Switch Mode=currently off) but I haven't come round to programming a One Switch Interface for that :)

What do you think? Since this is not finished and I guess I'll eventually put it on Game Accessibility.com, please do not hype the link as it is likely to change :)

Greets,

Richard


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Amit Pitaru [LIST] 
  To: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List' 
  Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 10:03 PM
  Subject: RE: [games_access] first hello


  Steve and Robert, thanks for pointing me towards the game-accessibility website! 

   

  > I think what would be great to learn from you is the techniques and technologies

   

  Thanks, and I'm happy share everything I've learned. I hope that this chapter that I'm writing will include the most beneficial aspects of the project. Very quickly - it will introduce design techniques for creating inclusive games with care applied to retaining production costs and overall playability. I'll talk about what needs to happen from the hardware, software and policy standpoints. I'll also demonstrate the techniques by retrofitting a simple tetris game for accessibility (very preliminary beta version at http://pitaru.com/tetris), and discuss how some of these ideas can follow through to hardcore games. I hope to get permission from the school to interview the OT's, children and parents. It's all coming together now so I'll have more tangible things to show soon enough.

   

  Amit 

   

   

   


------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org] On Behalf Of Robert Florio
  Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 11:50 AM
  To: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'
  Subject: RE: [games_access] first hello

   

  Welcome Amit it's a pleasure to have someone with your experience involved in this group.  Whenever we share together also check out www.game-accessibility.com a few of us including myself, gamers with physical impairments forum, moderate the different forums for game accessibility.  I think what would be great to learn from you is the techniques and technologies used to help people with the game accessibility in Long Island.  Thanks for joining.  Feel free to check out my web site and my artwork and efforts for game accessibility.  

   

  Myself 24 years old living in Maryland United States a quadriplegic from my spinal cord injury and I draw with my mouth and study game design at the Art Institute online.

   

  Robert

  AI online SGA 

  arthit73 at cablespeed.com 

  www.RobertFlorio.com 

   


------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org] On Behalf Of Amit Pitaru [LIST]
  Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 10:00 AM
  To: games_access at igda.org
  Subject: [games_access] first hello

   

  Hello, thank you for having me on the list. My name is Amit Pitaru, I'm a game/toy designer and also a part-time educator at New York University. I also teach art at Cooper Union, and occasionally exhibit my work (http://pitaru.com and http://insertsilence.com)

   

  I learned about the SIG while working on a chapter for a book on games that is commissioned by the MacArthur foundation. The chapter is based on a two year project with a special-needs school in Long Island, where I devised hardware and software for gaming accessibility. I hope to tell you more about it as we chat along.

   

  So again, thank you for having me, I think I finally found a good home-base to learn and share my thoughts.

   

  Cheerio

  Amit Pitaru

   

   

   



------------------------------------------------------------------------------


  _______________________________________________
  games_access mailing list
  games_access at igda.org
  http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
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From richard at audiogames.net  Wed Oct 18 17:03:15 2006
From: richard at audiogames.net (AudioGames.net)
Date: Wed, 18 Oct 2006 23:03:15 +0200
Subject: [games_access] first hello
References: <023601c6f2f8$01f7b520$6400a8c0@IBMPITARU>
Message-ID: <00c501c6f2f8$d436cc10$6402a8c0@Delletje>

No worries, Frank!
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Amit Pitaru [LIST] 
  To: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List' 
  Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 10:57 PM
  Subject: RE: [games_access] first hello


  Richard!

   

  lol:) steve is the person I was talking with just before writing that email, and so in my mind you both merged momentarily. That precise moment was documented on this list for eternity.

   

  Amit

   


------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org] On Behalf Of AudioGames.net
  Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 4:45 PM
  To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
  Subject: Re: [games_access] first hello

   

  Steve? Who's Steve... ?

   

  (grin)

    ----- Original Message ----- 

    From: Amit Pitaru [LIST] 

    To: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List' 

    Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 10:03 PM

    Subject: RE: [games_access] first hello

     

    Steve and Robert, thanks for pointing me towards the game-accessibility website! 

     

    > I think what would be great to learn from you is the techniques and technologies

     

    Thanks, and I'm happy share everything I've learned. I hope that this chapter that I'm writing will include the most beneficial aspects of the project. Very quickly - it will introduce design techniques for creating inclusive games with care applied to retaining production costs and overall playability. I'll talk about what needs to happen from the hardware, software and policy standpoints. I'll also demonstrate the techniques by retrofitting a simple tetris game for accessibility (very preliminary beta version at http://pitaru.com/tetris), and discuss how some of these ideas can follow through to hardcore games. I hope to get permission from the school to interview the OT's, children and parents. It's all coming together now so I'll have more tangible things to show soon enough.

     

    Amit 

     

     

     


----------------------------------------------------------------------------

    From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org] On Behalf Of Robert Florio
    Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 11:50 AM
    To: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'
    Subject: RE: [games_access] first hello

     

    Welcome Amit it's a pleasure to have someone with your experience involved in this group.  Whenever we share together also check out www.game-accessibility.com a few of us including myself, gamers with physical impairments forum, moderate the different forums for game accessibility.  I think what would be great to learn from you is the techniques and technologies used to help people with the game accessibility in Long Island.  Thanks for joining.  Feel free to check out my web site and my artwork and efforts for game accessibility.  

     

    Myself 24 years old living in Maryland United States a quadriplegic from my spinal cord injury and I draw with my mouth and study game design at the Art Institute online.

     

    Robert

    AI online SGA 

    arthit73 at cablespeed.com 

    www.RobertFlorio.com 

     


----------------------------------------------------------------------------

    From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org] On Behalf Of Amit Pitaru [LIST]
    Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 10:00 AM
    To: games_access at igda.org
    Subject: [games_access] first hello

     

    Hello, thank you for having me on the list. My name is Amit Pitaru, I'm a game/toy designer and also a part-time educator at New York University. I also teach art at Cooper Union, and occasionally exhibit my work (http://pitaru.com and http://insertsilence.com)

     

    I learned about the SIG while working on a chapter for a book on games that is commissioned by the MacArthur foundation. The chapter is based on a two year project with a special-needs school in Long Island, where I devised hardware and software for gaming accessibility. I hope to tell you more about it as we chat along.

     

    So again, thank you for having me, I think I finally found a good home-base to learn and share my thoughts.

     

    Cheerio

    Amit Pitaru

     

     

     


----------------------------------------------------------------------------

    _______________________________________________
    games_access mailing list
    games_access at igda.org
    http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access



------------------------------------------------------------------------------


  _______________________________________________
  games_access mailing list
  games_access at igda.org
  http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
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From richard at audiogames.net  Wed Oct 18 17:11:56 2006
From: richard at audiogames.net (AudioGames.net)
Date: Wed, 18 Oct 2006 23:11:56 +0200
Subject: [games_access]One Switch Tetris / first hello
References: <021501c6f2f0$6d63aec0$6400a8c0@IBMPITARU>
	<009d01c6f2f8$bccf47f0$6402a8c0@Delletje>
Message-ID: <00f601c6f2fa$0ac5d180$6402a8c0@Delletje>

By the way, these controls are also temporarily. I mean to make this ANYswitch compatible, so mouse/joystick/etc. I've just not come around to it...
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: AudioGames.net 
  To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List 
  Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 11:02 PM
  Subject: Re: [games_access]One Switch Tetris / first hello


  Hi,

  I've spent an afternoon toying with a oneswitch-accessible Tetris. Have a look here: http://www.gluid.com/ost/ . This is not even a beta, like I said, this was done in a couple of hours, so here are the controls:

  [enter] = toggle between One Switch Mode and Regular Mode (the game now starts in One Switch Mode)

  One Switch Mode:
  [space] = first select the rotation (piece will rotate automatically). After selection, the piece will move left and right. Push/Hold space to lower it. 

  Regular Mode:
  [cursor up] = rotate left
  [cursor down] = rotate right
  [cursor left] = move left
  [cursor right] = move right
  [space] = quick drop

  Currently the cursorkeys also work in One Switch Mode. This is just a sketch. All things can be invidivually set (speed for moving left/right/down, rotation, automatic drop on/off in One Switch Mode=currently off) but I haven't come round to programming a One Switch Interface for that :)

  What do you think? Since this is not finished and I guess I'll eventually put it on Game Accessibility.com, please do not hype the link as it is likely to change :)

  Greets,

  Richard


    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Amit Pitaru [LIST] 
    To: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List' 
    Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 10:03 PM
    Subject: RE: [games_access] first hello


    Steve and Robert, thanks for pointing me towards the game-accessibility website! 

     

    > I think what would be great to learn from you is the techniques and technologies

     

    Thanks, and I'm happy share everything I've learned. I hope that this chapter that I'm writing will include the most beneficial aspects of the project. Very quickly - it will introduce design techniques for creating inclusive games with care applied to retaining production costs and overall playability. I'll talk about what needs to happen from the hardware, software and policy standpoints. I'll also demonstrate the techniques by retrofitting a simple tetris game for accessibility (very preliminary beta version at http://pitaru.com/tetris), and discuss how some of these ideas can follow through to hardcore games. I hope to get permission from the school to interview the OT's, children and parents. It's all coming together now so I'll have more tangible things to show soon enough.

     

    Amit 

     

     

     


----------------------------------------------------------------------------

    From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org] On Behalf Of Robert Florio
    Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 11:50 AM
    To: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'
    Subject: RE: [games_access] first hello

     

    Welcome Amit it's a pleasure to have someone with your experience involved in this group.  Whenever we share together also check out www.game-accessibility.com a few of us including myself, gamers with physical impairments forum, moderate the different forums for game accessibility.  I think what would be great to learn from you is the techniques and technologies used to help people with the game accessibility in Long Island.  Thanks for joining.  Feel free to check out my web site and my artwork and efforts for game accessibility.  

     

    Myself 24 years old living in Maryland United States a quadriplegic from my spinal cord injury and I draw with my mouth and study game design at the Art Institute online.

     

    Robert

    AI online SGA 

    arthit73 at cablespeed.com 

    www.RobertFlorio.com 

     


----------------------------------------------------------------------------

    From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org] On Behalf Of Amit Pitaru [LIST]
    Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 10:00 AM
    To: games_access at igda.org
    Subject: [games_access] first hello

     

    Hello, thank you for having me on the list. My name is Amit Pitaru, I'm a game/toy designer and also a part-time educator at New York University. I also teach art at Cooper Union, and occasionally exhibit my work (http://pitaru.com and http://insertsilence.com)

     

    I learned about the SIG while working on a chapter for a book on games that is commissioned by the MacArthur foundation. The chapter is based on a two year project with a special-needs school in Long Island, where I devised hardware and software for gaming accessibility. I hope to tell you more about it as we chat along.

     

    So again, thank you for having me, I think I finally found a good home-base to learn and share my thoughts.

     

    Cheerio

    Amit Pitaru

     

     

     



----------------------------------------------------------------------------


    _______________________________________________
    games_access mailing list
    games_access at igda.org
    http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access



------------------------------------------------------------------------------


  _______________________________________________
  games_access mailing list
  games_access at igda.org
  http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
-------------- next part --------------
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From hinn at uiuc.edu  Wed Oct 18 17:14:14 2006
From: hinn at uiuc.edu (d. michelle hinn)
Date: Wed, 18 Oct 2006 16:14:14 -0500
Subject: [games_access] first hello
In-Reply-To: <00c501c6f2f8$d436cc10$6402a8c0@Delletje>
References: <023601c6f2f8$01f7b520$6400a8c0@IBMPITARU>
	<00c501c6f2f8$d436cc10$6402a8c0@Delletje>
Message-ID: <p06230931c15c490dd215@[192.168.1.100]>

It actually works out since we all have a secret 
identity off-list. ;) So adding in extra names 
just helps us keep our archenemies further 
confused.

Ana (aka, Michelle...for now...)

Welcome to the list Amit...er...Frank?

>No worries, Frank!
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <mailto:list at pitaru.com>Amit Pitaru [LIST]
>To: <mailto:games_access at igda.org>'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'
>Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 10:57 PM
>Subject: RE: [games_access] first hello
>
>Richard!
>
>lol:) steve is the person I was talking with 
>just before writing that email, and so in my 
>mind you both merged momentarily. That precise 
>moment was documented on this list for eternity.
>
>Amit
>
>
>From: 
><mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org>games_access-bounces at igda.org 
>[mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org] On Behalf 
>Of AudioGames.net
>Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 4:45 PM
>To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
>Subject: Re: [games_access] first hello
>
>Steve? Who's Steve... ?
>
>(grin)
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <mailto:list at pitaru.com>Amit Pitaru [LIST]
>To: <mailto:games_access at igda.org>'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'
>Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 10:03 PM
>Subject: RE: [games_access] first hello
>
>Steve and Robert, thanks for pointing me towards 
>the game-accessibility website!
>
>  > I think what would be great to learn from you 
>is the techniques and technologies
>
>Thanks, and I?m happy share everything I?ve 
>learned. I hope that this chapter that I?m 
>writing will include the most beneficial aspects 
>of the project. Very quickly ? it will introduce 
>design techniques for creating inclusive games 
>with care applied to retaining production costs 
>and overall playability. I?ll talk about what 
>needs to happen from the hardware, software and 
>policy standpoints. I?ll also demonstrate the 
>techniques by retrofitting a simple tetris game 
>for accessibility (very preliminary beta version 
>at 
><http://pitaru.com/tetris>http://pitaru.com/tetris), 
>and discuss how some of these ideas can follow 
>through to hardcore games. I hope to get 
>permission from the school to interview the 
>OT?s, children and parents. It?s all coming 
>together now so I?ll have more tangible things 
>to show soon enough.
>
>Amit
>
>
>
>
>From: games_access-bounces at igda.org 
>[mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org] On Behalf 
>Of Robert Florio
>Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 11:50 AM
>To: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'
>Subject: RE: [games_access] first hello
>
>Welcome Amit it's a pleasure to have someone 
>with your experience involved in this group. 
>Whenever we share together also check out 
><http://www.game-accessibility.com/>www.game-accessibility.com 
>a few of us including myself, gamers with 
>physical impairments forum, moderate the 
>different forums for game accessibility.  I 
>think what would be great to learn from you is 
>the techniques and technologies used to help 
>people with the game accessibility in Long 
>Island.  Thanks for joining.  Feel free to check 
>out my web site and my artwork and efforts for 
>game accessibility. 
>
>Myself 24 years old living in Maryland United 
>States a quadriplegic from my spinal cord injury 
>and I draw with my mouth and study game design 
>at the Art Institute online.
>
>Robert
>AI online SGA
><mailto:arthit73 at cablespeed.com>arthit73 at cablespeed.com
><http://www.robertflorio.com/>www.RobertFlorio.com
>
>
>From: games_access-bounces at igda.org 
>[mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org] On Behalf 
>Of Amit Pitaru [LIST]
>Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 10:00 AM
>To: games_access at igda.org
>Subject: [games_access] first hello
>
>Hello, thank you for having me on the list. My 
>name is Amit Pitaru, I'm a game/toy designer and 
>also a part-time educator at New York 
>University. I also teach art at Cooper Union, 
>and occasionally exhibit my work 
>(<http://pitaru.com/>http://pitaru.com and 
><http://insertsilence.com/>http://insertsilence.com)
>
>I learned about the SIG while working on a 
>chapter for a book on games that is commissioned 
>by the MacArthur foundation. The chapter is 
>based on a two year project with a special-needs 
>school in Long Island, where I devised hardware 
>and software for gaming accessibility. I hope to 
>tell you more about it as we chat along.
>
>So again, thank you for having me, I think I 
>finally found a good home-base to learn and 
>share my thoughts.
>
>Cheerio
>Amit Pitaru
>
>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>games_access mailing list
>games_access at igda.org
>http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>games_access mailing list
>games_access at igda.org
>http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>games_access mailing list
>games_access at igda.org
>http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
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From list at pitaru.com  Wed Oct 18 18:14:26 2006
From: list at pitaru.com (Amit Pitaru [LIST])
Date: Wed, 18 Oct 2006 18:14:26 -0400
Subject: [games_access] first hello
In-Reply-To: <004201c6f2f8$865d4af0$6501a8c0@RobertFlorio>
Message-ID: <026c01c6f302$c6f18900$6400a8c0@IBMPITARU>

Thanks Robert, I'm so happy you like it! Feel free to pass it along and I'm
always interested in feedback.

 

Re. the chapter - it will not include any code because of the generalized
target-audience. But once this chapter is over with I'd like to start adding
Flash/Java/C++ source-code for all the concepts I'll be touching upon. One
step at a time : ) 

 

Re. learning to program - you should know that Flash is now moving from
Actionscript2 (AS2) to AS3, so I'm not sure which books are relevant
anymore. I suggest to start with the Flash class your taking at school and
work it from there. In general, all the books by Colin Moock are excellent
but they are reference guides and not tutorials. The games book you
mentioned should also be great. Otherwise, if you want to pick up
programming in general, there's a great free and open-source platform
developed by two friends of mine at MIT - its http://processing.org
<http://processing.org/>  . It is used by many universities to teach
programming (instead of flash), but is not as comfy towards game-design. Its
also what I use to teach my art students programming 101. If you want to
give it a shot, a freidn of mine is writing a book for it and I'll ask if
it's ok to send you a PDF copy (can't promise though - depends on his
publisher). Let me know..

 

Thanks for the advice on the tetris game - I'll fix it. Notice that you can
change the scan mode from the menu under SCAN MODE SETTINGS. Both scan speed
and on/off can be set there.  

 

Amit

 

 

 

 

 

 

  _____  

From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of Robert Florio
Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 5:01 PM
To: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'
Subject: RE: [games_access] first hello

 

Amit 

thank you for sharing that web site of the Tetris game I played the clicking
version it is very accessible and very thoughtful considerably thought
through.  One of the best amazing accessible games for the Internet I played
yet.  I look forward to your discussions here very much thank you so much
for joining.

 

I look forward to interviewing some of the occupational therapist myself
from the therapy I go to for my spinal cord clinic for treatment at Kennedy
Krieger in Baltimore.  Your game is at the beta version now is it OK to
share with people or are you just testing it for people you know?  I know
the beta is a great place to get other people's opinions of the game so
probably open for anyone.

 

A busy right now with schoolwork but in your book I want to learn more about
creating games for the web that I don't know scripting or C++ at all.  Your
book is not a crash course in learning it the chapter you're writing, please
let us know the book or we can get it also, just describes how if you know
to use that helped implement it accessible features on the need for
accessible game play?

 

I look forward to reading about the issues you talk about of product costs
and overall playability.  One thing I need to learn because I want to start
an organization someday is product costs and things like that.  Thanks for
sharing.

 

One thing in your game after you want to stop playing I'm not sure if I was
able to find a return button or a quick button that would get me back to the
main menu to choose between the two versions scanning or the other.  I
didn't play the other version not scanning with the other because I can hit
the keyboard keys but with the mouse that was amazing thank you so much for
showing proving that it can't be done to great example.

 

Would you recommend or what would you recommend I start picking up want to
definitely create games and flash which are my next to classes at the Art
Institute online?  I read I have a book titled "Micromedia Flash MX Action
Script for Fun and Games."  I have yet to start reading it but the two
before those classes start.  I picture myself starting to make games like
the one you have made.  And many wore just threw clicking.

 

Please add me to your e-mail sender list and if you have an e-mail address
can I do the same because if you don't mind I'd like to e-mail you when I
get to that step learning and creating games through flash?  

 

Robert

www.RobertFlorio.com <http://www.robertflorio.com/>  

arthit73 at cablespeed.com 

 

 

  _____  

From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of Amit Pitaru [LIST]
Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 4:03 PM
To: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'
Subject: RE: [games_access] first hello

 

Steve and Robert, thanks for pointing me towards the game-accessibility
website! 

 

> I think what would be great to learn from you is the techniques and
technologies

 

Thanks, and I'm happy share everything I've learned. I hope that this
chapter that I'm writing will include the most beneficial aspects of the
project. Very quickly - it will introduce design techniques for creating
inclusive games with care applied to retaining production costs and overall
playability. I'll talk about what needs to happen from the hardware,
software and policy standpoints. I'll also demonstrate the techniques by
retrofitting a simple tetris game for accessibility (very preliminary beta
version at http://pitaru.com/tetris), and discuss how some of these ideas
can follow through to hardcore games. I hope to get permission from the
school to interview the OT's, children and parents. It's all coming together
now so I'll have more tangible things to show soon enough.

 

Amit 

 

 

 

  _____  

From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of Robert Florio
Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 11:50 AM
To: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'
Subject: RE: [games_access] first hello

 

Welcome Amit it's a pleasure to have someone with your experience involved
in this group.  Whenever we share together also check out
www.game-accessibility.com <http://www.game-accessibility.com/>  a few of us
including myself, gamers with physical impairments forum, moderate the
different forums for game accessibility.  I think what would be great to
learn from you is the techniques and technologies used to help people with
the game accessibility in Long Island.  Thanks for joining.  Feel free to
check out my web site and my artwork and efforts for game accessibility.  

 

Myself 24 years old living in Maryland United States a quadriplegic from my
spinal cord injury and I draw with my mouth and study game design at the Art
Institute online.

 

Robert

AI online SGA 

arthit73 at cablespeed.com 

www.RobertFlorio.com <http://www.robertflorio.com/>  

 

  _____  

From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of Amit Pitaru [LIST]
Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 10:00 AM
To: games_access at igda.org
Subject: [games_access] first hello

 

Hello, thank you for having me on the list. My name is Amit Pitaru, I'm a
game/toy designer and also a part-time educator at New York University. I
also teach art at Cooper Union, and occasionally exhibit my work
(http://pitaru.com <http://pitaru.com/>  and http://insertsilence.com
<http://insertsilence.com/> )

 

I learned about the SIG while working on a chapter for a book on games that
is commissioned by the MacArthur foundation. The chapter is based on a two
year project with a special-needs school in Long Island, where I devised
hardware and software for gaming accessibility. I hope to tell you more
about it as we chat along.

 

So again, thank you for having me, I think I finally found a good home-base
to learn and share my thoughts.

 

Cheerio

Amit Pitaru

 

 

 

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From list at pitaru.com  Wed Oct 18 18:17:21 2006
From: list at pitaru.com (Amit Pitaru [LIST])
Date: Wed, 18 Oct 2006 18:17:21 -0400
Subject: [games_access]One Switch Tetris / first hello
In-Reply-To: <009d01c6f2f8$bccf47f0$6402a8c0@Delletje>
Message-ID: <027401c6f303$2ed2b490$6400a8c0@IBMPITARU>

I love the different approaches we have to the game's accessibility
implementation! Where I just stopped the blocks, you streamlined the process
into rotate/pan. Clever! 

 

Framit

 

 

  _____  

From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of AudioGames.net
Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 5:03 PM
To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
Subject: Re: [games_access]One Switch Tetris / first hello

 

Hi,

 

I've spent an afternoon toying with a oneswitch-accessible Tetris. Have a
look here: http://www.gluid.com/ost/ . This is not even a beta, like I said,
this was done in a couple of hours, so here are the controls:

 

[enter] = toggle between One Switch Mode and Regular Mode (the game now
starts in One Switch Mode)

 

One Switch Mode:

[space] = first select the rotation (piece will rotate automatically). After
selection, the piece will move left and right. Push/Hold space to lower it. 

 

Regular Mode:

[cursor up] = rotate left

[cursor down] = rotate right

[cursor left] = move left

[cursor right] = move right

[space] = quick drop

 

Currently the cursorkeys also work in One Switch Mode. This is just a
sketch. All things can be invidivually set (speed for moving
left/right/down, rotation, automatic drop on/off in One Switch
Mode=currently off) but I haven't come round to programming a One Switch
Interface for that :)

 

What do you think? Since this is not finished and I guess I'll eventually
put it on Game Accessibility.com, please do not hype the link as it is
likely to change :)

 

Greets,

 

Richard

 

 

----- Original Message ----- 

From: Amit Pitaru [LIST] <mailto:list at pitaru.com>  

To: 'IGDA Games <mailto:games_access at igda.org>  Accessibility SIG Mailing
List' 

Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 10:03 PM

Subject: RE: [games_access] first hello

 

Steve and Robert, thanks for pointing me towards the game-accessibility
website! 

 

> I think what would be great to learn from you is the techniques and
technologies

 

Thanks, and I'm happy share everything I've learned. I hope that this
chapter that I'm writing will include the most beneficial aspects of the
project. Very quickly - it will introduce design techniques for creating
inclusive games with care applied to retaining production costs and overall
playability. I'll talk about what needs to happen from the hardware,
software and policy standpoints. I'll also demonstrate the techniques by
retrofitting a simple tetris game for accessibility (very preliminary beta
version at http://pitaru.com/tetris), and discuss how some of these ideas
can follow through to hardcore games. I hope to get permission from the
school to interview the OT's, children and parents. It's all coming together
now so I'll have more tangible things to show soon enough.

 

Amit 

 

 

 


  _____  


From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of Robert Florio
Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 11:50 AM
To: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'
Subject: RE: [games_access] first hello

 

Welcome Amit it's a pleasure to have someone with your experience involved
in this group.  Whenever we share together also check out
www.game-accessibility.com <http://www.game-accessibility.com/>  a few of us
including myself, gamers with physical impairments forum, moderate the
different forums for game accessibility.  I think what would be great to
learn from you is the techniques and technologies used to help people with
the game accessibility in Long Island.  Thanks for joining.  Feel free to
check out my web site and my artwork and efforts for game accessibility.  

 

Myself 24 years old living in Maryland United States a quadriplegic from my
spinal cord injury and I draw with my mouth and study game design at the Art
Institute online.

 

Robert

AI online SGA 

arthit73 at cablespeed.com 

www.RobertFlorio.com <http://www.robertflorio.com/>  

 


  _____  


From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of Amit Pitaru [LIST]
Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 10:00 AM
To: games_access at igda.org
Subject: [games_access] first hello

 

Hello, thank you for having me on the list. My name is Amit Pitaru, I'm a
game/toy designer and also a part-time educator at New York University. I
also teach art at Cooper Union, and occasionally exhibit my work
(http://pitaru.com <http://pitaru.com/>  and http://insertsilence.com
<http://insertsilence.com/> )

 

I learned about the SIG while working on a chapter for a book on games that
is commissioned by the MacArthur foundation. The chapter is based on a two
year project with a special-needs school in Long Island, where I devised
hardware and software for gaming accessibility. I hope to tell you more
about it as we chat along.

 

So again, thank you for having me, I think I finally found a good home-base
to learn and share my thoughts.

 

Cheerio

Amit Pitaru

 

 

 


  _____  


_______________________________________________
games_access mailing list
games_access at igda.org
http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access

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From lynnvm at carolina.rr.com  Wed Oct 18 20:59:47 2006
From: lynnvm at carolina.rr.com (lynnvm at carolina.rr.com)
Date: Wed, 18 Oct 2006 20:59:47 -0400
Subject: [games_access] RE: Welcome, Amit
In-Reply-To: <20061018204517.B213A57ABB@seven.pairlist.net>
Message-ID: <001e01c6f319$e0592b70$6401a8c0@HOME>

 
Amit,
 
I'm a school psychologist who works at a special needs school in N.C.  I am
looking forward to learning more about your work at the Long Island school
and how you adapted software and hardware for game accessibility.
 
I'm taking an AI for game development class this semester and my team is
incorporating accessibility in our little game project.
 
Take care!
 
Lynn Marentette
 
For more info about me :
<http://interactivemultimediatechnology.blogspot.com/>
InteractiveMultimediaTechnology and  <http://techpsych.blogspot.com/> Tech
Psych  (2 blogs for now, but soon I'll have just one, as I'm putting up a
website)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Hello, thank you for having me on the list. My name is Amit Pitaru, I'm a
game/toy designer and also a part-time educator at New York University. I
also teach art at Cooper Union, and occasionally exhibit my work
(http://pitaru.com <http://pitaru.com/>  and http://insertsilence.com
<http://insertsilence.com/> )
 
 
 
I learned about the SIG while working on a chapter for a book on games that
is commissioned by the MacArthur foundation. The chapter is based on a two
year project with a special-needs school in Long Island, where I devised
hardware and software for gaming accessibility. I hope to tell you more
about it as we chat along.
 
 
 
So again, thank you for having me, I think I finally found a good home-base
to learn and share my thoughts.
 
 
 
Cheerio
 
Amit Pitaru
 
 
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From richard at audiogames.net  Thu Oct 19 01:40:02 2006
From: richard at audiogames.net (AudioGames.net)
Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2006 07:40:02 +0200
Subject: [games_access]One Switch Tetris / first hello
References: <027401c6f303$2ed2b490$6400a8c0@IBMPITARU>
Message-ID: <007e01c6f341$0618a4e0$6402a8c0@Delletje>

Hi,

Thanks, I like your approach as well. Yes, there are some benefits to mine but it also has some disadvantages. The benefits are that the gameplay is quite up to speed and you still can put blocks in between other blocks . The main disadvantage of my technique is that from the moment you've chosen a rotation, you're stuck with it. Your approach allows players to still rotate a piece while it is lowering, which is more like the original Tetris. The reason I chose this approach was mostly the gameplayspeed issue and I think it works quite well intuively this way (but that's me:). I guess that most of the time players already decide where to put a certain piece either when it is still at the top or when it is previewed in the Next Piece window. 

Since everything is programmed apart, I also have the following options in One Switch Mode (again, which are *not yet* settable by the player, just by me) :

- Instant Drop = after selecting a rotation (with [Space]), the piece will pan left and right. When the player presses [Spacebar] the piece will immediately drop all the way down on the stack. In the version you played, [Space] is currently set to "Lower" a piece, not "Drop" it. Instant Drop is the Drop it :)
- Automatic Lowering During Rotation: On/Off = this will automatically start lowering the piece while it is rotating and the player has not choses a rotation. After the player has selected a rotation, this feature has no influence on the piece anymore (see next).
- Automatic Lowering (After Rotation): On/Off = this will automatically start lowering the piece after it has been rotated by the player. In this case, pressing [Space] will immediately drop the piece all the way down on the stack (similar to Instant Drop).

I found that these settings provide quite different (and more difficult) gameplay. While the Automatic Drop During Rotation raises tension, the gameplay is still quite managable. But although the "Instant Drop" functionality speeds up gameplay, I find that the game becomes less of a puzzle and more of a shooter :) Of course, I still have to tweak the parameters but somehow I think that for the current settings of the version that is online now mostly resembles the original Tetris-experience. 

Anyone else? Robert, don't know if you can access the [Spacebar] but if you can, what do you think of it? I'll make a newer version soon that will let you use any mouseclick as well as any key.

Greets,

Richard

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Amit Pitaru [LIST] 
  To: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List' 
  Sent: Thursday, October 19, 2006 12:17 AM
  Subject: RE: [games_access]One Switch Tetris / first hello


  I love the different approaches we have to the game's accessibility implementation! Where I just stopped the blocks, you streamlined the process into rotate/pan. Clever! 

   

  Framit

   

   


------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org] On Behalf Of AudioGames.net
  Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 5:03 PM
  To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
  Subject: Re: [games_access]One Switch Tetris / first hello

   

  Hi,

   

  I've spent an afternoon toying with a oneswitch-accessible Tetris. Have a look here: http://www.gluid.com/ost/ . This is not even a beta, like I said, this was done in a couple of hours, so here are the controls:

   

  [enter] = toggle between One Switch Mode and Regular Mode (the game now starts in One Switch Mode)

   

  One Switch Mode:

  [space] = first select the rotation (piece will rotate automatically). After selection, the piece will move left and right. Push/Hold space to lower it. 

   

  Regular Mode:

  [cursor up] = rotate left

  [cursor down] = rotate right

  [cursor left] = move left

  [cursor right] = move right

  [space] = quick drop

   

  Currently the cursorkeys also work in One Switch Mode. This is just a sketch. All things can be invidivually set (speed for moving left/right/down, rotation, automatic drop on/off in One Switch Mode=currently off) but I haven't come round to programming a One Switch Interface for that :)

   

  What do you think? Since this is not finished and I guess I'll eventually put it on Game Accessibility.com, please do not hype the link as it is likely to change :)

   

  Greets,

   

  Richard

   

   

    ----- Original Message ----- 

    From: Amit Pitaru [LIST] 

    To: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List' 

    Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 10:03 PM

    Subject: RE: [games_access] first hello

     

    Steve and Robert, thanks for pointing me towards the game-accessibility website! 

     

    > I think what would be great to learn from you is the techniques and technologies

     

    Thanks, and I'm happy share everything I've learned. I hope that this chapter that I'm writing will include the most beneficial aspects of the project. Very quickly - it will introduce design techniques for creating inclusive games with care applied to retaining production costs and overall playability. I'll talk about what needs to happen from the hardware, software and policy standpoints. I'll also demonstrate the techniques by retrofitting a simple tetris game for accessibility (very preliminary beta version at http://pitaru.com/tetris), and discuss how some of these ideas can follow through to hardcore games. I hope to get permission from the school to interview the OT's, children and parents. It's all coming together now so I'll have more tangible things to show soon enough.

     

    Amit 

     

     

     


----------------------------------------------------------------------------

    From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org] On Behalf Of Robert Florio
    Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 11:50 AM
    To: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'
    Subject: RE: [games_access] first hello

     

    Welcome Amit it's a pleasure to have someone with your experience involved in this group.  Whenever we share together also check out www.game-accessibility.com a few of us including myself, gamers with physical impairments forum, moderate the different forums for game accessibility.  I think what would be great to learn from you is the techniques and technologies used to help people with the game accessibility in Long Island.  Thanks for joining.  Feel free to check out my web site and my artwork and efforts for game accessibility.  

     

    Myself 24 years old living in Maryland United States a quadriplegic from my spinal cord injury and I draw with my mouth and study game design at the Art Institute online.

     

    Robert

    AI online SGA 

    arthit73 at cablespeed.com 

    www.RobertFlorio.com 

     


----------------------------------------------------------------------------

    From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org] On Behalf Of Amit Pitaru [LIST]
    Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 10:00 AM
    To: games_access at igda.org
    Subject: [games_access] first hello

     

    Hello, thank you for having me on the list. My name is Amit Pitaru, I'm a game/toy designer and also a part-time educator at New York University. I also teach art at Cooper Union, and occasionally exhibit my work (http://pitaru.com and http://insertsilence.com)

     

    I learned about the SIG while working on a chapter for a book on games that is commissioned by the MacArthur foundation. The chapter is based on a two year project with a special-needs school in Long Island, where I devised hardware and software for gaming accessibility. I hope to tell you more about it as we chat along.

     

    So again, thank you for having me, I think I finally found a good home-base to learn and share my thoughts.

     

    Cheerio

    Amit Pitaru

     

     

     


----------------------------------------------------------------------------

    _______________________________________________
    games_access mailing list
    games_access at igda.org
    http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access



------------------------------------------------------------------------------


  _______________________________________________
  games_access mailing list
  games_access at igda.org
  http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
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From j.chetwynd at btinternet.com  Thu Oct 19 02:15:39 2006
From: j.chetwynd at btinternet.com (Jonathan Chetwynd)
Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2006 07:15:39 +0100
Subject: [games_access] first hello
In-Reply-To: <023601c6f2f8$01f7b520$6400a8c0@IBMPITARU>
References: <023601c6f2f8$01f7b520$6400a8c0@IBMPITARU>
Message-ID: <991203BC-E920-4095-A1B4-7111D0E573EF@btinternet.com>

Amit,

http://croczilla.com/svg/samples/svgtetris/svgtetris.svg

I believe this is public domain, but perhaps best to check first.

regards

Jonathan Chetwynd



On 18 Oct 2006, at 21:57, Amit Pitaru [LIST] wrote:

Richard!



lol:) steve is the person I was talking with just before writing that  
email, and so in my mind you both merged momentarily. That precise  
moment was documented on this list for eternity.



Amit



From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access- 
bounces at igda.org] On Behalf Of AudioGames.net
Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 4:45 PM
To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
Subject: Re: [games_access] first hello



Steve? Who's Steve... ?



(grin)

----- Original Message -----

From: Amit Pitaru [LIST]

To: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'

Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 10:03 PM

Subject: RE: [games_access] first hello



Steve and Robert, thanks for pointing me towards the game- 
accessibility website!



 > I think what would be great to learn from you is the techniques  
and technologies



Thanks, and I?m happy share everything I?ve learned. I hope that this  
chapter that I?m writing will include the most beneficial aspects of  
the project. Very quickly ? it will introduce design techniques for  
creating inclusive games with care applied to retaining production  
costs and overall playability. I?ll talk about what needs to happen  
from the hardware, software and policy standpoints. I?ll also  
demonstrate the techniques by retrofitting a simple tetris game for  
accessibility (very preliminary beta version at http://pitaru.com/ 
tetris), and discuss how some of these ideas can follow through to  
hardcore games. I hope to get permission from the school to interview  
the OT?s, children and parents. It?s all coming together now so I?ll  
have more tangible things to show soon enough.



Amit







From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access- 
bounces at igda.org] On Behalf Of Robert Florio
Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 11:50 AM
To: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'
Subject: RE: [games_access] first hello



Welcome Amit it's a pleasure to have someone with your experience  
involved in this group.  Whenever we share together also check out  
www.game-accessibility.com a few of us including myself, gamers with  
physical impairments forum, moderate the different forums for game  
accessibility.  I think what would be great to learn from you is the  
techniques and technologies used to help people with the game  
accessibility in Long Island.  Thanks for joining.  Feel free to  
check out my web site and my artwork and efforts for game accessibility.



Myself 24 years old living in Maryland United States a quadriplegic  
from my spinal cord injury and I draw with my mouth and study game  
design at the Art Institute online.



Robert

AI online SGA

arthit73 at cablespeed.com

www.RobertFlorio.com



From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access- 
bounces at igda.org] On Behalf Of Amit Pitaru [LIST]
Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 10:00 AM
To: games_access at igda.org
Subject: [games_access] first hello



Hello, thank you for having me on the list. My name is Amit Pitaru,  
I'm a game/toy designer and also a part-time educator at New York  
University. I also teach art at Cooper Union, and occasionally  
exhibit my work (http://pitaru.com and http://insertsilence.com)



I learned about the SIG while working on a chapter for a book on  
games that is commissioned by the MacArthur foundation. The chapter  
is based on a two year project with a special-needs school in Long  
Island, where I devised hardware and software for gaming  
accessibility. I hope to tell you more about it as we chat along.



So again, thank you for having me, I think I finally found a good  
home-base to learn and share my thoughts.



Cheerio

Amit Pitaru







_______________________________________________
games_access mailing list
games_access at igda.org
http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access

_______________________________________________
games_access mailing list
games_access at igda.org
http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access



From barrie.ellis at oneswitch.org.uk  Thu Oct 19 03:13:11 2006
From: barrie.ellis at oneswitch.org.uk (Barrie Ellis)
Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2006 08:13:11 +0100
Subject: [games_access] first hello
References: <017201c6f2bd$bfe5ffa0$6400a8c0@IBMPITARU>
Message-ID: <089601c6f34e$09a206d0$0202a8c0@OneSwitch>

Hello Amit,

Welcome to the list. I recognised some of your work (namely your lovely "Pagan Poetry" web-work, which I knew from ShowStudio). Really looking forward to learning more of your hardware and software designed for gaming accessibility.

Guess you've seen the "Reactive Colour" project, aimed at creating interactive 'toys' that Autistic and non-Autistic children can play with alike? Reminds me of some of your work: http://www.reactivecolours.org/

This also reminded me of some of the work I was involved with in the mid to late 90's using adapted hardware and light synthesisers: http://www.llamasoft.co.uk/lightsynths.php - Working with severely learning disabled adults, in a Sensory Room (aka "Snoezelen") environment. Fun stuff.

I'll be keeping an eye on: http://community.macfound.org/openforum, and hope I can contribute time permitting.

Good luck!

Barrie
www.OneSwitch.org.uk


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Amit Pitaru [LIST] 
  To: games_access at igda.org 
  Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 3:00 PM
  Subject: [games_access] first hello


  Hello, thank you for having me on the list. My name is Amit Pitaru, I'm a game/toy designer and also a part-time educator at New York University. I also teach art at Cooper Union, and occasionally exhibit my work (http://pitaru.com and http://insertsilence.com)

   

  I learned about the SIG while working on a chapter for a book on games that is commissioned by the MacArthur foundation. The chapter is based on a two year project with a special-needs school in Long Island, where I devised hardware and software for gaming accessibility. I hope to tell you more about it as we chat along.

   

  So again, thank you for having me, I think I finally found a good home-base to learn and share my thoughts.

   

  Cheerio

  Amit Pitaru

   

   

   



------------------------------------------------------------------------------


  _______________________________________________
  games_access mailing list
  games_access at igda.org
  http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
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From colven at ace-centre.org.uk  Thu Oct 19 04:16:13 2006
From: colven at ace-centre.org.uk (David Colven)
Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2006 09:16:13 +0100
Subject: [games_access]One Switch Tetris / first hello
In-Reply-To: <009d01c6f2f8$bccf47f0$6402a8c0@Delletje>
References: <021501c6f2f0$6d63aec0$6400a8c0@IBMPITARU>
	<009d01c6f2f8$bccf47f0$6402a8c0@Delletje>
Message-ID: <6.0.3.0.2.20061019091330.04dab750@192.168.100.200>

Some of you may already have chanced upon the GameOn web site.  The project 
has not been officially launched but the site is now live (if not complete 
in terms of content!!) and accessible at:

http://gameon.onestopcms.co.uk/

Feed back and impressions welcome.  Please send off-list comments to 
donegan at ace-centre.org.uk

David





David Colven, Technical Advisor

The ACE Centre Advisory Trust
92 Windmill Road
Headington
Oxford      OX3 7DR

Web site at www.ace-centre.org.uk something new every week Tel +44 (0)1865 
759813 Fax +44 (0)1865 759810



From j.chetwynd at btinternet.com  Thu Oct 19 04:42:02 2006
From: j.chetwynd at btinternet.com (Jonathan Chetwynd)
Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2006 09:42:02 +0100
Subject: [games_access] Fwd: SVG Tetris: public domain?
References: <453732A9.9030108@croczilla.com>
Message-ID: <6282A6EB-B37F-42A2-90C5-8C406283092E@btinternet.com>


Jonathan Chetwynd



Begin forwarded message:

From: Alex Fritze <alex at croczilla.com>
Date: 19 October 2006 09:09:13 BDT
To: Jonathan Chetwynd <j.chetwynd at btinternet.com>
Subject: [Bulk] Re: tetris: public domain?

Hi Jonathan,

Yeah, I'm happy with tetris being in the public domain. Some of the  
other SVG samples are taken from elsewhere (like the butterfly and  
the tiger), and I believe them to be in the public domain, but I  
wouldn't like to be held accountable for that :-)

Cheers,
Alex

Jonathan Chetwynd wrote:
> tetris: public domain?
>
> alex,
>
> would you be willing to include some kind of creative commons  
> licence in your svg examples?
>
> In particular, some game accessibility experts might wish to create  
> an even more accessible version of Tetris.
> perhaps like: http://pitaru.com/tetris
>
> So it would be helpful if Tetris were public domain.
>
> regards,
>
> Jonathan Chetwynd
>
>
>




From arthit73 at cablespeed.com  Thu Oct 19 10:33:15 2006
From: arthit73 at cablespeed.com (Robert Florio)
Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2006 10:33:15 -0400
Subject: [games_access] Florio to Amit
In-Reply-To: <026c01c6f302$c6f18900$6400a8c0@IBMPITARU>
Message-ID: <00ad01c6f38b$84d0fbd0$6501a8c0@RobertFlorio>

Thanks for the reference web site I'd love to take a look at what your
friend is writing also.  I bring up that issue to my ensure your before I
start class I don't know the difference between "(AS2) to AS3" so that's a
starting point to know?

 

I think your idea is excellent having the source code available so people
creating these flash web sites and grab them and use them to make their
games accessible I know that's what I'd like to do.  I'll start with those
flash classes thank you so much.  I really enjoyed the game.

 

So more Tetris game evaluation would be the sounds are great whenever a line
disappears of squares but have a different sounds as the game advances or at
least when it switches from level to level or different number of rows being
subtracted be different sounds more exciting and interactive according to
render more selective sounds.

 

Robert

AI online SGA 

arthit73 at cablespeed.com 

www.RobertFlorio.com <http://www.robertflorio.com/>  

 

  _____  

From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of Amit Pitaru [LIST]
Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 6:14 PM
To: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'
Subject: RE: [games_access] first hello

 

Thanks Robert, I'm so happy you like it! Feel free to pass it along and I'm
always interested in feedback.

 

Re. the chapter - it will not include any code because of the generalized
target-audience. But once this chapter is over with I'd like to start adding
Flash/Java/C++ source-code for all the concepts I'll be touching upon. One
step at a time : ) 

 

Re. learning to program - you should know that Flash is now moving from
Actionscript2 (AS2) to AS3, so I'm not sure which books are relevant
anymore. I suggest to start with the Flash class your taking at school and
work it from there. In general, all the books by Colin Moock are excellent
but they are reference guides and not tutorials. The games book you
mentioned should also be great. Otherwise, if you want to pick up
programming in general, there's a great free and open-source platform
developed by two friends of mine at MIT - its http://processing.org
<http://processing.org/>  . It is used by many universities to teach
programming (instead of flash), but is not as comfy towards game-design. Its
also what I use to teach my art students programming 101. If you want to
give it a shot, a freidn of mine is writing a book for it and I'll ask if
it's ok to send you a PDF copy (can't promise though - depends on his
publisher). Let me know..

 

Thanks for the advice on the tetris game - I'll fix it. Notice that you can
change the scan mode from the menu under SCAN MODE SETTINGS. Both scan speed
and on/off can be set there.  

 

Amit

 

 

 

 

 

 

  _____  

From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of Robert Florio
Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 5:01 PM
To: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'
Subject: RE: [games_access] first hello

 

Amit 

thank you for sharing that web site of the Tetris game I played the clicking
version it is very accessible and very thoughtful considerably thought
through.  One of the best amazing accessible games for the Internet I played
yet.  I look forward to your discussions here very much thank you so much
for joining.

 

I look forward to interviewing some of the occupational therapist myself
from the therapy I go to for my spinal cord clinic for treatment at Kennedy
Krieger in Baltimore.  Your game is at the beta version now is it OK to
share with people or are you just testing it for people you know?  I know
the beta is a great place to get other people's opinions of the game so
probably open for anyone.

 

A busy right now with schoolwork but in your book I want to learn more about
creating games for the web that I don't know scripting or C++ at all.  Your
book is not a crash course in learning it the chapter you're writing, please
let us know the book or we can get it also, just describes how if you know
to use that helped implement it accessible features on the need for
accessible game play?

 

I look forward to reading about the issues you talk about of product costs
and overall playability.  One thing I need to learn because I want to start
an organization someday is product costs and things like that.  Thanks for
sharing.

 

One thing in your game after you want to stop playing I'm not sure if I was
able to find a return button or a quick button that would get me back to the
main menu to choose between the two versions scanning or the other.  I
didn't play the other version not scanning with the other because I can hit
the keyboard keys but with the mouse that was amazing thank you so much for
showing proving that it can't be done to great example.

 

Would you recommend or what would you recommend I start picking up want to
definitely create games and flash which are my next to classes at the Art
Institute online?  I read I have a book titled "Micromedia Flash MX Action
Script for Fun and Games."  I have yet to start reading it but the two
before those classes start.  I picture myself starting to make games like
the one you have made.  And many wore just threw clicking.

 

Please add me to your e-mail sender list and if you have an e-mail address
can I do the same because if you don't mind I'd like to e-mail you when I
get to that step learning and creating games through flash?  

 

Robert

www.RobertFlorio.com <http://www.robertflorio.com/>  

arthit73 at cablespeed.com 

 

 

  _____  

From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of Amit Pitaru [LIST]
Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 4:03 PM
To: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'
Subject: RE: [games_access] first hello

 

Steve and Robert, thanks for pointing me towards the game-accessibility
website! 

 

> I think what would be great to learn from you is the techniques and
technologies

 

Thanks, and I'm happy share everything I've learned. I hope that this
chapter that I'm writing will include the most beneficial aspects of the
project. Very quickly - it will introduce design techniques for creating
inclusive games with care applied to retaining production costs and overall
playability. I'll talk about what needs to happen from the hardware,
software and policy standpoints. I'll also demonstrate the techniques by
retrofitting a simple tetris game for accessibility (very preliminary beta
version at http://pitaru.com/tetris), and discuss how some of these ideas
can follow through to hardcore games. I hope to get permission from the
school to interview the OT's, children and parents. It's all coming together
now so I'll have more tangible things to show soon enough.

 

Amit 

 

 

 

  _____  

From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of Robert Florio
Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 11:50 AM
To: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'
Subject: RE: [games_access] first hello

 

Welcome Amit it's a pleasure to have someone with your experience involved
in this group.  Whenever we share together also check out
www.game-accessibility.com <http://www.game-accessibility.com/>  a few of us
including myself, gamers with physical impairments forum, moderate the
different forums for game accessibility.  I think what would be great to
learn from you is the techniques and technologies used to help people with
the game accessibility in Long Island.  Thanks for joining.  Feel free to
check out my web site and my artwork and efforts for game accessibility.  

 

Myself 24 years old living in Maryland United States a quadriplegic from my
spinal cord injury and I draw with my mouth and study game design at the Art
Institute online.

 

Robert

AI online SGA 

arthit73 at cablespeed.com 

www.RobertFlorio.com <http://www.robertflorio.com/>  

 

  _____  

From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of Amit Pitaru [LIST]
Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 10:00 AM
To: games_access at igda.org
Subject: [games_access] first hello

 

Hello, thank you for having me on the list. My name is Amit Pitaru, I'm a
game/toy designer and also a part-time educator at New York University. I
also teach art at Cooper Union, and occasionally exhibit my work
(http://pitaru.com <http://pitaru.com/>  and http://insertsilence.com
<http://insertsilence.com/> )

 

I learned about the SIG while working on a chapter for a book on games that
is commissioned by the MacArthur foundation. The chapter is based on a two
year project with a special-needs school in Long Island, where I devised
hardware and software for gaming accessibility. I hope to tell you more
about it as we chat along.

 

So again, thank you for having me, I think I finally found a good home-base
to learn and share my thoughts.

 

Cheerio

Amit Pitaru

 

 

 

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From richard at audiogames.net  Thu Oct 19 16:30:53 2006
From: richard at audiogames.net (AudioGames.net)
Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2006 22:30:53 +0200
Subject: [games_access] GameOn
References: <021501c6f2f0$6d63aec0$6400a8c0@IBMPITARU><009d01c6f2f8$bccf47f0$6402a8c0@Delletje>
	<6.0.3.0.2.20061019091330.04dab750@192.168.100.200>
Message-ID: <013301c6f3bd$79816710$6402a8c0@Delletje>

Hi David,

First impressions: looks great! I had thought (after reading 
http://ace-centre.hostinguk.com/index.cfm?pageid=3C7477EE-3048-7290-FEFF8D73FAAB8BF8) 
that the GameOn project would focus on all types of disabilities, so I was a 
bit disappointed that this only concerned (so called) Input Technology 
Accessibility - basically, which games use what kinds of controller. I had 
hoped that the reviews would include information about features within games 
that (accidentally) make them more accessible, such as speed control, 
different colour settings, etc. But maybe that is in the planning?
So, other than that, the website seems very accessible, is very easy to use 
and provides a very clear overview of what's where.

I noticed that most games are already a bit dated. Did I miss the 'new' 
games or did you make a selection of more 'budget' games?

Excellent work!

Greets,

Richard


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Colven" <colven at ace-centre.org.uk>
To: "IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List" <games_access at igda.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 19, 2006 10:16 AM
Subject: Re: [games_access]One Switch Tetris / first hello


> Some of you may already have chanced upon the GameOn web site.  The 
> project has not been officially launched but the site is now live (if not 
> complete in terms of content!!) and accessible at:
>
> http://gameon.onestopcms.co.uk/
>
> Feed back and impressions welcome.  Please send off-list comments to 
> donegan at ace-centre.org.uk
>
> David
>
>
>
>
>
> David Colven, Technical Advisor
>
> The ACE Centre Advisory Trust
> 92 Windmill Road
> Headington
> Oxford      OX3 7DR
>
> Web site at www.ace-centre.org.uk something new every week Tel +44 (0)1865 
> 759813 Fax +44 (0)1865 759810
>
> _______________________________________________
> games_access mailing list
> games_access at igda.org
> http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access 



From list at pitaru.com  Thu Oct 19 17:52:13 2006
From: list at pitaru.com (Amit Pitaru [LIST])
Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2006 17:52:13 -0400
Subject: [games_access] Fwd: SVG Tetris: public domain?
In-Reply-To: <6282A6EB-B37F-42A2-90C5-8C406283092E@btinternet.com>
Message-ID: <03c501c6f3c8$d75b9530$6400a8c0@IBMPITARU>

Barrie, I love the work you guys are doing in the UK. I've lately seen some
wonderful work by Zach Lieberman and (I think) Soda, sponsored by the UK
lottery. We had a discussion about how it's tougher to get these art-AT
commissions on this side of the pond. I wish I could see your synth work in
person. 

Jonathan, thanks for the info on SVG, I remember checking it out long time
ago but haven't used it so far. Does the language also include audio at this
point? I think that's an important component. Anyways - it's a good
alternative to consider for some of the macrodobe products : )

/amit


-----Original Message-----
From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of Jonathan Chetwynd
Sent: Thursday, October 19, 2006 4:42 AM
To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
Subject: [games_access] Fwd: SVG Tetris: public domain?


Jonathan Chetwynd



Begin forwarded message:

From: Alex Fritze <alex at croczilla.com>
Date: 19 October 2006 09:09:13 BDT
To: Jonathan Chetwynd <j.chetwynd at btinternet.com>
Subject: [Bulk] Re: tetris: public domain?

Hi Jonathan,

Yeah, I'm happy with tetris being in the public domain. Some of the  
other SVG samples are taken from elsewhere (like the butterfly and  
the tiger), and I believe them to be in the public domain, but I  
wouldn't like to be held accountable for that :-)

Cheers,
Alex

Jonathan Chetwynd wrote:
> tetris: public domain?
>
> alex,
>
> would you be willing to include some kind of creative commons  
> licence in your svg examples?
>
> In particular, some game accessibility experts might wish to create  
> an even more accessible version of Tetris.
> perhaps like: http://pitaru.com/tetris
>
> So it would be helpful if Tetris were public domain.
>
> regards,
>
> Jonathan Chetwynd
>
>
>


_______________________________________________
games_access mailing list
games_access at igda.org
http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access



From j.chetwynd at btinternet.com  Fri Oct 20 02:24:26 2006
From: j.chetwynd at btinternet.com (Jonathan Chetwynd)
Date: Fri, 20 Oct 2006 07:24:26 +0100
Subject: [games_access] Re: audio: SVG Tetris: public domain?
In-Reply-To: <03c501c6f3c8$d75b9530$6400a8c0@IBMPITARU>
References: <03c501c6f3c8$d75b9530$6400a8c0@IBMPITARU>
Message-ID: <9CBA5A7E-FA90-481F-9CC5-4BA88A9E12FE@btinternet.com>

Well the audio question does come up a fair bit...

SVG1.2 supports audio.

Currently the only popular browser not to support audio in SVG is  
mozilla.
However this support is not standards based.
The SVG support is native in Opera, Mozilla, and shortly Safari, with  
IE requiring the Adobe plugin.

Your Tetris didn't appear to have sound but let me know when you need  
pointers to sound support.

best wishes

Jonathan Chetwynd



On 19 Oct 2006, at 22:52, Amit Pitaru [LIST] wrote:

Barrie, I love the work you guys are doing in the UK. I've lately  
seen some
wonderful work by Zach Lieberman and (I think) Soda, sponsored by the UK
lottery. We had a discussion about how it's tougher to get these art-AT
commissions on this side of the pond. I wish I could see your synth  
work in
person.

Jonathan, thanks for the info on SVG, I remember checking it out long  
time
ago but haven't used it so far. Does the language also include audio  
at this
point? I think that's an important component. Anyways - it's a good
alternative to consider for some of the macrodobe products : )

/amit


-----Original Message-----
From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access- 
bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of Jonathan Chetwynd
Sent: Thursday, October 19, 2006 4:42 AM
To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
Subject: [games_access] Fwd: SVG Tetris: public domain?


Jonathan Chetwynd



Begin forwarded message:

From: Alex Fritze <alex at croczilla.com>
Date: 19 October 2006 09:09:13 BDT
To: Jonathan Chetwynd <j.chetwynd at btinternet.com>
Subject: [Bulk] Re: tetris: public domain?

Hi Jonathan,

Yeah, I'm happy with tetris being in the public domain. Some of the
other SVG samples are taken from elsewhere (like the butterfly and
the tiger), and I believe them to be in the public domain, but I
wouldn't like to be held accountable for that :-)

Cheers,
Alex

Jonathan Chetwynd wrote:
> tetris: public domain?
>
> alex,
>
> would you be willing to include some kind of creative commons
> licence in your svg examples?
>
> In particular, some game accessibility experts might wish to create
> an even more accessible version of Tetris.
> perhaps like: http://pitaru.com/tetris
>
> So it would be helpful if Tetris were public domain.
>
> regards,
>
> Jonathan Chetwynd
>
>
>


_______________________________________________
games_access mailing list
games_access at igda.org
http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access

_______________________________________________
games_access mailing list
games_access at igda.org
http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access



From colven at ace-centre.org.uk  Fri Oct 20 07:25:57 2006
From: colven at ace-centre.org.uk (David Colven)
Date: Fri, 20 Oct 2006 12:25:57 +0100
Subject: [games_access] GameOn
In-Reply-To: <013301c6f3bd$79816710$6402a8c0@Delletje>
References: <021501c6f2f0$6d63aec0$6400a8c0@IBMPITARU>
	<009d01c6f2f8$bccf47f0$6402a8c0@Delletje>
	<6.0.3.0.2.20061019091330.04dab750@192.168.100.200>
	<013301c6f3bd$79816710$6402a8c0@Delletje>
Message-ID: <6.0.3.0.2.20061020122449.052d7d80@192.168.100.200>

 From Lisa who works on the project

In response to these questions:

  I had hoped that the reviews would include information about features within
games that (accidentally) make them more accessible, such as speed control,
different colour settings, etc. But maybe that is in the planning?

In the text of some of the reviews, where a game does have useful features 
like different levels of play, or being able to switch off the timer etc, 
we will have mentioned these options as far as possible.


I noticed that most games are already a bit dated. Did I miss the 'new'
games or did you make a selection of more 'budget' games?

Sadly, we've mainly used a selection of games that were donated to the 
centre a couple of years ago to do the initial population of the site, and 
as the industry moves so quickly, we're definitely behind. We hope, now 
that the structure and most of the population of the website is finished, 
to start catching up with more current games.

David



At 21:30 19/10/06, you wrote:
>Hi David,
>
>First impressions: looks great! I had thought (after reading 
>http://ace-centre.hostinguk.com/index.cfm?pageid=3C7477EE-3048-7290-FEFF8D73FAAB8BF8) 
>that the GameOn project would focus on all types of disabilities, so I was 
>a bit disappointed that this only concerned (so called) Input Technology 
>Accessibility - basically, which games use what kinds of controller. I had 
>hoped that the reviews would include information about features within 
>games that (accidentally) make them more accessible, such as speed 
>control, different colour settings, etc. But maybe that is in the planning?
>So, other than that, the website seems very accessible, is very easy to 
>use and provides a very clear overview of what's where.
>
>I noticed that most games are already a bit dated. Did I miss the 'new' 
>games or did you make a selection of more 'budget' games?


David Colven, Technical Advisor

The ACE Centre Advisory Trust
92 Windmill Road
Headington
Oxford      OX3 7DR

Web site at www.ace-centre.org.uk something new every week Tel +44 (0)1865 
759813 Fax +44 (0)1865 759810



From richard at audiogames.net  Thu Oct 19 01:56:07 2006
From: richard at audiogames.net (AudioGames.net)
Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2006 07:56:07 +0200
Subject: [games_access]One Switch Tetris / first hello
References: <027401c6f303$2ed2b490$6400a8c0@IBMPITARU>
	<007e01c6f341$0618a4e0$6402a8c0@Delletje>
Message-ID: <00d401c6f343$459b6c90$6402a8c0@Delletje>

Oh, and future updates will include:

- Ghost Image = display a semitransparant copy of the piece on top of the stack, which will help players with placing their piece more correctly
- Stack Colour = whenever a piece is dropped on a stack, the colour of the piece will turn into the stack colour (for instance: grey). Sometimes a piece is already "in position" (in between some gap in the stack, not moving anymore), but the player still has to press [Space] one time to lower it unto the stack. With the change of colour this will become more obvious.
- Colours = manually set colours of the game (for colourblind gamers and gamers which prefer high contrasts)
- Sound! (not specifically accessible for the blind - see below) - just some nice sound to enhance gameplay
- Instructions = to the left there is a space where there will be instructions on how to control the game, using text and an explanatory image. This will be updated during the game, adapting itsself to whatever the gamer needs at that time. For example: this will first say something like "Press Space To Select A Rotation" - with an image of a rotating piece -arrow> still piece, and a spacbar image with a hand. If the player has pressed spece, it will then say "Press and or Hold Space To Lower the Piece", etc.
- Score stuff
- Accessible Settings Menu (with saveable settings)

The game was not meant as an online game, but as a downloadable, by the way.

Since my main expertise is games for the blind and audio games, I still want to search for a way to make this very visual game accessible using sound only while leaving it in tact as much as possible. Don't know when I find time for that, since I hardly have any time to work on this game already :)

Greets,

Richard
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: AudioGames.net 
  To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List 
  Sent: Thursday, October 19, 2006 7:40 AM
  Subject: Re: [games_access]One Switch Tetris / first hello


  Hi,

  Thanks, I like your approach as well. Yes, there are some benefits to mine but it also has some disadvantages. The benefits are that the gameplay is quite up to speed and you still can put blocks in between other blocks . The main disadvantage of my technique is that from the moment you've chosen a rotation, you're stuck with it. Your approach allows players to still rotate a piece while it is lowering, which is more like the original Tetris. The reason I chose this approach was mostly the gameplayspeed issue and I think it works quite well intuively this way (but that's me:). I guess that most of the time players already decide where to put a certain piece either when it is still at the top or when it is previewed in the Next Piece window. 

  Since everything is programmed apart, I also have the following options in One Switch Mode (again, which are *not yet* settable by the player, just by me) :

  - Instant Drop = after selecting a rotation (with [Space]), the piece will pan left and right. When the player presses [Spacebar] the piece will immediately drop all the way down on the stack. In the version you played, [Space] is currently set to "Lower" a piece, not "Drop" it. Instant Drop is the Drop it :)
  - Automatic Lowering During Rotation: On/Off = this will automatically start lowering the piece while it is rotating and the player has not choses a rotation. After the player has selected a rotation, this feature has no influence on the piece anymore (see next).
  - Automatic Lowering (After Rotation): On/Off = this will automatically start lowering the piece after it has been rotated by the player. In this case, pressing [Space] will immediately drop the piece all the way down on the stack (similar to Instant Drop).

  I found that these settings provide quite different (and more difficult) gameplay. While the Automatic Drop During Rotation raises tension, the gameplay is still quite managable. But although the "Instant Drop" functionality speeds up gameplay, I find that the game becomes less of a puzzle and more of a shooter :) Of course, I still have to tweak the parameters but somehow I think that for the current settings of the version that is online now mostly resembles the original Tetris-experience. 

  Anyone else? Robert, don't know if you can access the [Spacebar] but if you can, what do you think of it? I'll make a newer version soon that will let you use any mouseclick as well as any key.

  Greets,

  Richard

    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Amit Pitaru [LIST] 
    To: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List' 
    Sent: Thursday, October 19, 2006 12:17 AM
    Subject: RE: [games_access]One Switch Tetris / first hello


    I love the different approaches we have to the game's accessibility implementation! Where I just stopped the blocks, you streamlined the process into rotate/pan. Clever! 

     

    Framit

     

     


----------------------------------------------------------------------------

    From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org] On Behalf Of AudioGames.net
    Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 5:03 PM
    To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
    Subject: Re: [games_access]One Switch Tetris / first hello

     

    Hi,

     

    I've spent an afternoon toying with a oneswitch-accessible Tetris. Have a look here: http://www.gluid.com/ost/ . This is not even a beta, like I said, this was done in a couple of hours, so here are the controls:

     

    [enter] = toggle between One Switch Mode and Regular Mode (the game now starts in One Switch Mode)

     

    One Switch Mode:

    [space] = first select the rotation (piece will rotate automatically). After selection, the piece will move left and right. Push/Hold space to lower it. 

     

    Regular Mode:

    [cursor up] = rotate left

    [cursor down] = rotate right

    [cursor left] = move left

    [cursor right] = move right

    [space] = quick drop

     

    Currently the cursorkeys also work in One Switch Mode. This is just a sketch. All things can be invidivually set (speed for moving left/right/down, rotation, automatic drop on/off in One Switch Mode=currently off) but I haven't come round to programming a One Switch Interface for that :)

     

    What do you think? Since this is not finished and I guess I'll eventually put it on Game Accessibility.com, please do not hype the link as it is likely to change :)

     

    Greets,

     

    Richard

     

     

      ----- Original Message ----- 

      From: Amit Pitaru [LIST] 

      To: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List' 

      Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 10:03 PM

      Subject: RE: [games_access] first hello

       

      Steve and Robert, thanks for pointing me towards the game-accessibility website! 

       

      > I think what would be great to learn from you is the techniques and technologies

       

      Thanks, and I'm happy share everything I've learned. I hope that this chapter that I'm writing will include the most beneficial aspects of the project. Very quickly - it will introduce design techniques for creating inclusive games with care applied to retaining production costs and overall playability. I'll talk about what needs to happen from the hardware, software and policy standpoints. I'll also demonstrate the techniques by retrofitting a simple tetris game for accessibility (very preliminary beta version at http://pitaru.com/tetris), and discuss how some of these ideas can follow through to hardcore games. I hope to get permission from the school to interview the OT's, children and parents. It's all coming together now so I'll have more tangible things to show soon enough.

       

      Amit 

       

       

       


--------------------------------------------------------------------------

      From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org] On Behalf Of Robert Florio
      Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 11:50 AM
      To: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'
      Subject: RE: [games_access] first hello

       

      Welcome Amit it's a pleasure to have someone with your experience involved in this group.  Whenever we share together also check out www.game-accessibility.com a few of us including myself, gamers with physical impairments forum, moderate the different forums for game accessibility.  I think what would be great to learn from you is the techniques and technologies used to help people with the game accessibility in Long Island.  Thanks for joining.  Feel free to check out my web site and my artwork and efforts for game accessibility.  

       

      Myself 24 years old living in Maryland United States a quadriplegic from my spinal cord injury and I draw with my mouth and study game design at the Art Institute online.

       

      Robert

      AI online SGA 

      arthit73 at cablespeed.com 

      www.RobertFlorio.com 

       


--------------------------------------------------------------------------

      From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org] On Behalf Of Amit Pitaru [LIST]
      Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 10:00 AM
      To: games_access at igda.org
      Subject: [games_access] first hello

       

      Hello, thank you for having me on the list. My name is Amit Pitaru, I'm a game/toy designer and also a part-time educator at New York University. I also teach art at Cooper Union, and occasionally exhibit my work (http://pitaru.com and http://insertsilence.com)

       

      I learned about the SIG while working on a chapter for a book on games that is commissioned by the MacArthur foundation. The chapter is based on a two year project with a special-needs school in Long Island, where I devised hardware and software for gaming accessibility. I hope to tell you more about it as we chat along.

       

      So again, thank you for having me, I think I finally found a good home-base to learn and share my thoughts.

       

      Cheerio

      Amit Pitaru

       

       

       


--------------------------------------------------------------------------

      _______________________________________________
      games_access mailing list
      games_access at igda.org
      http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access



----------------------------------------------------------------------------


    _______________________________________________
    games_access mailing list
    games_access at igda.org
    http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access



------------------------------------------------------------------------------


  _______________________________________________
  games_access mailing list
  games_access at igda.org
  http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
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From j.chetwynd at btinternet.com  Sat Oct 21 11:41:03 2006
From: j.chetwynd at btinternet.com (Jonathan Chetwynd)
Date: Sat, 21 Oct 2006 16:41:03 +0100
Subject: [games_access] Nintendo@ScienceMuseum
Message-ID: <5E9288E3-542F-4E27-8422-9D9D88995F4C@btinternet.com>

Nintendo at ScienceMuseum

http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/exhibitions/gameon/

wondering if we shouldn't all arrive in Tshirts... who has them btw?

cheers


Jonathan Chetwynd





From list at pitaru.com  Sat Oct 21 11:58:19 2006
From: list at pitaru.com (Amit Pitaru [LIST])
Date: Sat, 21 Oct 2006 11:58:19 -0400
Subject: [games_access]One Switch Tetris / first hello
In-Reply-To: <00d401c6f343$459b6c90$6402a8c0@Delletje>
Message-ID: <000401c6f529$bac62590$6400a8c0@IBMPITARU>

[reposted - sorry if you see this twice]

 

Richard, 

 

Like yourself I can't seem to find the time to do it all - there's a
comprehensive list of features that have been requested by the children I
work with - also touching on similar issues as you described - sound, audio,
just-in-time instructions etc.

 

What I would usually do in this situation is open-source it all - but there
are intellectual property issues regarding Tetris algorithms that I need to
figure out. On one end it's not nice to showcase someone else's algorithms
as open source without their permission, but on the other hand - this should
not prevent a game from being outfitted for accessibility! Interesting
dilemma.

 

I'm sure many of you had to deal with similar issues when modding games. I'd
love to learn how you dealt with it.

 

Amit

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From hinn at uiuc.edu  Sat Oct 21 14:01:46 2006
From: hinn at uiuc.edu (d. michelle hinn)
Date: Sat, 21 Oct 2006 13:01:46 -0500
Subject: [games_access] Nintendo@ScienceMuseum
In-Reply-To: <5E9288E3-542F-4E27-8422-9D9D88995F4C@btinternet.com>
References: <5E9288E3-542F-4E27-8422-9D9D88995F4C@btinternet.com>
Message-ID: <p0623090ac1601043e7bf@[192.168.1.100]>

There are no t-shirts -- that fell through last year. And London is a 
wee bit out of my neighborhood, I'm afraid. I don't have the budget 
for 2007 to cover a trip to the museum, as I'm already overextended. 
;)

Cheers,
Michelle

>Nintendo at ScienceMuseum
>
>http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/exhibitions/gameon/
>
>wondering if we shouldn't all arrive in Tshirts... who has them btw?
>
>cheers
>
>
>Jonathan Chetwynd
>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>games_access mailing list
>games_access at igda.org
>http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access


From agdev at thechases.com  Sat Oct 21 20:24:00 2006
From: agdev at thechases.com (Tim Chase)
Date: Sat, 21 Oct 2006 19:24:00 -0500
Subject: [games_access]One Switch Tetris / first hello
In-Reply-To: <00d401c6f343$459b6c90$6402a8c0@Delletje>
References: <027401c6f303$2ed2b490$6400a8c0@IBMPITARU>	<007e01c6f341$0618a4e0$6402a8c0@Delletje>
	<00d401c6f343$459b6c90$6402a8c0@Delletje>
Message-ID: <453ABA20.9030602@thechases.com>

> Oh, and future updates will include:
> - Sound! (not specifically accessible for the blind - see below) - just 
> some nice sound to enhance gameplay
>  
> Since my main expertise is games for the blind and audio games, I still 
> want to search for a way to make this very visual game accessible using 
> sound only while leaving it in tact as much as possible. Don't know when 
> I find time for that, since I hardly have any time to work on this game 
> already :)


The recent discussion has made me laugh at the thought of 
accessible Tetris, done in an interactive-fiction interpreter.


You are staring at an empty board.  A vaguely Russian melody 
plays in 8-bit pseudo-polyphonic synthesis.  A T-shaped piece, 
with the stem pointing downwards begins to slowly drop.

 > ROTATE PIECE

The stem of the T-shaped piece is now facing left.

 > ROTATE

The T-shaped piece continues to drop with the stem now facing up.

 > MOVE FAR LEFT

The T-shaped piece is now flush against the left side, with the 
stem facing up.

 > DROP PIECE

The T-shaped piece has been dropped.  A S-shaped piece begins to 
drop, wide-wise.

 > ROTATE PIECE

The S-shaped piece continues to drop, tall-wise.

 > MOVE FAR LEFT -1

The S-shaped piece continues to fall, but is now one block away 
from the left-hand edge.

 > DESCRIBE BOARD

.X
.XX
..X
[15 empty lines]
.X...........
XXX..........

 > MOVE RIGHT AND DROP

A square begins to drop.

 > ROTATE COUNTER-CLOCKWISE

It's a square, moron.  It still looks the same

 > MOVE FAR RIGHT AND DROP

A long narrow piece begins to drop, tall-wise.




You get the idea...

-tim





From barrie.ellis at oneswitch.org.uk  Tue Oct 24 18:19:19 2006
From: barrie.ellis at oneswitch.org.uk (Barrie Ellis)
Date: Tue, 24 Oct 2006 23:19:19 +0100
Subject: [games_access] Lik-Sang out of business
Message-ID: <1b7a01c6f7ba$74150470$0202a8c0@OneSwitch>

Can't quite believe it... Seems that Sony have issued one too many law-suit upon the superb www.lik-sang.com on-line shop for gaming hardware and software.

Lik-Sang have been so useful in the past in providing unique adapters and controllers that have helped many disabled gamers. I'm gutted that Sony have manged to close down such a superb organisation...

http://www.lik-sang.com/news.php?artc=3901

Barrie Ellis
www.OneSwitch.org.uk
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From hinn at uiuc.edu  Tue Oct 24 18:32:07 2006
From: hinn at uiuc.edu (d. michelle hinn)
Date: Tue, 24 Oct 2006 17:32:07 -0500
Subject: [games_access] Lik-Sang out of business
In-Reply-To: <1b7a01c6f7ba$74150470$0202a8c0@OneSwitch>
References: <1b7a01c6f7ba$74150470$0202a8c0@OneSwitch>
Message-ID: <p0623092cc16444847a89@[192.168.1.100]>

I know...I'm totally blown away. I got nearly everything from them. 
Now where do we go for adapters and alternate controllers?

Thanks Sony! rrrrrr...
Michelle

>Can't quite believe it... Seems that Sony have issued one too many 
>law-suit upon the superb <http://www.lik-sang.com>www.lik-sang.com 
>on-line shop for gaming hardware and software.
>
>Lik-Sang have been so useful in the past in providing unique 
>adapters and controllers that have helped many disabled gamers. I'm 
>gutted that Sony have manged to close down such a superb 
>organisation...
>
><http://www.lik-sang.com/news.php?artc=3901>http://www.lik-sang.com/news.php?artc=3901
>
>Barrie Ellis
><http://www.OneSwitch.org.uk>www.OneSwitch.org.uk
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>games_access mailing list
>games_access at igda.org
>http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
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From InRNette at aol.com  Tue Oct 24 19:45:24 2006
From: InRNette at aol.com (InRNette at aol.com)
Date: Tue, 24 Oct 2006 19:45:24 EDT
Subject: [games_access] Lik-Sang out of business
Message-ID: <c5a.54c99d0.326fff94@aol.com>

Michelle:
 
What kind of adapters or alternate controllers?  I think that maybe I  am 
hoping for a miracle to make educational software accessible.  My  students are 
much lower functioning but it is amazing what having control over  something in 
their lives does for morale.
 
For the students I work with, I use the computer with a switch interface  
device and a switch which is selected to meet individual needs and placed in a  
position which allows them easy access to the switch.  I have one young man  
who loves the switch positioned near his left foot and he leans over to the  
right to actually see the computer screen because of visual issues.  (The  PT and 
OT fight over this constantly but you go with what works)
 
 
 
rjcooper.com has the Switch Hopper which I use on a daily basis for single  
switch operation of cause and effect activities. I am sure there are other  
companies which carry these too.
 
 
 
ablenetinc.com 
Santillo.com 
enablingdevices.com
enablemart.com
 
are a few of the companies that have switches.
 
Jeanette
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From hinn at uiuc.edu  Tue Oct 24 19:54:15 2006
From: hinn at uiuc.edu (d. michelle hinn)
Date: Tue, 24 Oct 2006 18:54:15 -0500
Subject: [games_access] Lik-Sang out of business
In-Reply-To: <c5a.54c99d0.326fff94@aol.com>
References: <c5a.54c99d0.326fff94@aol.com>
Message-ID: <p06230936c16456a3b98c@[192.168.1.100]>

Lik-Sang was really great as a place to get ps2 to xbox converters or 
xbox to pc converters or many other combos so that you could rig game 
controllers with switches to play commercial games. So that was their 
main gift! They were easy to deal with and since a lot of these 
converters are only available in the Asian market it was like having 
our own import service!

Lik-Sang didn't sell switches but sold the adaptors that allowed us 
to use rigged up game controllers  (rigged with switches!) and use 
them for multiple gaming platforms.

So it's a sad day that we lost that company -- they weren't an 
"accessibility" company but some of the things they sold were key to 
mainstream game accessibility solutions. I know Barrie used that 
company a lot more than I did so I can believe he's taking this news 
hard!

Michelle

>Michelle:
>
>What kind of adapters or alternate controllers?  I think that maybe 
>I am hoping for a miracle to make educational software accessible. 
>My students are much lower functioning but it is amazing what having 
>control over something in their lives does for morale.
>
>For the students I work with, I use the computer with a switch 
>interface device and a switch which is selected to meet individual 
>needs and placed in a position which allows them easy access to the 
>switch.  I have one young man who loves the switch positioned near 
>his left foot and he leans over to the right to actually see the 
>computer screen because of visual issues.  (The PT and OT fight over 
>this constantly but you go with what works)
>
>
>
>rjcooper.com has the Switch Hopper which I use on a daily basis for 
>single switch operation of cause and effect activities. I am sure 
>there are other companies which carry these too.
>
>
>
>ablenetinc.com
>Santillo.com
>enablingdevices.com
>enablemart.com
>
>are a few of the companies that have switches.
>
>Jeanette
>
>_______________________________________________
>games_access mailing list
>games_access at igda.org
>http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
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From arthit73 at cablespeed.com  Wed Oct 25 10:24:45 2006
From: arthit73 at cablespeed.com (Robert Florio)
Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2006 10:24:45 -0400
Subject: to Michelle [games_access] RobertFlorio biography.  Accessible idol
In-Reply-To: <p06230936c16456a3b98c@[192.168.1.100]>
Message-ID: <004501c6f841$52f2bbc0$6501a8c0@RobertFlorio>

I haven't had time to keep up with the lawsuit that does business out of
commission which really sucks but sounds like a great source to get
reasonable converted controllers should be shut down PlayStation shouldn't
have an excuse for warning that.  I think all of us honestly should put
together our own class action lawsuit against these companies that would get
their attention finally the whole world would know about game accessibility.

 

Any thoughts on that?

 

Michelle I sent you my biography for the accessibility idle through a
separate e-mail person.  The way things have been going for me lately
elbowing tracheostomies bothering me I got this weird growth pinching my
skin it really hurts so I'm going to get it cut off in a couple weeks so I
might be out of communication but I don't expect go back to the hospital
however taking off the next two classes the second half of my quarter to
recover.

 

Robert

www.RobertFlorio.com <http://www.robertflorio.com/>  

 

  _____  

From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of d. michelle hinn
Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2006 7:54 PM
To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
Subject: Re: [games_access] Lik-Sang out of business

 

Lik-Sang was really great as a place to get ps2 to xbox converters or xbox
to pc converters or many other combos so that you could rig game controllers
with switches to play commercial games. So that was their main gift! They
were easy to deal with and since a lot of these converters are only
available in the Asian market it was like having our own import service!

 

Lik-Sang didn't sell switches but sold the adaptors that allowed us to use
rigged up game controllers  (rigged with switches!) and use them for
multiple gaming platforms.

 

So it's a sad day that we lost that company -- they weren't an
"accessibility" company but some of the things they sold were key to
mainstream game accessibility solutions. I know Barrie used that company a
lot more than I did so I can believe he's taking this news hard!

 

Michelle

 

Michelle:

 

What kind of adapters or alternate controllers?  I think that maybe I am
hoping for a miracle to make educational software accessible.  My students
are much lower functioning but it is amazing what having control over
something in their lives does for morale.

 

For the students I work with, I use the computer with a switch interface
device and a switch which is selected to meet individual needs and placed in
a position which allows them easy access to the switch.  I have one young
man who loves the switch positioned near his left foot and he leans over to
the right to actually see the computer screen because of visual issues.
(The PT and OT fight over this constantly but you go with what works)

 

 

 

rjcooper.com has the Switch Hopper which I use on a daily basis for single
switch operation of cause and effect activities. I am sure there are other
companies which carry these too.

 

 

 

ablenetinc.com

Santillo.com

enablingdevices.com

enablemart.com

 

are a few of the companies that have switches.

 

Jeanette


_______________________________________________
games_access mailing list
games_access at igda.org
http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access

 

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From list at pitaru.com  Wed Oct 25 11:16:03 2006
From: list at pitaru.com (Amit Pitaru [LIST])
Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2006 11:16:03 -0400
Subject: to Michelle [games_access] RobertFlorio biography. Accessible idol
In-Reply-To: <004501c6f841$52f2bbc0$6501a8c0@RobertFlorio>
Message-ID: <002601c6f848$7cfbac40$7901a8c0@IBMPITARU>

Robert, the chapter I'm writing now is part of a larger effort by the
MacArthur foundation to bring these issues to legislators. I'll set up a
forum and maybe we can start collecting voices of gamers - explaining the
reasons that games/consoles should be made accessible (just like CC on TV!).
I'll post this on the game-accessibility site and hope you can help me out!

 

amit

 

  _____  

From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of Robert Florio
Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2006 10:25 AM
To: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'
Subject: to Michelle [games_access] RobertFlorio biography. Accessible idol

 

I haven't had time to keep up with the lawsuit that does business out of
commission which really sucks but sounds like a great source to get
reasonable converted controllers should be shut down PlayStation shouldn't
have an excuse for warning that.  I think all of us honestly should put
together our own class action lawsuit against these companies that would get
their attention finally the whole world would know about game accessibility.

 

Any thoughts on that?

 

Michelle I sent you my biography for the accessibility idle through a
separate e-mail person.  The way things have been going for me lately
elbowing tracheostomies bothering me I got this weird growth pinching my
skin it really hurts so I'm going to get it cut off in a couple weeks so I
might be out of communication but I don't expect go back to the hospital
however taking off the next two classes the second half of my quarter to
recover.

 

Robert

www.RobertFlorio.com <http://www.robertflorio.com/>  

 

  _____  

From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of d. michelle hinn
Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2006 7:54 PM
To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
Subject: Re: [games_access] Lik-Sang out of business

 

Lik-Sang was really great as a place to get ps2 to xbox converters or xbox
to pc converters or many other combos so that you could rig game controllers
with switches to play commercial games. So that was their main gift! They
were easy to deal with and since a lot of these converters are only
available in the Asian market it was like having our own import service!

 

Lik-Sang didn't sell switches but sold the adaptors that allowed us to use
rigged up game controllers  (rigged with switches!) and use them for
multiple gaming platforms.

 

So it's a sad day that we lost that company -- they weren't an
"accessibility" company but some of the things they sold were key to
mainstream game accessibility solutions. I know Barrie used that company a
lot more than I did so I can believe he's taking this news hard!

 

Michelle

 

Michelle:

 

What kind of adapters or alternate controllers?  I think that maybe I am
hoping for a miracle to make educational software accessible.  My students
are much lower functioning but it is amazing what having control over
something in their lives does for morale.

 

For the students I work with, I use the computer with a switch interface
device and a switch which is selected to meet individual needs and placed in
a position which allows them easy access to the switch.  I have one young
man who loves the switch positioned near his left foot and he leans over to
the right to actually see the computer screen because of visual issues.
(The PT and OT fight over this constantly but you go with what works)

 

 

 

rjcooper.com has the Switch Hopper which I use on a daily basis for single
switch operation of cause and effect activities. I am sure there are other
companies which carry these too.

 

 

 

ablenetinc.com

Santillo.com

enablingdevices.com

enablemart.com

 

are a few of the companies that have switches.

 

Jeanette


_______________________________________________
games_access mailing list
games_access at igda.org
http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access

 

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From arthit73 at cablespeed.com  Wed Oct 25 11:23:35 2006
From: arthit73 at cablespeed.com (Robert Florio)
Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2006 11:23:35 -0400
Subject: to Michelle [games_access] RobertFlorio biography. Accessible idol
In-Reply-To: <002601c6f848$7cfbac40$7901a8c0@IBMPITARU>
Message-ID: <006501c6f849$8b562ee0$6501a8c0@RobertFlorio>

No problem I certainly will I might be out of communication a little but let
me know when and where you set it up and I'll definitely go there.  So how
in the world did you figure out how to write this chapter to legislation is
it something really directly to the government or how does that work?  Let's
rock them hard that's really show that what they're missing but when they
finally jump on the gun I think we should definitely have some things that
we start making the cash taken advantage of our design before they do.  I
think it's great that were telling people how to make games accessible but
if they catch on it before we do yes were making games accessible to
everyone but I just feel left out a little like we should be the first to
make that game.  I'm still working very hard to put together a company god
willing it will happen I know it.

 

Thank you

Robert

www.RobertFlorio.com <http://www.robertflorio.com/>  

 

  _____  

From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of Amit Pitaru [LIST]
Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2006 11:16 AM
To: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'
Subject: RE: to Michelle [games_access] RobertFlorio biography. Accessible
idol

 

Robert, the chapter I'm writing now is part of a larger effort by the
MacArthur foundation to bring these issues to legislators. I'll set up a
forum and maybe we can start collecting voices of gamers - explaining the
reasons that games/consoles should be made accessible (just like CC on TV!).
I'll post this on the game-accessibility site and hope you can help me out!

 

amit

 

  _____  

From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of Robert Florio
Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2006 10:25 AM
To: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'
Subject: to Michelle [games_access] RobertFlorio biography. Accessible idol

 

I haven't had time to keep up with the lawsuit that does business out of
commission which really sucks but sounds like a great source to get
reasonable converted controllers should be shut down PlayStation shouldn't
have an excuse for warning that.  I think all of us honestly should put
together our own class action lawsuit against these companies that would get
their attention finally the whole world would know about game accessibility.

 

Any thoughts on that?

 

Michelle I sent you my biography for the accessibility idle through a
separate e-mail person.  The way things have been going for me lately
elbowing tracheostomies bothering me I got this weird growth pinching my
skin it really hurts so I'm going to get it cut off in a couple weeks so I
might be out of communication but I don't expect go back to the hospital
however taking off the next two classes the second half of my quarter to
recover.

 

Robert

www.RobertFlorio.com <http://www.robertflorio.com/>  

 

  _____  

From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of d. michelle hinn
Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2006 7:54 PM
To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
Subject: Re: [games_access] Lik-Sang out of business

 

Lik-Sang was really great as a place to get ps2 to xbox converters or xbox
to pc converters or many other combos so that you could rig game controllers
with switches to play commercial games. So that was their main gift! They
were easy to deal with and since a lot of these converters are only
available in the Asian market it was like having our own import service!

 

Lik-Sang didn't sell switches but sold the adaptors that allowed us to use
rigged up game controllers  (rigged with switches!) and use them for
multiple gaming platforms.

 

So it's a sad day that we lost that company -- they weren't an
"accessibility" company but some of the things they sold were key to
mainstream game accessibility solutions. I know Barrie used that company a
lot more than I did so I can believe he's taking this news hard!

 

Michelle

 

Michelle:

 

What kind of adapters or alternate controllers?  I think that maybe I am
hoping for a miracle to make educational software accessible.  My students
are much lower functioning but it is amazing what having control over
something in their lives does for morale.

 

For the students I work with, I use the computer with a switch interface
device and a switch which is selected to meet individual needs and placed in
a position which allows them easy access to the switch.  I have one young
man who loves the switch positioned near his left foot and he leans over to
the right to actually see the computer screen because of visual issues.
(The PT and OT fight over this constantly but you go with what works)

 

 

 

rjcooper.com has the Switch Hopper which I use on a daily basis for single
switch operation of cause and effect activities. I am sure there are other
companies which carry these too.

 

 

 

ablenetinc.com

Santillo.com

enablingdevices.com

enablemart.com

 

are a few of the companies that have switches.

 

Jeanette


_______________________________________________
games_access mailing list
games_access at igda.org
http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access

 

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From list at pitaru.com  Wed Oct 25 11:37:40 2006
From: list at pitaru.com (Amit Pitaru [LIST])
Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2006 11:37:40 -0400
Subject: to Michelle [games_access] RobertFlorio biography. Accessible idol
In-Reply-To: <006501c6f849$8b562ee0$6501a8c0@RobertFlorio>
Message-ID: <004d01c6f84b$821a11a0$7901a8c0@IBMPITARU>

> So how in the world did you figure out how to write this chapter to
legislation. 

 

Actually it's not related to government in any way. The chapter is part of a
larger series of books that the MacArthur foundation, commissioned on the
subject of Digital Media, Learning and Youth. The purpose of the entire
series is to create a more complex discussion about digital media - beyond
the simplistic fear-mongering slogans that politicians spit out today -
'games are bad for you' or 'the internet is a dangerous place for kids' etc.


 

Macarthur wants to understand the real implications of digital media on our
lives. So it will spend money and time to take the content of the books and
promote discussions around them in academic institutions, everyday media and
among policy makers. 

 

I was surprised to find out that I'm the only one who is directly referring
to Accessibility issues, so I'd like to make the best of it.

 

/amit

 

 

 

 

  _____  

From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of Robert Florio
Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2006 11:24 AM
To: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'
Subject: RE: to Michelle [games_access] RobertFlorio biography. Accessible
idol

 

No problem I certainly will I might be out of communication a little but let
me know when and where you set it up and I'll definitely go there.  So how
in the world did you figure out how to write this chapter to legislation is
it something really directly to the government or how does that work?  Let's
rock them hard that's really show that what they're missing but when they
finally jump on the gun I think we should definitely have some things that
we start making the cash taken advantage of our design before they do.  I
think it's great that were telling people how to make games accessible but
if they catch on it before we do yes were making games accessible to
everyone but I just feel left out a little like we should be the first to
make that game.  I'm still working very hard to put together a company god
willing it will happen I know it.

 

Thank you

Robert

www.RobertFlorio.com <http://www.robertflorio.com/>  

 

  _____  

From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of Amit Pitaru [LIST]
Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2006 11:16 AM
To: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'
Subject: RE: to Michelle [games_access] RobertFlorio biography. Accessible
idol

 

Robert, the chapter I'm writing now is part of a larger effort by the
MacArthur foundation to bring these issues to legislators. I'll set up a
forum and maybe we can start collecting voices of gamers - explaining the
reasons that games/consoles should be made accessible (just like CC on TV!).
I'll post this on the game-accessibility site and hope you can help me out!

 

amit

 

  _____  

From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of Robert Florio
Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2006 10:25 AM
To: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'
Subject: to Michelle [games_access] RobertFlorio biography. Accessible idol

 

I haven't had time to keep up with the lawsuit that does business out of
commission which really sucks but sounds like a great source to get
reasonable converted controllers should be shut down PlayStation shouldn't
have an excuse for warning that.  I think all of us honestly should put
together our own class action lawsuit against these companies that would get
their attention finally the whole world would know about game accessibility.

 

Any thoughts on that?

 

Michelle I sent you my biography for the accessibility idle through a
separate e-mail person.  The way things have been going for me lately
elbowing tracheostomies bothering me I got this weird growth pinching my
skin it really hurts so I'm going to get it cut off in a couple weeks so I
might be out of communication but I don't expect go back to the hospital
however taking off the next two classes the second half of my quarter to
recover.

 

Robert

www.RobertFlorio.com <http://www.robertflorio.com/>  

 

  _____  

From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of d. michelle hinn
Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2006 7:54 PM
To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
Subject: Re: [games_access] Lik-Sang out of business

 

Lik-Sang was really great as a place to get ps2 to xbox converters or xbox
to pc converters or many other combos so that you could rig game controllers
with switches to play commercial games. So that was their main gift! They
were easy to deal with and since a lot of these converters are only
available in the Asian market it was like having our own import service!

 

Lik-Sang didn't sell switches but sold the adaptors that allowed us to use
rigged up game controllers  (rigged with switches!) and use them for
multiple gaming platforms.

 

So it's a sad day that we lost that company -- they weren't an
"accessibility" company but some of the things they sold were key to
mainstream game accessibility solutions. I know Barrie used that company a
lot more than I did so I can believe he's taking this news hard!

 

Michelle

 

Michelle:

 

What kind of adapters or alternate controllers?  I think that maybe I am
hoping for a miracle to make educational software accessible.  My students
are much lower functioning but it is amazing what having control over
something in their lives does for morale.

 

For the students I work with, I use the computer with a switch interface
device and a switch which is selected to meet individual needs and placed in
a position which allows them easy access to the switch.  I have one young
man who loves the switch positioned near his left foot and he leans over to
the right to actually see the computer screen because of visual issues.
(The PT and OT fight over this constantly but you go with what works)

 

 

 

rjcooper.com has the Switch Hopper which I use on a daily basis for single
switch operation of cause and effect activities. I am sure there are other
companies which carry these too.

 

 

 

ablenetinc.com

Santillo.com

enablingdevices.com

enablemart.com

 

are a few of the companies that have switches.

 

Jeanette


_______________________________________________
games_access mailing list
games_access at igda.org
http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access

 

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From hinn at uiuc.edu  Wed Oct 25 16:45:32 2006
From: hinn at uiuc.edu (d. michelle hinn)
Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2006 15:45:32 -0500
Subject: [games_access] MacArthur Chapter (was: Robert's Biography)
In-Reply-To: <004d01c6f84b$821a11a0$7901a8c0@IBMPITARU>
References: <004d01c6f84b$821a11a0$7901a8c0@IBMPITARU>
Message-ID: <p06230943c16573b167b7@[192.168.1.100]>

Hey Amit and all,

Actually you aren't the only academic working on 
accessibility issues and digital media -- most of 
this list has already been doing that for a long 
time -- but I'm surprised that we're hearing 
about this study for the first time. So I'm 
wondering how widely the MacArthur foundation 
went in their search. But regardless, I'm glad 
that someone like you is involved with the 
study/book series and is writing on accessibility 
and is bringing groups of people like the SIG 
into this! :)

There are many people who have collected some of 
these gamer voices on forums for the past couple 
years. So a lot of this already exists. It might 
be that gamers with disabilities might not find 
your forum because they are already hooked into 
other sites and communities that directly focus 
on accessible games that exist. Or it might be 
that, like us, we are already way over our heads 
with our own forums that we are electronically 
tapped out. ;) So maybe the best way to do this 
is to think about what we already know exists 
rather than focusing on new forums -- that's been 
one of the challenges we've been dealing with 
since the start of the SIG -- trying to get 
disenfranchised groups together. So maybe the 
idea of another group building more forums in yet 
another place is causing some confusion amongst 
members of the list. I do understand that 
MacArthur probably wants these forums to be under 
their IP (intellectual property) but that might 
be causing a bit of resistance. Not sure.

Thoughts everyone? I know that I'm pretty tapped 
out with conference proposals and our book that 
moving in another direction is pretty hard to 
imagine. Perhaps, Amit, you could help us see 
what specifically you would like to focus on in 
your chapter to avoid the chapter overlapping 
work we're already doing professionally (ie, some 
might be hesitant to contribute something that is 
a chapter in progress for the book or something 
that they are about to unveil as a product). I 
think that's what Robert was most concerned with. 
I know that part of my concerns has been that we 
might be overlapping some work that we are hoping 
will receive funding from other agencies and if 
it's under the MacArthur foundation's IP then 
we're in trouble. Also, gameaccessibility.com is 
funded by external sources and so there is 
already a potential conflict of interest there -- 
but that's something that Richard can explain 
more about (he's out of town this week and out of 
email communication).

Oh boy...did anyone predict the day that we'd have to worry about all this? :)

So in summary... :) I think that we need to 
understand a bit more about the specific aim of 
the chapter (ie, what specifically do you want to 
cover rather than the general "game 
accessibility"). And who "owns" the materials 
that MacArthur solicits? Do we give up our own 
ownership (ie, will we not be able to publish 
this on our own if it's covered in the MacArthur 
forums) and shoot ourselves in the foot with 
regard to funding proposals and our book? So I 
think that understanding this better will help 
people feel more at ease since we've been working 
on this for years and it is the field we work in 
so we want to have our work represented as "our 
work" (whatever that means -- it might mean the 
place we work at or the company we work for) and 
not something that we now have to cite the 
MacArthur foundation in.

Please don't take this as my thinking that you 
are disingenuous -- my intent is quite the 
opposite. I'm simply trying to help people feel 
more at ease and help support what could be a 
very valuable association. But the unfortunate 
reality is that we've had our work wholly 
"borrowed" by a number of groups without citing 
us (the SIG, a research group, etc) and we've 
lost the IP on it. So I want to try and prevent 
that from happening again as much as possible. :)

Cheers,
Michelle

>  > So how in the world did you figure out how to 
>write this chapter to legislation?
>
>Actually it's not related to government in any 
>way. The chapter is part of a larger series of 
>books that the MacArthur foundation, 
>commissioned on the subject of Digital Media, 
>Learning and Youth. The purpose of the entire 
>series is to create a more complex discussion 
>about digital media - beyond the simplistic 
>fear-mongering slogans that politicians spit out 
>today -  'games are bad for you' or 'the 
>internet is a dangerous place for kids' etc.  
>
>Macarthur wants to understand the real 
>implications of digital media on our lives. So 
>it will spend money and time to take the content 
>of the books and promote discussions around them 
>in academic institutions, everyday media and 
>among policy makers.
>
>I was surprised to find out that I'm the only 
>one who is directly referring to Accessibility 
>issues, so I'd like to make the best of it.
>
>/amit
>
>
>
>
>
>From: games_access-bounces at igda.org 
>[mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org] On Behalf 
>Of Robert Florio
>Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2006 11:24 AM
>To: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'
>Subject: RE: to Michelle [games_access] 
>RobertFlorio biography. Accessible idol
>
>No problem I certainly will I might be out of 
>communication a little but let me know when and 
>where you set it up and I'll definitely go 
>there.  So how in the world did you figure out 
>how to write this chapter to legislation is it 
>something really directly to the government or 
>how does that work?  Let's rock them hard that's 
>really show that what they're missing but when 
>they finally jump on the gun I think we should 
>definitely have some things that we start making 
>the cash taken advantage of our design before 
>they do.  I think it's great that were telling 
>people how to make games accessible but if they 
>catch on it before we do yes were making games 
>accessible to everyone but I just feel left out 
>a little like we should be the first to make 
>that game.  I'm still working very hard to put 
>together a company god willing it will happen I 
>know it.
>
>Thank you
>Robert
><http://www.robertflorio.com/>www.RobertFlorio.com
>
>
>From: games_access-bounces at igda.org 
>[mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org] On Behalf 
>Of Amit Pitaru [LIST]
>Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2006 11:16 AM
>To: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'
>Subject: RE: to Michelle [games_access] 
>RobertFlorio biography. Accessible idol
>
>Robert, the chapter I'm writing now is part of a 
>larger effort by the MacArthur foundation to 
>bring these issues to legislators. I'll set up a 
>forum and maybe we can start collecting voices 
>of gamers - explaining the reasons that 
>games/consoles should be made accessible (just 
>like CC on TV!). I'll post this on the 
>game-accessibility site and hope you can help me 
>out!
>
>amit
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From list at pitaru.com  Wed Oct 25 18:08:12 2006
From: list at pitaru.com (Amit Pitaru [LIST])
Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2006 18:08:12 -0400
Subject: [games_access] MacArthur Chapter (was: Robert's Biography)
In-Reply-To: <p06230943c16573b167b7@[192.168.1.100]>
Message-ID: <00cf01c6f882$10a985a0$7901a8c0@IBMPITARU>

Lets back up a bit : ) 

 

> Actually you aren't the only academic working on accessibility issues and
digital media

 

Oh dear, I suppose you are referring to my writing this:

 

'I was surprised to find out that I'm the only one who is directly referring
to Accessibility issues, so I'd like to make the best of it.' 

 

So let me rephrase: I was surprised to find out that I'm the only one
*within the Macarthur book* who is directly referring to Accessibility
issues. 

 

My entire premise for contacting you is that I'm *not* the only academic
working on these issues! 

 

 

> So I'm wondering how widely the MacArthur foundation went in their search.

 

Exactly my point. Which is why I extended my reach to this group. I was
hoping that my chapter could serve as a gateway towards prominent work in
the field - namely yours.

 

I understand your concerns about ownership - and I should have checked into
this up-front. I will now. Please believe me that my goal is not to restrict
anyone, but do the little that I can to point the readers to the right
direction (your direction). In my mind, this little chapter could even help
publicize your upcoming book and create connections with the foundation for
further funding and collaborations. 

 

Before we continue, I'll forward your email to my editor and ask for a
response in writing in regards to everything you raise here. 

 

> So maybe the idea of another group building more forums in yet another
place is causing some confusion amongst members of the list.

 

Re. the MacArthur forum - it was not my intention to fragment your efforts
(although I see your point!). Macarthur has gone through great length to
invite experts from the fields of education, new media and other sciences
into one forum. When they asked me to suggest experts - I sent them your
emails. I think you could have contributed a lot to the discussions, and
hoped you'd enjoy the multidisciplinary interaction with other experts.

 

The IP issues didn't even cross my mind. Perhaps it should have! Sorry.

Before my next email - I'll be sure to get all of this in writing from my
editor.

 

> help us see what specifically you would like to focus on in your chapter
to avoid the chapter overlapping work we're already doing professionally

 

More on this once the rest clears up! but very quickly -

 

I'm actually not sure what your book is about either. My chapter is part of
a series that concentrates on New Media, Learning and Youth. The book that
I'm part of deals with digital games and attempts to complexify (is that a
word?) the current discussions on how they affect our youth. My particular
chapter looks at games from the special-needs perspective - considering all
of the above. 

 

When most politicians are concerned with over-exposure of kids to
digital-games, I look at lack-of-play due to accessibility issues, and also
empowerment that games provide to many children with special needs. I
examine how various therapists utilize digital-games to identify problems
and hash them out in therapy. I follow kids in wheelchairs that win
international game championships. I ask - do digital games provide us with
new opportunities in regards to therapy and normalcy? How are they different
from traditional games in that respect? 

 

My argument is that they indeed hold potential for unique benefits, but
unfortunately this potential is rarely reached due to accessibility issues.
Not all games are born the same, and not all could be made accessible. But
there's much that could be done to improve the situation. So I describe what
the 'fixable' issues are, and provide a game-plan for designers, legislators
and gamers towards improving upon this. I advocate to some legislation and
corporate-education on the matter. I end the chapter with suggestion for
more research (which I could have used), and resources for further reading.

 

Lastly, I hope to include an appendix for designers - showing a step-by-step
adaptation of some games, and by doing so hashing out some of the things
I've learned in the past two years.

 

So are we working on the same thing? there are probably great similarities,
but I think that our works can feed of each other and create a larger buzz.
I'm so sorry to hear that your work has been used without permission! I
promise that this will never happen here. I will get it in writing before we
continue.

 

Amit

 

 

  _____  

From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of d. michelle hinn
Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2006 4:46 PM
To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
Subject: [games_access] MacArthur Chapter (was: Robert's Biography)

 

Hey Amit and all,

 

Actually you aren't the only academic working on accessibility issues and
digital media -- most of this list has already been doing that for a long
time -- but I'm surprised that we're hearing about this study for the first
time. So I'm wondering how widely the MacArthur foundation went in their
search. But regardless, I'm glad that someone like you is involved with the
study/book series and is writing on accessibility and is bringing groups of
people like the SIG into this! :)

 

There are many people who have collected some of these gamer voices on
forums for the past couple years. So a lot of this already exists. It might
be that gamers with disabilities might not find your forum because they are
already hooked into other sites and communities that directly focus on
accessible games that exist. Or it might be that, like us, we are already
way over our heads with our own forums that we are electronically tapped
out. ;) So maybe the best way to do this is to think about what we already
know exists rather than focusing on new forums -- that's been one of the
challenges we've been dealing with since the start of the SIG -- trying to
get disenfranchised groups together. So maybe the idea of another group
building more forums in yet another place is causing some confusion amongst
members of the list. I do understand that MacArthur probably wants these
forums to be under their IP (intellectual property) but that might be
causing a bit of resistance. Not sure.

 

Thoughts everyone? I know that I'm pretty tapped out with conference
proposals and our book that moving in another direction is pretty hard to
imagine. Perhaps, Amit, you could help us see what specifically you would
like to focus on in your chapter to avoid the chapter overlapping work we're
already doing professionally (ie, some might be hesitant to contribute
something that is a chapter in progress for the book or something that they
are about to unveil as a product). I think that's what Robert was most
concerned with. I know that part of my concerns has been that we might be
overlapping some work that we are hoping will receive funding from other
agencies and if it's under the MacArthur foundation's IP then we're in
trouble. Also, gameaccessibility.com is funded by external sources and so
there is already a potential conflict of interest there -- but that's
something that Richard can explain more about (he's out of town this week
and out of email communication).

 

Oh boy...did anyone predict the day that we'd have to worry about all this?
:)

 

So in summary... :) I think that we need to understand a bit more about the
specific aim of the chapter (ie, what specifically do you want to cover
rather than the general "game accessibility"). And who "owns" the materials
that MacArthur solicits? Do we give up our own ownership (ie, will we not be
able to publish this on our own if it's covered in the MacArthur forums) and
shoot ourselves in the foot with regard to funding proposals and our book?
So I think that understanding this better will help people feel more at ease
since we've been working on this for years and it is the field we work in so
we want to have our work represented as "our work" (whatever that means --
it might mean the place we work at or the company we work for) and not
something that we now have to cite the MacArthur foundation in.

 

Please don't take this as my thinking that you are disingenuous -- my intent
is quite the opposite. I'm simply trying to help people feel more at ease
and help support what could be a very valuable association. But the
unfortunate reality is that we've had our work wholly "borrowed" by a number
of groups without citing us (the SIG, a research group, etc) and we've lost
the IP on it. So I want to try and prevent that from happening again as much
as possible. :)

 

Cheers,

Michelle

 

> So how in the world did you figure out how to write this chapter to
legislation?

 

Actually it's not related to government in any way. The chapter is part of a
larger series of books that the MacArthur foundation, commissioned on the
subject of Digital Media, Learning and Youth. The purpose of the entire
series is to create a more complex discussion about digital media - beyond
the simplistic fear-mongering slogans that politicians spit out today -
'games are bad for you' or 'the internet is a dangerous place for kids' etc.


 

Macarthur wants to understand the real implications of digital media on our
lives. So it will spend money and time to take the content of the books and
promote discussions around them in academic institutions, everyday media and
among policy makers.

 

I was surprised to find out that I'm the only one who is directly referring
to Accessibility issues, so I'd like to make the best of it.

 

/amit

 

 

 

 


  _____  


From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of Robert Florio
Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2006 11:24 AM
To: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'
Subject: RE: to Michelle [games_access] RobertFlorio biography. Accessible
idol

 

No problem I certainly will I might be out of communication a little but let
me know when and where you set it up and I'll definitely go there.  So how
in the world did you figure out how to write this chapter to legislation is
it something really directly to the government or how does that work?  Let's
rock them hard that's really show that what they're missing but when they
finally jump on the gun I think we should definitely have some things that
we start making the cash taken advantage of our design before they do.  I
think it's great that were telling people how to make games accessible but
if they catch on it before we do yes were making games accessible to
everyone but I just feel left out a little like we should be the first to
make that game.  I'm still working very hard to put together a company god
willing it will happen I know it.

 

Thank you

Robert

 <http://www.robertflorio.com/> www.RobertFlorio.com

 


  _____  


From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of Amit Pitaru [LIST]
Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2006 11:16 AM
To: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'
Subject: RE: to Michelle [games_access] RobertFlorio biography. Accessible
idol

 

Robert, the chapter I'm writing now is part of a larger effort by the
MacArthur foundation to bring these issues to legislators. I'll set up a
forum and maybe we can start collecting voices of gamers - explaining the
reasons that games/consoles should be made accessible (just like CC on TV!).
I'll post this on the game-accessibility site and hope you can help me out!

 

amit

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From list at pitaru.com  Wed Oct 25 18:17:42 2006
From: list at pitaru.com (Amit Pitaru [LIST])
Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2006 18:17:42 -0400
Subject: [games_access] MacArthur Chapter (was: Robert's Biography)
In-Reply-To: <p06230943c16573b167b7@[192.168.1.100]>
Message-ID: <00e301c6f883$63d4c310$7901a8c0@IBMPITARU>

[first post was too large.. so I'm reposting]

 

 

 

Lets back up a bit : ) 

 

> Actually you aren't the only academic working on accessibility issues and
digital media

 

Oh dear, I suppose you are referring to my writing this:

 

'I was surprised to find out that I'm the only one who is directly referring
to Accessibility issues, so I'd like to make the best of it.' 

 

So let me rephrase: I was surprised to find out that I'm the only one
*within the Macarthur book* who is directly referring to Accessibility
issues. 

 

My entire premise for contacting you is that I'm *not* the only academic
working on these issues! 

 

 

> So I'm wondering how widely the MacArthur foundation went in their search.

 

Exactly my point. Which is why I extended my reach to this group. I was
hoping that my chapter could serve as a gateway towards prominent work in
the field - namely yours.

 

I understand your concerns about ownership - and I should have checked into
this up-front. I will now. Please believe me that my goal is not to restrict
anyone, but do the little that I can to point the readers to the right
direction (your direction). In my mind, this little chapter could even help
publicize your upcoming book and create connections with the foundation for
further funding and collaborations. 

 

Before we continue, I'll forward your email to my editor and ask for a
response in writing in regards to everything you raise here. 

 

> So maybe the idea of another group building more forums in yet another
place is causing some confusion amongst members of the list.

 

Re. the MacArthur forum - it was not my intention to fragment your efforts
(although I see your point!). Macarthur has gone through great length to
invite experts from the fields of education, new media and other sciences
into one forum. When they asked me to suggest experts - I sent them your
emails. I think you could have contributed a lot to the discussions, and
hoped you'd enjoy the multidisciplinary interaction with other experts.

 

The IP issues didn't even cross my mind. Perhaps it should have! Sorry.

Before my next email - I'll be sure to get all of this in writing from my
editor.

 

> help us see what specifically you would like to focus on in your chapter
to avoid the chapter overlapping work we're already doing professionally

 

More on this once the rest clears up! but very quickly -

 

I'm actually not sure what your book is about either. My chapter is part of
a series that concentrates on New Media, Learning and Youth. The book that
I'm part of deals with digital games and attempts to complexify (is that a
word?) the current discussions on how they affect our youth. My particular
chapter looks at games from the special-needs perspective - considering all
of the above. 

 

When most politicians are concerned with over-exposure of kids to
digital-games, I look at lack-of-play due to accessibility issues, and also
empowerment that games provide to many children with special needs. I
examine how various therapists utilize digital-games to identify problems
and hash them out in therapy. I follow kids in wheelchairs that win
international game championships. I ask - do digital games provide us with
new opportunities in regards to therapy and normalcy? How are they different
from traditional games in that respect? 

 

My argument is that they indeed hold potential for unique benefits, but
unfortunately this potential is rarely reached due to accessibility issues.
Not all games are born the same, and not all could be made accessible. But
there's much that could be done to improve the situation. So I describe what
the 'fixable' issues are, and provide a game-plan for designers, legislators
and gamers towards improving upon this. I advocate to some legislation and
corporate-education on the matter. I end the chapter with suggestion for
more research (which I could have used), and resources for further reading.

 

Lastly, I hope to include an appendix for designers - showing a step-by-step
adaptation of some games, and by doing so hashing out some of the things
I've learned in the past two years.

 

So are we working on the same thing? there are probably great similarities,
but I think that our works can feed of each other and create a larger buzz.
I'm so sorry to hear that your work has been used without permission! I
promise that this will never happen here. I will get it in writing before we
continue.

 

Amit

 

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From hinn at uiuc.edu  Wed Oct 25 18:41:30 2006
From: hinn at uiuc.edu (d. michelle hinn)
Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2006 17:41:30 -0500
Subject: [games_access] MacArthur Chapter (was: Robert's Biography)
In-Reply-To: <00cf01c6f882$10a985a0$7901a8c0@IBMPITARU>
References: <00cf01c6f882$10a985a0$7901a8c0@IBMPITARU>
Message-ID: <p06230948c1659398e1a3@[192.168.1.100]>

>Lets back up a bit : )

:) I'm glad that you wrote back -- I was afraid that my raising these 
points for discussion on the list might not translate well (email 
isn't the best way to gauge how others are taking things -- but it's 
all we have!). I definitely had no intention of suggesting that you 
were not on the same team! I just was starting to realize that we are 
starting to face a lot of major issues that need to be sorted out so 
it's best that we all discuss this openly. It's accessibility that we 
are all pushing for but funding agencies and publishers often don't 
see it that way when it comes to IP...that nasty little thing!

>  > Actually you aren't the only academic working on accessibility 
>issues and digital media
>
>Oh dear, I suppose you are referring to my writing this:
>
>'I was surprised to find out that I'm the only one who is directly 
>referring to Accessibility issues, so I'd like to make the best of 
>it.'
>
>So let me rephrase: I was surprised to find out that I'm the only 
>one *within the Macarthur book* who is directly referring to 
>Accessibility issues.
>
>My entire premise for contacting you is that I'm *not* the only 
>academic working on these issues!

Ahhhhh...now I see. Much more clear now.

>  > So I'm wondering how widely the MacArthur foundation went in their search.
>
>Exactly my point. Which is why I extended my reach to this group. I 
>was hoping that my chapter could serve as a gateway towards 
>prominent work in the field - namely yours.
>
>I understand your concerns about ownership - and I should have 
>checked into this up-front. I will now. Please believe me that my 
>goal is not to restrict anyone, but do the little that I can to 
>point the readers to the right direction (your direction). In my 
>mind, this little chapter could even help publicize your upcoming 
>book and create connections with the foundation for further funding 
>and collaborations.
>
>Before we continue, I'll forward your email to my editor and ask for 
>a response in writing in regards to everything you raise here.

Sounds good! I agree that your chapter could indeed be a great thing 
and I'm very excited about it! I just wanted to make sure that 
everything was ok from MacArthur's end since a lot of our work is 
slated to go into the game accessibility book (more later in the 
email!).

>  > So maybe the idea of another group building more forums in yet 
>another place is causing some confusion amongst members of the list.
>
>Re. the MacArthur forum - it was not my intention to fragment your 
>efforts (although I see your point!). Macarthur has gone through 
>great length to invite experts from the fields of education, new 
>media and other sciences into one forum. When they asked me to 
>suggest experts - I sent them your emails. I think you could have 
>contributed a lot to the discussions, and hoped you'd enjoy the 
>multidisciplinary interaction with other experts.

Ah, ok, I see what you are saying now. And I didn't mean to give the 
impression that we would not contribute -- just that we have to think 
about overloading ourselves. Everyone on this list is a free agent 
and can contribute in any way they would like, of course. I agree 
that it would be enjoyable to participate but I guess I was nervous 
that if people didn't join in that it would see that we did not care 
-- quite the opposite. We're just overwhelmed right now so I wanted 
to make sure that you knew that and did not take it with any offense.

>I'm actually not sure what your book is about either.

Ah -- it's a book being published by Charles River Media and is a 
book aimed at game designers/developers and publishers who want to 
make their games accessible. So it's not a research book but more of 
an application book. It's definitely aimed at industry and academic 
game design programs looking for a resource about game accessibility.

>My chapter is part of a series that concentrates on New Media, 
>Learning and Youth. The book that I'm part of deals with digital 
>games and attempts to complexify (is that a word?) the current 
>discussions on how they affect our youth. My particular chapter 
>looks at games from the special-needs perspective - considering all 
>of the above.
>
>When most politicians are concerned with over-exposure of kids to 
>digital-games, I look at lack-of-play due to accessibility issues, 
>and also empowerment that games provide to many children with 
>special needs. I examine how various therapists utilize 
>digital-games to identify problems and hash them out in therapy. I 
>follow kids in wheelchairs that win international game 
>championships. I ask - do digital games provide us with new 
>opportunities in regards to therapy and normalcy? How are they 
>different from traditional games in that respect?
>
>My argument is that they indeed hold potential for unique benefits, 
>but unfortunately this potential is rarely reached due to 
>accessibility issues. Not all games are born the same, and not all 
>could be made accessible. But there's much that could be done to 
>improve the situation. So I describe what the 'fixable' issues are, 
>and provide a game-plan for designers, legislators and gamers 
>towards improving upon this. I advocate to some legislation and 
>corporate-education on the matter. I end the chapter with suggestion 
>for more research (which I could have used), and resources for 
>further reading.
>
>Lastly, I hope to include an appendix for designers - showing a 
>step-by-step adaptation of some games, and by doing so hashing out 
>some of the things I've learned in the past two years.

Ok, I definitely see what you are saying and I usually start most of 
my talks about accessibility asking where OUR politician is pushing 
for game accessibility because inaccessibility results in people 
missing out on something that is so important for our psychological 
well-being.

>So are we working on the same thing? there are probably great 
>similarities, but I think that our works can feed of each other and 
>create a larger buzz. I'm so sorry to hear that your work has been 
>used without permission! I promise that this will never happen here. 
>I will get it in writing before we continue.

No worries -- I'm glad that you have come here and I hope that 
MacArthur is thinking the same thing that we are. I see some overlap 
but I see that in a positive way -- in that perhaps an updated 
version of your chapter could be included in the design book in our 
section on "why accessibility" -- I think it's important to remind 
designers that "hey, you like games -- so do people with disabilities 
so what gives? why aren't you pushing for this?"

Ok, cool -- thanks so much for clearing this up! I'm definitely 
excited to participate in the online discussion forums when I can and 
definitely encourage others too. My only hesitation was the IP 
factor. We just have so many different things going on that it would 
be a shame if a funding agency of publisher claimed complete 
ownership of something that should remain in the public domain as 
much as possible!

So, hey everyone -- I think that this has been a great opportunity to 
talk about this (the legal stuff) and I'm excited about the avenues 
that Amit's chapter could open up for us as a SIG!

Michelle
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From hinn at uiuc.edu  Wed Oct 25 18:42:44 2006
From: hinn at uiuc.edu (d. michelle hinn)
Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2006 17:42:44 -0500
Subject: [games_access] MacArthur Chapter (was: Robert's Biography)
In-Reply-To: <00e301c6f883$63d4c310$7901a8c0@IBMPITARU>
References: <00e301c6f883$63d4c310$7901a8c0@IBMPITARU>
Message-ID: <p06230949c16598b51467@[192.168.1.100]>

whoops. just overrode the bounce so this will come out twice. i just 
wrote a reply to the overridden post. :)

>[first post was too large.. so I'm reposting]
>
>
>
>Lets back up a bit : )
>
>  > Actually you aren't the only academic working on accessibility 
>issues and digital media
>
>Oh dear, I suppose you are referring to my writing this:
>
>'I was surprised to find out that I'm the only one who is directly 
>referring to Accessibility issues, so I'd like to make the best of 
>it.'
>
>So let me rephrase: I was surprised to find out that I'm the only 
>one *within the Macarthur book* who is directly referring to 
>Accessibility issues.
>
>My entire premise for contacting you is that I'm *not* the only 
>academic working on these issues!
>
>
>  > So I'm wondering how widely the MacArthur foundation went in their search.
>
>Exactly my point. Which is why I extended my reach to this group. I 
>was hoping that my chapter could serve as a gateway towards 
>prominent work in the field - namely yours.
>
>I understand your concerns about ownership - and I should have 
>checked into this up-front. I will now. Please believe me that my 
>goal is not to restrict anyone, but do the little that I can to 
>point the readers to the right direction (your direction). In my 
>mind, this little chapter could even help publicize your upcoming 
>book and create connections with the foundation for further funding 
>and collaborations.
>
>Before we continue, I'll forward your email to my editor and ask for 
>a response in writing in regards to everything you raise here.
>
>  > So maybe the idea of another group building more forums in yet 
>another place is causing some confusion amongst members of the list.
>
>Re. the MacArthur forum - it was not my intention to fragment your 
>efforts (although I see your point!). Macarthur has gone through 
>great length to invite experts from the fields of education, new 
>media and other sciences into one forum. When they asked me to 
>suggest experts - I sent them your emails. I think you could have 
>contributed a lot to the discussions, and hoped you'd enjoy the 
>multidisciplinary interaction with other experts.
>
>The IP issues didn't even cross my mind. Perhaps it should have! Sorry.
>Before my next email - I'll be sure to get all of this in writing 
>from my editor.
>
>  > help us see what specifically you would like to focus on in your 
>chapter to avoid the chapter overlapping work we're already doing 
>professionally
>
>More on this once the rest clears up! but very quickly -
>
>I'm actually not sure what your book is about either. My chapter is 
>part of a series that concentrates on New Media, Learning and Youth. 
>The book that I'm part of deals with digital games and attempts to 
>complexify (is that a word?) the current discussions on how they 
>affect our youth. My particular chapter looks at games from the 
>special-needs perspective - considering all of the above.
>
>When most politicians are concerned with over-exposure of kids to 
>digital-games, I look at lack-of-play due to accessibility issues, 
>and also empowerment that games provide to many children with 
>special needs. I examine how various therapists utilize 
>digital-games to identify problems and hash them out in therapy. I 
>follow kids in wheelchairs that win international game 
>championships. I ask - do digital games provide us with new 
>opportunities in regards to therapy and normalcy? How are they 
>different from traditional games in that respect?
>
>My argument is that they indeed hold potential for unique benefits, 
>but unfortunately this potential is rarely reached due to 
>accessibility issues. Not all games are born the same, and not all 
>could be made accessible. But there's much that could be done to 
>improve the situation. So I describe what the 'fixable' issues are, 
>and provide a game-plan for designers, legislators and gamers 
>towards improving upon this. I advocate to some legislation and 
>corporate-education on the matter. I end the chapter with suggestion 
>for more research (which I could have used), and resources for 
>further reading.
>
>Lastly, I hope to include an appendix for designers - showing a 
>step-by-step adaptation of some games, and by doing so hashing out 
>some of the things I've learned in the past two years.
>
>So are we working on the same thing? there are probably great 
>similarities, but I think that our works can feed of each other and 
>create a larger buzz. I'm so sorry to hear that your work has been 
>used without permission! I promise that this will never happen here. 
>I will get it in writing before we continue.
>
>Amit
>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>games_access mailing list
>games_access at igda.org
>http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
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From list at pitaru.com  Wed Oct 25 19:46:45 2006
From: list at pitaru.com (Amit Pitaru [LIST])
Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2006 19:46:45 -0400
Subject: [games_access] MacArthur Chapter (was: Robert's Biography)
In-Reply-To: <p06230948c1659398e1a3@[192.168.1.100]>
Message-ID: <010d01c6f88f$d4c4b1f0$7901a8c0@IBMPITARU>

Michelle, I'm relieved that I was able to clear things up, and thank you for
bringing it up as candidly as you did!  I wish I could have met you all in
person prior to emailing back-forth. Oh well, the digital age.

 

I've just sent an email to my editor regarding all the IP issues that you've
raised. We'll all learn where we stand soon enough.

 

Regarding the forum - I see no reason that we can't just chat here (or in a
closed forum of your choosing) instead of the MacArthur forum. Once we get
their answer, we should talk more specifically about how our work can
compliment each other.

 

Amit

 

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From hinn at uiuc.edu  Thu Oct 26 03:52:35 2006
From: hinn at uiuc.edu (d. michelle hinn)
Date: Thu, 26 Oct 2006 02:52:35 -0500
Subject: [games_access] MacArthur Chapter (was: Robert's Biography)
In-Reply-To: <010d01c6f88f$d4c4b1f0$7901a8c0@IBMPITARU>
References: <010d01c6f88f$d4c4b1f0$7901a8c0@IBMPITARU>
Message-ID: <p0623094cc16618c82fcc@[192.168.1.100]>

>Michelle, I'm relieved that I was able to clear things up, and thank 
>you for bringing it up as candidly as you did!  I wish I could have 
>met you all in person prior to emailing back-forth. Oh well, the 
>digital age.
>
>I've just sent an email to my editor regarding all the IP issues 
>that you've raised. We'll all learn where we stand soon enough.
>
>Regarding the forum - I see no reason that we can't just chat here 
>(or in a closed forum of your choosing) instead of the MacArthur 
>forum. Once we get their answer, we should talk more specifically 
>about how our work can compliment each other.

Sounds perfect -- maybe we could have a closed forum on 
gameaccessibility.com for the discussion of this and the book so that 
we can figure out how to create the best possible relationship with 
the MacArthur Foundation so that we all move in complimentary 
directions.

Yes -- it would be nice to meet up. Does the foundation have the 
ability to bring in people for a 1-2 day conference, bt any chance? 
That would be a fun way to get more of us together in one place -- 
usually we're lucky to have one face-to-face meeting a year but we've 
been more fortunate lately. :)

Michelle
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From hinn at uiuc.edu  Thu Oct 26 21:43:34 2006
From: hinn at uiuc.edu (hinn at uiuc.edu)
Date: Thu, 26 Oct 2006 20:43:34 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: [games_access] Interesting News Bit
Message-ID: <20061026204334.AFZ55405@expms2.cites.uiuc.edu>

This just in from the AP -- sounds like we need to check out these researchers at Wash U and invite them to the SIG! :)

- Michelle

Scientists Study Brain Using Video Game

- - - - - - - - - - - -

By JEFF DOUGLAS Associated Press Writer

October 26,2006 | ST. LOUIS -- The teenager jukes missiles and blasts aliens in the video game. But it's his brain, not his thumbs, doing all the work. The 14-year-old, part of a study at Washington University, played the old-school video game "Space Invaders" by simply using his brain as a controller.

Researchers hope the study ultimately leads to development of more advanced devices that use brain commands to control things such as artificial limbs and wheelchairs.

"My real motivation for this is helping people with disabilities," said Dr. Eric Leuthardt, an assistant professor of neurosurgery at the university's School of Medicine. "We chose to do a video game because we knew a teenage patient would be into it."

The teen, who did not want his name used, suffers from severe epilepsy and was experiencing daily seizures. Neurosurgeons had to remove a piece of his skull to treat a small part of the brain causing the seizures.

Researchers knew that with the brain exposed for the operation, they had a rare opportunity to use it for a study of ultrahigh brain frequencies. Leuthardt invited the teen to participate, and he agreed. The study is the first of its kind on an adolescent, Leuthardt said.

The teen was hospitalized to wait for a seizure to happen so doctors could locate the problem and treat it.

Wires attached to the surface of the teen's brain sent electric signals to a computer to help them locate what part of the brain was causing the seizures and remove it.

Using those same wires, the teen was ready to try "Space Invaders," an early video game in which the player tries to shoot down invading aliens amid a counterattack.

At first, the teen tapped his right hand to move his spacecraft one way, and moved his tongue to move it another. Eventually, he was able to make those movements on the video screen simply by using his brain. The "Space Invaders" laser cannon fired continuously.

Within hours, the teen shot his way to the third level of the game.

"The real breakthrough with this project is the focus on higher frequencies of the brain. That's where the secrets are," said Daniel Moran, an assistant professor of biomedical engineering also involved in the multidiscipline study.

Leuthardt said it was too early tell, but it appeared the teenager could master commands more quickly than adults.

Washington University did similar experiments in 2004 with adults. In that experiment, participants used only their brains to control a game similar to the old arcade game "Pong."

The study was exciting news for John Donoghue, co-founder of Cyberkinetics Neurotechnology Systems. His Foxborough, Mass.-based company researches alternative ways for the brain to communicate to the outside world using devices that translate the brain's electric activity.

Cyberkinetics was among the first to prove that a quadriplegic can drive a wheelchair with his thoughts and a mute person can communicate sentences on a computer without saying a word.

"The idea of replacing missing biological connections with a physical bridge will be moving very fast in the coming years with more research like this," Donoghue said.
.......................................
these are mediocre times and people are 
losing hope. it's hard for many people 
to believe that there are extraordinary 
things inside themselves, as well as 
others. i hope you can keep an open 
mind.
 -- "unbreakable"
.......................................


From arthit73 at cablespeed.com  Fri Oct 27 11:27:40 2006
From: arthit73 at cablespeed.com (Robert Florio)
Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2006 11:27:40 -0400
Subject: [games_access] Interesting News Bit
In-Reply-To: <20061026204334.AFZ55405@expms2.cites.uiuc.edu>
Message-ID: <000001c6f9dc$7250b110$6501a8c0@RobertFlorio>

Is the Cyberkinetics Co. the same people that make the brain fingers black
strap that goes around the forhead to play video games?  I really wish they
somebody would develop that strap into a playable video game especially for
using devices like controlling wheelchairs and robotic arms that would be so
cool.

Robert

-----Original Message-----
From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of hinn at uiuc.edu
Sent: Thursday, October 26, 2006 9:44 PM
To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
Subject: [games_access] Interesting News Bit

This just in from the AP -- sounds like we need to check out these
researchers at Wash U and invite them to the SIG! :)

- Michelle

Scientists Study Brain Using Video Game

- - - - - - - - - - - -

By JEFF DOUGLAS Associated Press Writer

October 26,2006 | ST. LOUIS -- The teenager jukes missiles and blasts aliens
in the video game. But it's his brain, not his thumbs, doing all the work.
The 14-year-old, part of a study at Washington University, played the
old-school video game "Space Invaders" by simply using his brain as a
controller.

Researchers hope the study ultimately leads to development of more advanced
devices that use brain commands to control things such as artificial limbs
and wheelchairs.

"My real motivation for this is helping people with disabilities," said Dr.
Eric Leuthardt, an assistant professor of neurosurgery at the university's
School of Medicine. "We chose to do a video game because we knew a teenage
patient would be into it."

The teen, who did not want his name used, suffers from severe epilepsy and
was experiencing daily seizures. Neurosurgeons had to remove a piece of his
skull to treat a small part of the brain causing the seizures.

Researchers knew that with the brain exposed for the operation, they had a
rare opportunity to use it for a study of ultrahigh brain frequencies.
Leuthardt invited the teen to participate, and he agreed. The study is the
first of its kind on an adolescent, Leuthardt said.

The teen was hospitalized to wait for a seizure to happen so doctors could
locate the problem and treat it.

Wires attached to the surface of the teen's brain sent electric signals to a
computer to help them locate what part of the brain was causing the seizures
and remove it.

Using those same wires, the teen was ready to try "Space Invaders," an early
video game in which the player tries to shoot down invading aliens amid a
counterattack.

At first, the teen tapped his right hand to move his spacecraft one way, and
moved his tongue to move it another. Eventually, he was able to make those
movements on the video screen simply by using his brain. The "Space
Invaders" laser cannon fired continuously.

Within hours, the teen shot his way to the third level of the game.

"The real breakthrough with this project is the focus on higher frequencies
of the brain. That's where the secrets are," said Daniel Moran, an assistant
professor of biomedical engineering also involved in the multidiscipline
study.

Leuthardt said it was too early tell, but it appeared the teenager could
master commands more quickly than adults.

Washington University did similar experiments in 2004 with adults. In that
experiment, participants used only their brains to control a game similar to
the old arcade game "Pong."

The study was exciting news for John Donoghue, co-founder of Cyberkinetics
Neurotechnology Systems. His Foxborough, Mass.-based company researches
alternative ways for the brain to communicate to the outside world using
devices that translate the brain's electric activity.

Cyberkinetics was among the first to prove that a quadriplegic can drive a
wheelchair with his thoughts and a mute person can communicate sentences on
a computer without saying a word.

"The idea of replacing missing biological connections with a physical bridge
will be moving very fast in the coming years with more research like this,"
Donoghue said.
.......................................
these are mediocre times and people are 
losing hope. it's hard for many people 
to believe that there are extraordinary 
things inside themselves, as well as 
others. i hope you can keep an open 
mind.
 -- "unbreakable"
.......................................
_______________________________________________
games_access mailing list
games_access at igda.org
http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access




From rkimball at gmail.com  Fri Oct 27 11:42:06 2006
From: rkimball at gmail.com (Reid Kimball)
Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2006 08:42:06 -0700
Subject: [games_access] Interesting News Bit
In-Reply-To: <000001c6f9dc$7250b110$6501a8c0@RobertFlorio>
References: <20061026204334.AFZ55405@expms2.cites.uiuc.edu>
	<000001c6f9dc$7250b110$6501a8c0@RobertFlorio>
Message-ID: <a6673b8d0610270842r44f5db36o5c37ec38108dd90c@mail.gmail.com>

I think the problem with the wearable devices is that they aren't
sensitive enough to pick up the deeper brain signals. This article
mentions the doctors had to perform surgery to implant the device on
the brain. So, other than surgery, perhaps the tech isn't ready yet.

-Reid

On 10/27/06, Robert Florio <arthit73 at cablespeed.com> wrote:
> Is the Cyberkinetics Co. the same people that make the brain fingers black
> strap that goes around the forhead to play video games?  I really wish they
> somebody would develop that strap into a playable video game especially for
> using devices like controlling wheelchairs and robotic arms that would be so
> cool.
>
> Robert
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
> On Behalf Of hinn at uiuc.edu
> Sent: Thursday, October 26, 2006 9:44 PM
> To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
> Subject: [games_access] Interesting News Bit
>
> This just in from the AP -- sounds like we need to check out these
> researchers at Wash U and invite them to the SIG! :)
>
> - Michelle
>
> Scientists Study Brain Using Video Game
>
> - - - - - - - - - - - -
>
> By JEFF DOUGLAS Associated Press Writer
>
> October 26,2006 | ST. LOUIS -- The teenager jukes missiles and blasts aliens
> in the video game. But it's his brain, not his thumbs, doing all the work.
> The 14-year-old, part of a study at Washington University, played the
> old-school video game "Space Invaders" by simply using his brain as a
> controller.
>
> Researchers hope the study ultimately leads to development of more advanced
> devices that use brain commands to control things such as artificial limbs
> and wheelchairs.
>
> "My real motivation for this is helping people with disabilities," said Dr.
> Eric Leuthardt, an assistant professor of neurosurgery at the university's
> School of Medicine. "We chose to do a video game because we knew a teenage
> patient would be into it."
>
> The teen, who did not want his name used, suffers from severe epilepsy and
> was experiencing daily seizures. Neurosurgeons had to remove a piece of his
> skull to treat a small part of the brain causing the seizures.
>
> Researchers knew that with the brain exposed for the operation, they had a
> rare opportunity to use it for a study of ultrahigh brain frequencies.
> Leuthardt invited the teen to participate, and he agreed. The study is the
> first of its kind on an adolescent, Leuthardt said.
>
> The teen was hospitalized to wait for a seizure to happen so doctors could
> locate the problem and treat it.
>
> Wires attached to the surface of the teen's brain sent electric signals to a
> computer to help them locate what part of the brain was causing the seizures
> and remove it.
>
> Using those same wires, the teen was ready to try "Space Invaders," an early
> video game in which the player tries to shoot down invading aliens amid a
> counterattack.
>
> At first, the teen tapped his right hand to move his spacecraft one way, and
> moved his tongue to move it another. Eventually, he was able to make those
> movements on the video screen simply by using his brain. The "Space
> Invaders" laser cannon fired continuously.
>
> Within hours, the teen shot his way to the third level of the game.
>
> "The real breakthrough with this project is the focus on higher frequencies
> of the brain. That's where the secrets are," said Daniel Moran, an assistant
> professor of biomedical engineering also involved in the multidiscipline
> study.
>
> Leuthardt said it was too early tell, but it appeared the teenager could
> master commands more quickly than adults.
>
> Washington University did similar experiments in 2004 with adults. In that
> experiment, participants used only their brains to control a game similar to
> the old arcade game "Pong."
>
> The study was exciting news for John Donoghue, co-founder of Cyberkinetics
> Neurotechnology Systems. His Foxborough, Mass.-based company researches
> alternative ways for the brain to communicate to the outside world using
> devices that translate the brain's electric activity.
>
> Cyberkinetics was among the first to prove that a quadriplegic can drive a
> wheelchair with his thoughts and a mute person can communicate sentences on
> a computer without saying a word.
>
> "The idea of replacing missing biological connections with a physical bridge
> will be moving very fast in the coming years with more research like this,"
> Donoghue said.
> .......................................
> these are mediocre times and people are
> losing hope. it's hard for many people
> to believe that there are extraordinary
> things inside themselves, as well as
> others. i hope you can keep an open
> mind.
>  -- "unbreakable"
> .......................................
> _______________________________________________
> games_access mailing list
> games_access at igda.org
> http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> games_access mailing list
> games_access at igda.org
> http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>


From arthit73 at cablespeed.com  Fri Oct 27 12:15:29 2006
From: arthit73 at cablespeed.com (Robert Florio)
Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2006 12:15:29 -0400
Subject: to Michelle and Reid RE: [games_access] Interesting News Bit
In-Reply-To: <a6673b8d0610270842r44f5db36o5c37ec38108dd90c@mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <001001c6f9e3$1ff1a3a0$6501a8c0@RobertFlorio>

I was thinking the same thing I should've mentioned that Reid.  I'm
certainly not going to do the brain surgery.  All of these topics we've been
talking about and Michelle mostly responsible for the book coming out our
special interest group is writing are we all get a chance to put these
things that we are noting or just speaking about hope the story topics are
not being forgotten, into chapters we all can write or how does that work
can someone let me know?

Robert

-----Original Message-----
From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of Reid Kimball
Sent: Friday, October 27, 2006 11:42 AM
To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
Subject: Re: [games_access] Interesting News Bit

I think the problem with the wearable devices is that they aren't
sensitive enough to pick up the deeper brain signals. This article
mentions the doctors had to perform surgery to implant the device on
the brain. So, other than surgery, perhaps the tech isn't ready yet.

-Reid

On 10/27/06, Robert Florio <arthit73 at cablespeed.com> wrote:
> Is the Cyberkinetics Co. the same people that make the brain fingers black
> strap that goes around the forhead to play video games?  I really wish
they
> somebody would develop that strap into a playable video game especially
for
> using devices like controlling wheelchairs and robotic arms that would be
so
> cool.
>
> Robert
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
> On Behalf Of hinn at uiuc.edu
> Sent: Thursday, October 26, 2006 9:44 PM
> To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
> Subject: [games_access] Interesting News Bit
>
> This just in from the AP -- sounds like we need to check out these
> researchers at Wash U and invite them to the SIG! :)
>
> - Michelle
>
> Scientists Study Brain Using Video Game
>
> - - - - - - - - - - - -
>
> By JEFF DOUGLAS Associated Press Writer
>
> October 26,2006 | ST. LOUIS -- The teenager jukes missiles and blasts
aliens
> in the video game. But it's his brain, not his thumbs, doing all the work.
> The 14-year-old, part of a study at Washington University, played the
> old-school video game "Space Invaders" by simply using his brain as a
> controller.
>
> Researchers hope the study ultimately leads to development of more
advanced
> devices that use brain commands to control things such as artificial limbs
> and wheelchairs.
>
> "My real motivation for this is helping people with disabilities," said
Dr.
> Eric Leuthardt, an assistant professor of neurosurgery at the university's
> School of Medicine. "We chose to do a video game because we knew a teenage
> patient would be into it."
>
> The teen, who did not want his name used, suffers from severe epilepsy and
> was experiencing daily seizures. Neurosurgeons had to remove a piece of
his
> skull to treat a small part of the brain causing the seizures.
>
> Researchers knew that with the brain exposed for the operation, they had a
> rare opportunity to use it for a study of ultrahigh brain frequencies.
> Leuthardt invited the teen to participate, and he agreed. The study is the
> first of its kind on an adolescent, Leuthardt said.
>
> The teen was hospitalized to wait for a seizure to happen so doctors could
> locate the problem and treat it.
>
> Wires attached to the surface of the teen's brain sent electric signals to
a
> computer to help them locate what part of the brain was causing the
seizures
> and remove it.
>
> Using those same wires, the teen was ready to try "Space Invaders," an
early
> video game in which the player tries to shoot down invading aliens amid a
> counterattack.
>
> At first, the teen tapped his right hand to move his spacecraft one way,
and
> moved his tongue to move it another. Eventually, he was able to make those
> movements on the video screen simply by using his brain. The "Space
> Invaders" laser cannon fired continuously.
>
> Within hours, the teen shot his way to the third level of the game.
>
> "The real breakthrough with this project is the focus on higher
frequencies
> of the brain. That's where the secrets are," said Daniel Moran, an
assistant
> professor of biomedical engineering also involved in the multidiscipline
> study.
>
> Leuthardt said it was too early tell, but it appeared the teenager could
> master commands more quickly than adults.
>
> Washington University did similar experiments in 2004 with adults. In that
> experiment, participants used only their brains to control a game similar
to
> the old arcade game "Pong."
>
> The study was exciting news for John Donoghue, co-founder of Cyberkinetics
> Neurotechnology Systems. His Foxborough, Mass.-based company researches
> alternative ways for the brain to communicate to the outside world using
> devices that translate the brain's electric activity.
>
> Cyberkinetics was among the first to prove that a quadriplegic can drive a
> wheelchair with his thoughts and a mute person can communicate sentences
on
> a computer without saying a word.
>
> "The idea of replacing missing biological connections with a physical
bridge
> will be moving very fast in the coming years with more research like
this,"
> Donoghue said.
> .......................................
> these are mediocre times and people are
> losing hope. it's hard for many people
> to believe that there are extraordinary
> things inside themselves, as well as
> others. i hope you can keep an open
> mind.
>  -- "unbreakable"
> .......................................
> _______________________________________________
> games_access mailing list
> games_access at igda.org
> http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> games_access mailing list
> games_access at igda.org
> http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>
_______________________________________________
games_access mailing list
games_access at igda.org
http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access




From lynnvm at carolina.rr.com  Fri Oct 27 17:19:12 2006
From: lynnvm at carolina.rr.com (Lynn Marentette)
Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2006 17:19:12 -0400
Subject: [games_access] The technology exists - but can we harness it?
In-Reply-To: <20061027163457.8B89457CF2@seven.pairlist.net>
Message-ID: <00bd01c6fa0d$8cf8eb00$6501a8c0@HOME>

It would be great if we could have access to the technology behind the
brain-powered video-game controller.... what an interesting article,
Michelle!

Lynn

TechPsych 
Interactive Multimedia Technology
-----Original Message-----


When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
than "Re: Contents of games_access digest..."


Today's Topics:

   1. Interesting News Bit (hinn at uiuc.edu)
   2. RE: Interesting News Bit (Robert Florio)
   3. Re: Interesting News Bit (Reid Kimball)


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Thu, 26 Oct 2006 20:43:34 -0500 (CDT)
From: <hinn at uiuc.edu>
Subject: [games_access] Interesting News Bit
To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List <games_access at igda.org>
Message-ID: <20061026204334.AFZ55405 at expms2.cites.uiuc.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

This just in from the AP -- sounds like we need to check out these
researchers at Wash U and invite them to the SIG! :)

- Michelle





From hinn at uiuc.edu  Sat Oct 28 00:10:05 2006
From: hinn at uiuc.edu (d. michelle hinn)
Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2006 23:10:05 -0500
Subject: [games_access] Interesting News Bit
In-Reply-To: <a6673b8d0610270842r44f5db36o5c37ec38108dd90c@mail.gmail.com>
References: <20061026204334.AFZ55405@expms2.cites.uiuc.edu>
	<000001c6f9dc$7250b110$6501a8c0@RobertFlorio>
	<a6673b8d0610270842r44f5db36o5c37ec38108dd90c@mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <p0623095ec168885e4b10@[192.168.1.100]>

yeah, brain surgery is a bit drastic for gaming.  ;) but it will be 
interesting to follow their research.

michelle

>I think the problem with the wearable devices is that they aren't
>sensitive enough to pick up the deeper brain signals. This article
>mentions the doctors had to perform surgery to implant the device on
>the brain. So, other than surgery, perhaps the tech isn't ready yet.
>
>-Reid
>
>On 10/27/06, Robert Florio <arthit73 at cablespeed.com> wrote:
>>Is the Cyberkinetics Co. the same people that make the brain fingers black
>>strap that goes around the forhead to play video games?  I really wish they
>>somebody would develop that strap into a playable video game especially for
>>using devices like controlling wheelchairs and robotic arms that would be so
>>cool.
>>
>>Robert
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
>>On Behalf Of hinn at uiuc.edu
>>Sent: Thursday, October 26, 2006 9:44 PM
>>To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
>>Subject: [games_access] Interesting News Bit
>>
>>This just in from the AP -- sounds like we need to check out these
>>researchers at Wash U and invite them to the SIG! :)
>>
>>- Michelle
>>
>>Scientists Study Brain Using Video Game
>>
>>- - - - - - - - - - - -
>>
>>By JEFF DOUGLAS Associated Press Writer
>>
>>October 26,2006 | ST. LOUIS -- The teenager jukes missiles and blasts aliens
>>in the video game. But it's his brain, not his thumbs, doing all the work.
>>The 14-year-old, part of a study at Washington University, played the
>>old-school video game "Space Invaders" by simply using his brain as a
>>controller.
>>
>>Researchers hope the study ultimately leads to development of more advanced
>>devices that use brain commands to control things such as artificial limbs
>>and wheelchairs.
>>
>>"My real motivation for this is helping people with disabilities," said Dr.
>>Eric Leuthardt, an assistant professor of neurosurgery at the university's
>>School of Medicine. "We chose to do a video game because we knew a teenage
>>patient would be into it."
>>
>>The teen, who did not want his name used, suffers from severe epilepsy and
>>was experiencing daily seizures. Neurosurgeons had to remove a piece of his
>>skull to treat a small part of the brain causing the seizures.
>>
>>Researchers knew that with the brain exposed for the operation, they had a
>>rare opportunity to use it for a study of ultrahigh brain frequencies.
>>Leuthardt invited the teen to participate, and he agreed. The study is the
>>first of its kind on an adolescent, Leuthardt said.
>>
>>The teen was hospitalized to wait for a seizure to happen so doctors could
>>locate the problem and treat it.
>>
>>Wires attached to the surface of the teen's brain sent electric signals to a
>>computer to help them locate what part of the brain was causing the seizures
>>and remove it.
>>
>>Using those same wires, the teen was ready to try "Space Invaders," an early
>>video game in which the player tries to shoot down invading aliens amid a
>>counterattack.
>>
>>At first, the teen tapped his right hand to move his spacecraft one way, and
>>moved his tongue to move it another. Eventually, he was able to make those
>>movements on the video screen simply by using his brain. The "Space
>>Invaders" laser cannon fired continuously.
>>
>>Within hours, the teen shot his way to the third level of the game.
>>
>>"The real breakthrough with this project is the focus on higher frequencies
>>of the brain. That's where the secrets are," said Daniel Moran, an assistant
>>professor of biomedical engineering also involved in the multidiscipline
>>study.
>>
>>Leuthardt said it was too early tell, but it appeared the teenager could
>>master commands more quickly than adults.
>>
>>Washington University did similar experiments in 2004 with adults. In that
>>experiment, participants used only their brains to control a game similar to
>>the old arcade game "Pong."
>>
>>The study was exciting news for John Donoghue, co-founder of Cyberkinetics
>>Neurotechnology Systems. His Foxborough, Mass.-based company researches
>>alternative ways for the brain to communicate to the outside world using
>>devices that translate the brain's electric activity.
>>
>>Cyberkinetics was among the first to prove that a quadriplegic can drive a
>>wheelchair with his thoughts and a mute person can communicate sentences on
>>a computer without saying a word.
>>
>>"The idea of replacing missing biological connections with a physical bridge
>>will be moving very fast in the coming years with more research like this,"
>>Donoghue said.
>>.......................................
>>these are mediocre times and people are
>>losing hope. it's hard for many people
>>to believe that there are extraordinary
>>things inside themselves, as well as
>>others. i hope you can keep an open
>>mind.
>>  -- "unbreakable"
>>.......................................
>>_______________________________________________
>>games_access mailing list
>>games_access at igda.org
>>http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>>
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>games_access mailing list
>>games_access at igda.org
>>http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>>
>_______________________________________________
>games_access mailing list
>games_access at igda.org
>http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access


From arthit73 at cablespeed.com  Sat Oct 28 12:10:31 2006
From: arthit73 at cablespeed.com (Robert Florio)
Date: Sat, 28 Oct 2006 12:10:31 -0400
Subject: [games_access] inquiry gesturetek.com Florio to invite their
	technology
In-Reply-To: <p0623095ec168885e4b10@[192.168.1.100]>
Message-ID: <003401c6faab$98ee6630$6501a8c0@RobertFlorio>

http://www.gesturetek.com/ 

Above is the web site. At the unveiling of my painting of Baltimore blast
soccer star in Baltimore Museum Sports Legends Museum, in front of the
soccer exhibit there was on the ground a screen of a soccer ball and a net
on each side.  The device was on the ceiling projecting down with reflector
mirrors and sensors that pick up your feet movement so you could basically
kick the ball around into the net.  I thought this is excellent for people
in wheelchairs we can't use a lot of physical interaction like real soccer
balls so the computer takes care of that movement by just picking up your
reflective white shoes so I was able to have fun actually felt like I was
playing soccer and I made a goal with my feet.  I was playing with my three
year old nephew it was so much fun.

By the way I learned at the Museum this device they purchased from this
company was $30,000.  Ouch.!  There are contact numbers and for game
developers specifically on the web site I'd like to discuss which one are
who we should write to.  Would be great for the book.  I'd like to do that
research if I could.

Check out the web site above I would actually like to with sig permission,
put together a them dictation package represented by myself and our group to
see if they would donate to us one to take to our different conferences just
to demonstrate the potential.  It's great to let this company now where else
there product can be marketed but I'm afraid if we do that, and they
actually believed was like most companies don't or ever do go that way, they
will market millions on our ideas but at least we could get familiar with
their technology.

If you are familiar with the Eye Toy for PlayStation 2 I read their web site
they gave the technology for them to use and came up with that.  On their
web site they have ground effects and even mobile technology for cell phones
which is amazing maybe cell phones could be made accessible game play after
all for anyone with limited movement just by putting the phone in front of
you and picking up your movement or hand gesture something.

Any thoughts on that please let me know I'd like to write them not sure
exactly on what but somehow I want to get a hold of the technology because
implementing it for videogames like the eye Toy and just putting it on
before her anywhere else could bring a lot of people in wheelchairs together
interacting with video games on a huge scale like a gymnasium floor if you
could put it high enough.

Robert
www.RobertFlorio.com 
All about Art and Video Game Accessibility





From richard at audiogames.net  Sun Oct 29 04:08:55 2006
From: richard at audiogames.net (AudioGames.net)
Date: Sun, 29 Oct 2006 10:08:55 +0100
Subject: [games_access] Interesting News Bit
References: <20061026204334.AFZ55405@expms2.cites.uiuc.edu>
Message-ID: <03ab01c6fb39$dcec9e40$6402a8c0@Delletje>

Yeah, it's quite interesting. Barrie posted this news on 
Game-Accessibility.com about two weeks ago already and I put up a direct 
link to the footage in the video section back then:

http://www.game-accessibility.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=159
http://www.game-accessibility.com/index.php?pagefile=papers#multimedia 
(first link)

Greets,

Richard


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <hinn at uiuc.edu>
To: "IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List" <games_access at igda.org>
Sent: Friday, October 27, 2006 2:43 AM
Subject: [games_access] Interesting News Bit


> This just in from the AP -- sounds like we need to check out these 
> researchers at Wash U and invite them to the SIG! :)
>
> - Michelle
>
> Scientists Study Brain Using Video Game
>
> - - - - - - - - - - - -
>
> By JEFF DOUGLAS Associated Press Writer
>
> October 26,2006 | ST. LOUIS -- The teenager jukes missiles and blasts 
> aliens in the video game. But it's his brain, not his thumbs, doing all 
> the work. The 14-year-old, part of a study at Washington University, 
> played the old-school video game "Space Invaders" by simply using his 
> brain as a controller.
>
> Researchers hope the study ultimately leads to development of more 
> advanced devices that use brain commands to control things such as 
> artificial limbs and wheelchairs.
>
> "My real motivation for this is helping people with disabilities," said 
> Dr. Eric Leuthardt, an assistant professor of neurosurgery at the 
> university's School of Medicine. "We chose to do a video game because we 
> knew a teenage patient would be into it."
>
> The teen, who did not want his name used, suffers from severe epilepsy and 
> was experiencing daily seizures. Neurosurgeons had to remove a piece of 
> his skull to treat a small part of the brain causing the seizures.
>
> Researchers knew that with the brain exposed for the operation, they had a 
> rare opportunity to use it for a study of ultrahigh brain frequencies. 
> Leuthardt invited the teen to participate, and he agreed. The study is the 
> first of its kind on an adolescent, Leuthardt said.
>
> The teen was hospitalized to wait for a seizure to happen so doctors could 
> locate the problem and treat it.
>
> Wires attached to the surface of the teen's brain sent electric signals to 
> a computer to help them locate what part of the brain was causing the 
> seizures and remove it.
>
> Using those same wires, the teen was ready to try "Space Invaders," an 
> early video game in which the player tries to shoot down invading aliens 
> amid a counterattack.
>
> At first, the teen tapped his right hand to move his spacecraft one way, 
> and moved his tongue to move it another. Eventually, he was able to make 
> those movements on the video screen simply by using his brain. The "Space 
> Invaders" laser cannon fired continuously.
>
> Within hours, the teen shot his way to the third level of the game.
>
> "The real breakthrough with this project is the focus on higher 
> frequencies of the brain. That's where the secrets are," said Daniel 
> Moran, an assistant professor of biomedical engineering also involved in 
> the multidiscipline study.
>
> Leuthardt said it was too early tell, but it appeared the teenager could 
> master commands more quickly than adults.
>
> Washington University did similar experiments in 2004 with adults. In that 
> experiment, participants used only their brains to control a game similar 
> to the old arcade game "Pong."
>
> The study was exciting news for John Donoghue, co-founder of Cyberkinetics 
> Neurotechnology Systems. His Foxborough, Mass.-based company researches 
> alternative ways for the brain to communicate to the outside world using 
> devices that translate the brain's electric activity.
>
> Cyberkinetics was among the first to prove that a quadriplegic can drive a 
> wheelchair with his thoughts and a mute person can communicate sentences 
> on a computer without saying a word.
>
> "The idea of replacing missing biological connections with a physical 
> bridge will be moving very fast in the coming years with more research 
> like this," Donoghue said.
> .......................................
> these are mediocre times and people are
> losing hope. it's hard for many people
> to believe that there are extraordinary
> things inside themselves, as well as
> others. i hope you can keep an open
> mind.
> -- "unbreakable"
> .......................................
> _______________________________________________
> games_access mailing list
> games_access at igda.org
> http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access 



From barrie.ellis at oneswitch.org.uk  Sun Oct 29 06:51:51 2006
From: barrie.ellis at oneswitch.org.uk (Barrie Ellis)
Date: Sun, 29 Oct 2006 11:51:51 -0000
Subject: [games_access] GestureTek technology
References: <003401c6faab$98ee6630$6501a8c0@RobertFlorio>
Message-ID: <012201c6fb50$a0570210$0202a8c0@OneSwitch>

Interesting, although I think this stuff has been around for a very long 
time. Not quite sure how they have patented the concept. Myron Kruegar has 
been working with these concepts since the late 1960's alongside a fair few 
other artists.

http://switchgaming.blogspot.com/2006/06/video-place-myron-krueger-clip-from.html
http://switchgaming.blogspot.com/2006/06/mine-controlcom.html
http://switchgaming.blogspot.com/2006/06/shadow-monsters.html

However, I can't knock GestureTek for making these ideas more mainstream.

Barrie
www.OneSwitch.org.uk


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Florio" <arthit73 at cablespeed.com>
To: "'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'" <games_access at igda.org>
Sent: Saturday, October 28, 2006 4:10 PM
Subject: [games_access] inquiry gesturetek.com Florio to invite 
theirtechnology


> http://www.gesturetek.com/
>
> Above is the web site. At the unveiling of my painting of Baltimore blast
> soccer star in Baltimore Museum Sports Legends Museum, in front of the
> soccer exhibit there was on the ground a screen of a soccer ball and a net
> on each side.  The device was on the ceiling projecting down with 
> reflector
> mirrors and sensors that pick up your feet movement so you could basically
> kick the ball around into the net.  I thought this is excellent for people
> in wheelchairs we can't use a lot of physical interaction like real soccer
> balls so the computer takes care of that movement by just picking up your
> reflective white shoes so I was able to have fun actually felt like I was
> playing soccer and I made a goal with my feet.  I was playing with my 
> three
> year old nephew it was so much fun.
>
> By the way I learned at the Museum this device they purchased from this
> company was $30,000.  Ouch.!  There are contact numbers and for game
> developers specifically on the web site I'd like to discuss which one are
> who we should write to.  Would be great for the book.  I'd like to do that
> research if I could.
>
> Check out the web site above I would actually like to with sig permission,
> put together a them dictation package represented by myself and our group 
> to
> see if they would donate to us one to take to our different conferences 
> just
> to demonstrate the potential.  It's great to let this company now where 
> else
> there product can be marketed but I'm afraid if we do that, and they
> actually believed was like most companies don't or ever do go that way, 
> they
> will market millions on our ideas but at least we could get familiar with
> their technology.
>
> If you are familiar with the Eye Toy for PlayStation 2 I read their web 
> site
> they gave the technology for them to use and came up with that.  On their
> web site they have ground effects and even mobile technology for cell 
> phones
> which is amazing maybe cell phones could be made accessible game play 
> after
> all for anyone with limited movement just by putting the phone in front of
> you and picking up your movement or hand gesture something.
>
> Any thoughts on that please let me know I'd like to write them not sure
> exactly on what but somehow I want to get a hold of the technology because
> implementing it for videogames like the eye Toy and just putting it on
> before her anywhere else could bring a lot of people in wheelchairs 
> together
> interacting with video games on a huge scale like a gymnasium floor if you
> could put it high enough.
>
> Robert
> www.RobertFlorio.com
> All about Art and Video Game Accessibility





From arthit73 at cablespeed.com  Sun Oct 29 12:35:35 2006
From: arthit73 at cablespeed.com (Robert Florio)
Date: Sun, 29 Oct 2006 12:35:35 -0500
Subject: [games_access] inquiry gesturetek.com Florio to invite their
	technology
In-Reply-To: <03ab01c6fb39$dcec9e40$6402a8c0@Delletje>
Message-ID: <003f01c6fb80$a5e40e50$6501a8c0@RobertFlorio>

http://www.gesturetek.com/  

Above is the web site. At the unveiling of my painting of Baltimore blast
soccer star in Baltimore Museum Sports Legends Museum, in front of the
soccer exhibit there was on the ground a screen of a soccer ball and a net
on each side.  The device was on the ceiling projecting down with reflector
mirrors and sensors that pick up your feet movement so you could basically
kick the ball around into the net.  I thought this is excellent for people
in wheelchairs we can't use a lot of physical interaction like real soccer
balls so the computer takes care of that movement by just picking up your
reflective white shoes so I was able to have fun actually felt like I was
playing soccer and I made a goal with my feet.  I was playing with my three
year old nephew it was so much fun.

By the way I learned at the Museum this device they purchased from this
company was $30,000.  Ouch.!  There are contact numbers and for game
developers specifically on the web site I'd like to discuss which one are
who we should write to.  Would be great for the book.  I'd like to do that
research if I could.

Check out the web site above I would actually like to with sig permission,
put together a them dictation package represented by myself and our group to
see if they would donate to us one to take to our different conferences just
to demonstrate the potential.  It's great to let this company now where else
there product can be marketed but I'm afraid if we do that, and they
actually believed was like most companies don't or ever do go that way, they
will market millions on our ideas but at least we could get familiar with
their technology.

If you are familiar with the Eye Toy for PlayStation 2 I read their web site
they gave the technology for them to use and came up with that.  On their
web site they have ground effects and even mobile technology for cell phones
which is amazing maybe cell phones could be made accessible game play after
all for anyone with limited movement just by putting the phone in front of
you and picking up your movement or hand gesture something.

Any thoughts on that please let me know I'd like to write them not sure
exactly on what but somehow I want to get a hold of the technology because
implementing it for videogames like the eye Toy and just putting it on
before her anywhere else could bring a lot of people in wheelchairs together
interacting with video games on a huge scale like a gymnasium floor if you
could put it high enough.

Robert
www.RobertFlorio.com 
All about Art and Video Game Accessibility