[games_access] Games for Health to Invest in Games Accessibility

[hinn at uiuc.edu]

Speaking of Disabled Veterans -- that is something I have been including in all my talks because it's becoming THE biggest reason people write me right now. Games can be a way for some to literally want to try to live again -- it's a very powerful tool and can be the first step injured soldiers use to learn how to do the things that they loved before the war in a new way. It also puts the urgency in the accessibility issue -- if we are talking about changing someone's mindset into literally being suicidal to seeing a ways to enjoy life and wanting to keep living...it's a pretty powerful statement. And one that I talked to Stars and Stripes magazine about at E for All.

Michelle

---- Original message ----
>Date: Sat, 17 Nov 2007 06:07:30 -0500
>From: "bsawyer at dmill.com" <bsawyer at dmill.com>  
>Subject: Re: [games_access] Games for Health to Invest in Games Accessibility  
>To: games_access at igda.org, games_access at igda.org
>
>We've got it under control.  We've done this too many times.  This event
>will either be at one of the hotels we've booked or at the School of
>Medicine.  Either way no union contracts to worry about (we worry about
>those the following two days at the convention center but that's another
>problem) and we have registration set up, we have PR people on board, etc.
>
>We do need help with marketing but basically there I need you all to email
>people an invite we'll develop, and to blog about it, post on open forums,
>and send me contacts of people that I should talk to who might themselves
>send out emails, etc.  If there are useful press contacts in the
>accessibility/disability community, if there are mailing lists I can buy
>just send this data to me and I have people ready to follow up on it.
>
>Teresa Kanter from RWJF is also going to probably lurk on the list and work
>to identify her contacts from the government accessibility community as
>well.  I'm working my DoD contacts for names there as well since a lot of
>soldiers are living through injuries the percentage of casualties with
>disabilities is very high as some of you may know.
>
>
>Original Message:
>-----------------
>From:  hinn at uiuc.edu
>Date: Fri, 16 Nov 2007 16:31:26 -0600 (CST)
>To: games_access at igda.org
>Subject: Re: [games_access] Games for Health to Invest in Games
>Accessibility
>
>
>Yes, I agree -- just amongst the SIG we have plenty of content and if even
>a few of us reach out to other academics we could come up with an
>interesting program with not as much effort as we might think. This first
>year maybe it's all just personal emails and calls to colleagues to get
>things going with the idea that moving forward we work on a more open
>submission process for future years.
>
>At first glance a conference seems overwhelming but with you guys running
>all the things that some of us (like Eelke, Reid, Eitan) saw me having to
>figure out (all the union contracts...) at E for All, hopefully this will
>make people feel more at ease. I don't feel that nervous and after E for
>All I should be the MOST nervous of all! :)
>
>Michelle
>
>---- Original message ----
>>Date: Fri, 16 Nov 2007 17:24:01 -0500
>>From: Ben Sawyer <bsawyer at dmill.com>  
>>Subject: Re: [games_access] Games for Health to Invest in Games
>Accessibility  
>>To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List <games_access at igda.org>
>>
>>I think our offer to do the day before as a standalone daylong  
>>conference in May 2008 works - we will take care of everything but  
>>content.  We're prepared already to do it.  I just need conference  
>>material.  We're assuming all the financial risk.
>>
>>- Ben
>>
>>On Nov 16, 2007, at 5:17 PM, <hinn at uiuc.edu> wrote:
>>
>>> A couple comments -- I agree that it would be nice if we could have  
>>> a ways to see how many games we have directly impacted. This is  
>>> something like what Microsoft Research does as an alternative job  
>>> evaluation mechanism for those who largely work on a single project  
>>> that on it's own isn't "sellable" but is something that they can  
>>> show directly impacts, say, 1 game, excel, word, and 4 more  
>>> products. I don't see this as something to judge the "whole SIG" on  
>>> but it is one thing that could add to the overall picture.
>>>
>>> A conference by May 2008 might be tough -- this is something to  
>>> discuss. But an option is doing what other conferences have had  
>>> their start doing -- have those of us already doing research give  
>>> our papers but then the following year focus on getting more people  
>>> outside of the SIG through a submission process. Also, the IGDA is  
>>> very supportive of our SIG (and others) having a conference and  
>>> Jason has said that the management group they work with could also  
>>> help with all the stuff that's "too much" for us (ie, the  
>>> registrations, hotel space rentals, etc). That was we don't have  
>>> another E for All situation where I learn "all the things we never  
>>> wanted to know about expos" and then I'm personally out $5 grand. :|
>>>
>>> Michelle
>>>
>>> ---- Original message ----
>>>> Date: Fri, 16 Nov 2007 11:14:59 -0800
>>>> From: Eelke Folmer <eelke.folmer at gmail.com>
>>>> Subject: Re: [games_access] Games for Health to Invest in Games  
>>>> Accessibility
>>>> To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List <games_access at igda.org>
>>>>
>>>> Hi,
>>>>
>>>> This is great news! good job!
>>>>
>>>> - A good metric for this SIG's success could also be the number of
>>>> games that we were able to make more accessible. (Not by us but by
>>>> game developers).
>>>> - I am submitting a number of NSF proposals with the sole purpose to
>>>> gain more insights and understanding on what makes games more
>>>> accessible. I can share my personal research roadmap with you off the
>>>> mailinglist if you want.
>>>> - standalone conference;  I welcome a research oriented conferences,
>>>> since there is plenty of research to do in this area and It would be
>>>> nice to get more researchers involved in this SIG.  I would go but I
>>>> don't know whether we can attract the number of people that we would
>>>> like by as early as next may 2008.  I know some researchers that do
>>>> work in game accessibility but are not part of the SIG.
>>>>
>>>> Cheers Eelke
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Nov 16, 2007, at 5:54 AM, Ben Sawyer wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Hi everyone,
>>>>>
>>>>> I've got some big news.  As many of you saw Games for Health is
>>>>> part of a new round of investment by The Robert Wood Johnson
>>>>> Foundation into games and healthcare.  We're extremely excited
>>>>> about this new development.
>>>>>
>>>>> As part of our specific grant we have allocated resources
>>>>> specifically to support the IGDA Accessibility community.
>>>>>
>>>>> Over the next two years we will directly contribute funds to SIG
>>>>> activities.  The amount is set but I can't reveal it yet as much as
>>>>> I want to because I'm actually looking to make it more by finding
>>>>> some other organizations who will join us with matching funds.
>>>>> Right now I can tell you this - it's more then $10,000.
>>>>>
>>>>> The funds will be used to support your activities but there are of
>>>>> course some simple strings.  Basically the funds will be released
>>>>> once there is a written plan in place that provides for how and
>>>>> what the funds will be spent on.  That plan needs my approval and
>>>>> subsequently I have to have the approval of the foundation for all
>>>>> my work.  I don't want it to sound dictatorish -- I'm pretty
>>>>> liberal for what they should be used for but my basic goals are as
>>>>> follows:
>>>>>
>>>>> 1. I'd like to see the community double is size as outlined by some
>>>>> simple metrics (i.e. number of subscribers to the listserv, number
>>>>> of people in the industry you are in regular contact with, number
>>>>> of talks in front of audiences, etc.)
>>>>>
>>>>> 2. I'd like to see the community produce some written plans that
>>>>> outline roadmaps for better accessibility efforts -- especially
>>>>> research roadmap.
>>>>>
>>>>> 3. I want to establish a standalone conference on games
>>>>> accessibility attached to our Games for Health Conference (so we
>>>>> can combine logistics and hit on overlapping communities of  
>>>>> interest).
>>>>>
>>>>> 4. I am also specifically interested in identifying and doing what
>>>>> we can to nurture research into how accessibility to games improves
>>>>> people with disabilities mentally, socially, and physically.
>>>>> Eventually leading to some great empirical and evidence based
>>>>> research published - to the extent we don't already have this.
>>>>>
>>>>> Beyond those goals I look to everyone here in the community to
>>>>> really drive things.  So the restriction is the production of a
>>>>> plan that seems smartly aimed toward these goals.  Within that
>>>>> framework the funds can support travel subsidies, creating really
>>>>> nice brochures, improved Web site content and access, etc.
>>>>>
>>>>> I've already discussed the gist of this with Michelle and I've
>>>>> asked her to produce with everyones help the plan and present it to
>>>>> me before the end of the year.  The funds are for 2008 and 2009.
>>>>>
>>>>> Games Accessibility Conference
>>>>> I am very serious as I've said before in establishing a one-day
>>>>> conference on games accessibility along side our Games for Health
>>>>> Conference.  We have facilities, hotel blocks, registration
>>>>> systems, logistical support, massive PR support, already in place
>>>>> for this.
>>>>>
>>>>> The date to hold this would be May 7, 2008 which is the day before
>>>>> Games for Health opens.  It would be a one day conference with a
>>>>> single track to start and a demo area.  We would also probably
>>>>> feature 2 sessions on accessibility at Games for Health on Thursday
>>>>> and Friday.  I hope this date works for everyone as much as
>>>>> possible - I can't really move it.  Hopefully it just works as best
>>>>> it can.  In 2009 we hope to have more flexibility for you.
>>>>>
>>>>> I want the SIG to take on the role of developing the content.  My
>>>>> only stipulation is 25% of the content MUST be focused on talks
>>>>> that explore how accessibility technologies, research, and efforts
>>>>> can be applied to health for people with permanent, temporary, or
>>>>> on-setting disabilities.  The rest of the content can be focused on
>>>>> core needs, case studies, research, etc. that will improve the
>>>>> accessibility of games in general for any purpose -- especially
>>>>> entertainment.
>>>>>
>>>>> Speakers would attend for free.  All other registrants would be
>>>>> charged an amount <$200 to attend.  My goal is that the event be
>>>>> break-even or even profitable within itself.  I would share 50% of
>>>>> the profits from the event back to the SIG by adding it to the
>>>>> grant funds we have available.  The other funds if there is a
>>>>> profit would be reinvested for planning the following year, etc.
>>>>>
>>>>> We very much want to make this event happen.  The Robert Wood
>>>>> Johnson Foundation team we work with has someone on it with deep
>>>>> contacts in the accessibility community and is going to talk with a
>>>>> variety of government agencies involved with accessibility to drive
>>>>> them to support this event.  That becomes a doorway to driving them
>>>>> to support more pervasive accessibility activities.
>>>>>
>>>>> We will be promoting this event heavily to all our attendees.  We
>>>>> will be filming parts of it, we will make an expo area available to
>>>>> showcase work, and we will have dedicated PR staff on the event.
>>>>>
>>>>> The event is to be held in Baltimore, MD which is served by
>>>>> Southwest Airlines which makes it pretty inexpensive to get to.  We
>>>>> are also quite proximate to the federal government which is a big
>>>>> plus.  We've got two hotels blocked out and we're searching for an
>>>>> ultra inexpensive block as well.
>>>>>
>>>>> My goal is to have 50-100 people attend the event.  My hopes are
>>>>> 25-50% stay over for the rest of our event that week so yes from a
>>>>> total transparency standpoint I'm hoping this increases my
>>>>> conference's core profitability.  Win-win.
>>>>>
>>>>> If there is a good sense we can pull of the conference idea as
>>>>> planned I want to make it part of our conference announcements in
>>>>> the coming weeks.  I also will be including games accessibility in
>>>>> our call for content next week.  We expect to then forward those
>>>>> papers to a committee formed here to accept and mold that content.
>>>>> I will advise you on content just from my experience of organizing
>>>>> events but other then the 25% requirement I really leave it to you
>>>>> as the experts to decide what will be important for people to hear
>>>>> and learn from.
>>>>>
>>>>> BIG NEEDS
>>>>> So hopefully you're still digesting this all but the reason I'm
>>>>> writing this all and providing as much information as I can is I
>>>>> need the following help - please reply to the list with your  
>>>>> thoughts:
>>>>>
>>>>> 1. I do need general feedback - ask questions, provide comments, I
>>>>> will do my best to answer them.
>>>>>
>>>>> 2. I need NAMES of people you think are in a position or at
>>>>> organizations in a position to possibly decide to match our funds.
>>>>> I really want our funds to catalyze others to chip in.  There is no
>>>>> reason this can't eventually snowball to generate over $100,000 or
>>>>> more in due time.  At least that's my hope.
>>>>>
>>>>> I am already reaching out to Microsoft, Intel, Cisco, IBM and a few
>>>>> others.  The early reception has been ok but until we release this
>>>>> more publicly I expect things to be slow to develop.  If you give
>>>>> me more names I'll follow up hard.
>>>>>
>>>>> FUTURE PLANS
>>>>> The basic outline for this all for me is as follows:
>>>>>
>>>>> 1. I want to announce the funds and the goals for them before
>>>>> Xmas.  My goal is we have 2 other funders matching 50% or more of
>>>>> the funds by then so they can be named in the Press Release.
>>>>>
>>>>> 2. I want to then announce in the press release that the original
>>>>> funders are challenging anyone else with resources to join this
>>>>> funding -- as part of this I was thinking it'd be cool to setup an
>>>>> individual fundraising effort too - let gamers, and individual
>>>>> developers provide funds to match the larger gifts.
>>>>>
>>>>> 3. In order to accomplish points 1 & 2 the goal would be to have a
>>>>> basic plan in place because the core goals of that plan would be
>>>>> articulated to the public so they can understand what the funds
>>>>> will hopefully accomplish.  Ultimately if we raised enough my hopes
>>>>> are it would accomplish funding development of more accessibility
>>>>> technologies, standards, and SDKs to make it easier for all game
>>>>> developers to put these features in their games.  I also hope it
>>>>> might fund prototypes or games that are specific for people with
>>>>> disabilities like some of the audio only games we've seen from the
>>>>> community thus far.
>>>>>
>>>>> THANK YOU
>>>>> I've been following the work of the SIG and all of you here for
>>>>> sometime.  As I've said many times the work here is extremely
>>>>> relevant to the work I do on serious games, and games for health.
>>>>> I've been hoping to bring some funds to the table to help and while
>>>>> it's not as much as I wanted if I can parlay it with your help into
>>>>> a large enough amount it hopefully can help be the fuel for the
>>>>> spark you've more then created.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thank you all,
>>>>>
>>>>> Ben
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> 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
>>> .......................................
>>> 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
>.......................................
>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
>
>--------------------------------------------------------------------
>mail2web.com - Microsoft® Exchange solutions from a leading provider -
>http://link.mail2web.com/Business/Exchange
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>games_access mailing list
>games_access at igda.org
>http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
.......................................
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"
.......................................