[games_access] language thread, was The Human Controller
Kestrell
kestrell at panix.com
Sun Jun 15 17:20:13 EDT 2008
Thomas,
As has already been demonstrated on this list, people don't always agree
with each other about which is the most proper term to use, and people have
sometimes disagreed with me about the terms I use.
That being said, I use the phrase "blind or visually-impaired" BVI as an
acronym. Low-vision is another term I have often heard used, and the term I
use to refer to the level of vision I had before I became blind.
Kes
Reading in the Dark
http://kestrell.livejournal.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Thomas Westin" <thomas at pininteractive.com>
To: "IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List" <games_access at igda.org>
Sent: Sunday, June 15, 2008 4:53 PM
Subject: Re: [games_access] language thread, was The Human Controller
> Hi Kes,
>
> OK that is interesting, as I have heard the opposite before about blind
> prefering the sight disabled term, but perhaps this has changed over the
> years? Or perhaps something only in Sweden :)
>
> However, hen talking about both blind and low-vision, would you prefer
> saying "blind and low-vision" rather than sight disabled?
>
> Kind regards
> Thomas
>
>
>
> On 15 jun 2008, at 20.42, Kestrell wrote:
>
>> Thomas,
>>
>> I'm a blind media scholar and technology advocate, and I actually prefer
>> the term "blind" as it seems to me the most descriptive term for the
>> complete lack of eyesight that I have (I have two prosthetic eyes, so I
>> am, as I sometimes end up saying, "really blind" (this after the
>> argument I have every so often with people who say, "But you're not
>> *really* blind, right? You have some vision, right? I mean, you look at
>> me when I'm talking...").
>>
>> I don't find the word "blind" an offensive word; it is the assumptions
>> people make about the effects of blindness that sometimes make me
>> boggle.
>>
>> Kes
>> Reading in the Dark
>> http://kestrell.livejournal.com
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Thomas Westin"
>> <thomas at pininteractive.com
>> >
>> To: "IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List" <games_access at igda.org>
>> Sent: Sunday, June 15, 2008 2:17 PM
>> Subject: Re: [games_access] language thread, was The Human Controller
>>
>>
>>> Yes I agree that WHO definition is a medical definition, and that from
>>> a social point of view, it may not work. I know (Reid may correct me)
>>> that deaf people prefer the term deaf, instead of hearing disabled;
>>> sight disabled though, prefer sight disabled rather than blind. So it
>>> seems different disability groups have different preferences about
>>> this too.
>>>
>>> Anyway, this is mostly an academic discussion, and it would be great
>>> to know how disabled gamers, from different groups would like to be
>>> referred. If the word handicap is wrongly percieved as Barrie says,
>>> then it definitely is not a term we should use. We must be aware
>>> though that different groups will have different perception about
>>> this. I.e when talking at a conference like Games for Health, were the
>>> audience is likely to include medical people, an explanation of this
>>> may be needed, i.e how "our" defintion differs from the WHO definition.
>>>
>>> In the same line of discussion, the former "Swedish Handicap
>>> Institute", is now called "Swedish Institute of Assistive Technology"
>>>
>>> In the end, we are all disabled, it's only a matter of context. Try
>>> scuba diving without scube equipment, or parachuting without a
>>> parachute :)
>>>
>>> /Thomas
>>>
>>>
>>> On 14 jun 2008, at 21.23, Reid Kimball wrote:
>>>
>>>> I agree with Barrie and I'd like to expand the idea of "right to fun"
>>>> to something bigger. The right to fun is one part of a larger right to
>>>> participate in society. As games become more culturally relevant to a
>>>> society, they will help us examine and participate in the shaping of
>>>> who we are as people. If we neglect to include everyone in this
>>>> examination and participation, we won't become the kind of society we
>>>> ought to become.
>>>>
>>>> -Reid
>>>>
>>>> On Sat, Jun 14, 2008 at 1:02 AM, Barrie Ellis
>>>> <barrie.ellis at oneswitch.org.uk> wrote:
>>>>> Again - I would say that in the UK - the word Handicap is now
>>>>> generally tied
>>>>> up with a lot of negative baggage. Many believe (wrongly or rightly)
>>>>> that
>>>>> it's linked to "cap in hand" begging - others consider it an
>>>>> inherently
>>>>> negative word anyway. As Reid said - if you remove the barriers from
>>>>> a
>>>>> "disabled person" - in context - you'll just describe them as a
>>>>> person...
>>>>> That's what we're aiming at - smashing the barriers.
>>>>>
>>>>> Also - the W.H.O. is a medical based organisation. Accessible gaming
>>>>> to me
>>>>> will always be about social rights - and not about medical
>>>>> conditions. A
>>>>> gamer has these abilities - so how can they play game X,Y,Z? Am I
>>>>> repeating
>>>>> myself?! (I'll shut up after this for a bit I promise): The right to
>>>>> fun.
>>>>>
>>>>> Barrie
>>>>> www.OneSwitch.org.uk
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Eelke Folmer"
>>>>> <eelke.folmer at gmail.com
>>>>> >
>>>>> To: "IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List" <games_access at igda.org
>>>>> >
>>>>> Sent: Friday, June 13, 2008 5:39 PM
>>>>> Subject: Re: [games_access] language thread, was The Human Controller
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> Hi Thomas,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I never really thought about the difference but your taxonomy seems
>>>>>> intuitive and straightforward.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Cheers Eelke
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On 12/06/2008, Thomas Westin <thomas at pininteractive.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Hi,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> The World Health Organization has a definition which makes a
>>>>>>> difference
>>>>>>> between disability and handicap, where disability is related to the
>>>>>>> individual, while handicap is related to the environment. In other
>>>>>>> words,
>>>>>>> if
>>>>>>> you're in a wheel chair, you are handicapped in a building with
>>>>>>> high
>>>>>>> thresholds. By removing the thresholds (read: making it
>>>>>>> accessible) you
>>>>>>> remove the handicap, but you are still disabled.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I think that is a good distinction
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Kind regards
>>>>>>> Thomas
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On 11 jun 2008, at 18.59, Barrie Ellis wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Language is a contentious issue and I respect that you have a
>>>>>>> different
>>>>>>> opinion, Matthias. I just personally feel that certain phrases
>>>>>>> don't
>>>>>>> particularly tie up with disability rights - which is what the Game
>>>>>>> Accessibility movement is all about to my mind. I still feel that
>>>>>>> you are
>>>>>>> approaching this field from a Medical standpoint - rather that a
>>>>>>> Social
>>>>>>> rights stand point.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Barrie
>>>>>>> www.OneSwitch.org.uk
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>>> From: Matthias Troup
>>>>>>> To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
>>>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2008 5:28 PM
>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [games_access] language thread, was The Human
>>>>>>> Controller
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Kestrel, Perhaps I (and others) read it as this: If these are
>>>>>>> people
>>>>>>> without disabilities in the offensive sense... who aren't
>>>>>>> suffering in
>>>>>>> their
>>>>>>> environment... what would they need help with, and why would
>>>>>>> anyone be
>>>>>>> helping? I think Eitans choice of words is fine since his cause
>>>>>>> was a
>>>>>>> constructive effort for accessibility. At least, I feel hints of
>>>>>>> emotion
>>>>>>> help make any thesis a little less dry.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> From: kestrell at panix.com
>>>>>>>> To: games_access at igda.org
>>>>>>>> Date: Wed, 11 Jun 2008 11:57:14 -0400
>>>>>>>> Subject: [games_access] language thread, was The Human Controller
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Regarding appropriate language, I'm not sure I see where you are
>>>>>>> disagreeing
>>>>>>>> with my original post. I used the word "disability," and the site
>>>>>>>> you
>>>>>>> linked
>>>>>>>> to, which the wonderful BBC online disability magazine, Ouch!,
>>>>>>>> also >
>>>>>>>> uses
>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>> word "disability." I totally agree with the list provided in the >
>>>>>>>> article
>>>>>>> as
>>>>>>>> being offensive words, including the word "special."
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Granted the fifth day of ninety degree weather here in Boston is >
>>>>>>>> melting
>>>>>>> my
>>>>>>>> brain, but what did I miss?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Kes
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>>>> From: "Barrie Ellis" <barrie.ellis at oneswitch.org.uk>
>>>>>>>> To: "IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List"
>>>>>>>> <games_access at igda.org
>>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2008 2:54 AM
>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [games_access] The Human Controller
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Hi Eitan,
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I actually disagree with Kestrell's "people first stand point"
>>>>>>>>> with
>>>>>>>>> "people with disabilities" (although I did used to use it
>>>>>>>>> myself). >
>>>>>>>>>> I've
>>>>>>>>> long since prefered "disabled people" linking to people being
>>>>>>>>> > >
>>>>>>>>> disabled
>>>>>>> by
>>>>>>>>> society / the inaccessibility of their environment.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Take a look through this item:
>>>>>>>>> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/3708576.stm.
>>>>>>>>> Plus this on the Social Model and Medical Model of diability:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> http://inclusion.uwe.ac.uk/inclusionweek/articles/socmod.htm
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Barrie
>>>>>>>>> www.OneSwitch.org.uk
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>>>>> From: "Kestrell" <kestrell at panix.com>
>>>>>>>>> To: "IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List" > >
>>>>>>>>> <games_access at igda.org>
>>>>>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, June 10, 2008 11:42 PM
>>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [games_access] The Human Controller
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Eitan,
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> I seem to have missed your original post in which you posted
>>>>>>>>>> the >
>>>>>>>>>>>> link,
>>>>>>>>>> but here are some thoughts on language and disability:
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Certain words and phrases tend to really be button words, as in
>>>>>>>>>> they
>>>>>>> will
>>>>>>>>>> typically hit many readers' buttons, and the phrase "suffering
>>>>>>>>>> from"
>>>>>>>>>>>>> is
>>>>>>>>>> definitely one of those phrases. Often the phrase can be deleted
>>>>>>>>>> altogether, leaving the phrase "people with disabilities" or
>>>>>>>>>> "people
>>>>>>> with
>>>>>>>>>> visual impairments" or "visually-impaired gamers," etc. The
>>>>>>>>>> informal
>>>>>>> rule
>>>>>>>>>> is that the individuals you are discussing are "people first,"
>>>>>>>>>> as
>>>>>>>>>> mentioned in this online article
>>>>>>>>>> http://iod.unh.edu/press.html
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> and here is a link which includes links to writing about
>>>>>>>>>> disability,
>>>>>>>>>> language to use in interviewing people with disabilities, and
>>>>>>>>>> more
>>>>>>>>>> resources
>>>>>>>>>> http://ncdj.org/links.html
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Kes
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> ---- Original Message -----
>>>>>>>>>> From: "Eitan Glinert" <glinert at mit.edu>
>>>>>>>>>> To: "IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List" > >>
>>>>>>>>>> <games_access at igda.org>
>>>>>>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, June 10, 2008 4:29 PM
>>>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [games_access] The Human Controller
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Wow, awesome! Thanks for the feedback, I think you are the
>>>>>>>>>>> only >
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> person
>>>>>>>>>>> outside of MIT to have actually read this. Comments below.
>>>>>>>>>>> Eitan
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> On Mon, Jun 9, 2008 at 6:48 PM, Barrie Ellis
>>>>>>>>>>> <barrie.ellis at oneswitch.org.uk> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>> Hi Eitan,
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> I've read through your thesis "The Human Controller"...
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> Had these thoughts...
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> Didn't like some of the language used. "Suffering from -
>>>>>>>>>>>> impaired
>>>>>>>>>>>> people -
>>>>>>>>>>>> handicapped". All pretty crusty old terms with negative >
>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> connotations.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> EG: Point taken. Any suggestions for better terms?<<<
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> Not sure about the controller analysis in Chapter 1 - there's
>>>>>>>>>>>> been
>>>>>>>>>>>> Driving
>>>>>>>>>>>> controllers and light guns since the 70's for many games >
>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> consoles -
>>>>>>>>>>>> which
>>>>>>>>>>>> are fairly natural feeling interfaces and have been popular
>>>>>>>>>>>> in the
>>>>>>>>>>>> past.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> EG: I guess in chapter one I'm trying to draw general
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> strokes >
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> about
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> UIs, saying that they generally weren't adopted by a
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> mainstream
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> audience. Perhaps I should make this more explicit,
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> though<<<
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> "Even if it is possible to remap controls it is not always >
>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> advisable
>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>>>>>> do
>>>>>>>>>>>> so. Frequently part of the fun of a game is the interface, and
>>>>>>> changing
>>>>>>>>>>>> it
>>>>>>>>>>>> without forethought is potentially detrimental. In the
>>>>>>>>>>>> pervious
>>>>>>> example
>>>>>>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>>>>>>> Wii Sports tennis part of the fun is actually swinging the >
>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> controller
>>>>>>>>>>>> as if
>>>>>>>>>>>> it were a racket. If this functionality were changed to
>>>>>>>>>>>> pressing a
>>>>>>>>>>>> button
>>>>>>>>>>>> then much of the game's charm and fun would be lost.". I'm
>>>>>>>>>>>> not >
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> happy
>>>>>>>>>>>> with
>>>>>>>>>>>> this statement personally - I'd like to see multiple- layers of
>>>>>>>>>>>> accessibility
>>>>>>>>>>>> (much like Dimitris "Parallel Universes" theory). Why can't a
>>>>>>>>>>>> four
>>>>>>>>>>>> player
>>>>>>>>>>>> game of Wii Sports allow player 1 to use the Wii-remote -
>>>>>>>>>>>> player 2
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>>>>>> use a
>>>>>>>>>>>> standard JoyPad - player 3 to use a single button and player
>>>>>>>>>>>> 4 to
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> use
>>>>>>>>>>>> an
>>>>>>>>>>>> adapted Wii-remote with blue-tooth stereo head-set to relay
>>>>>>>>>>>> personalised
>>>>>>>>>>>> timing sounds (think of live singers having a click track
>>>>>>>>>>>> that >
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> only
>>>>>>>>>>>> they can
>>>>>>>>>>>> hear) in an ideal world? You mention this type of thing later
>>>>>>>>>>>> as >
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> if
>>>>>>>>>>>> it's a
>>>>>>>>>>>> good thing - so I find this early statement a bit overly
>>>>>>>>>>>> negative.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> EG: I agree with what you say, which is why I discuss such
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> themes
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> in
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> chapter 2. I guess the reason I have that negative
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> statement >
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> early
>>>>>>> on
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> is because I wanted to acknowledge the tradeoff early on,
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> even
>>>>>>> before
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I get to the sections on tradeoffs. I also wanted to make
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> it >
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> clear
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> that I don't feel accessibility is a magic bullet, even if
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> it is
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> almost always applicable.<<<
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> "Games have evolved tremendously over the past few decades, as
>>>>>>>>>>>> advancements
>>>>>>>>>>>> in technology have led to amazingly realistic and engaging >
>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> offerings,
>>>>>>>>>>>> while
>>>>>>>>>>>> shifts in player demographics indicate the widespread
>>>>>>>>>>>> popularity >
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>>>>>>> video
>>>>>>>>>>>> games. Despite these changes many different disabled groups
>>>>>>>>>>>> are >
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> still
>>>>>>>>>>>> unable
>>>>>>>>>>>> to play most titles due to inaccessible UIs.." - Would argue
>>>>>>>>>>>> that
>>>>>>> too.
>>>>>>>>>>>> I'd
>>>>>>>>>>>> agree that most Blind gamers would be in that boat (those
>>>>>>>>>>>> with >
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> very
>>>>>>>>>>>> little
>>>>>>>>>>>> usable sight) - but a better statement might have been "many
>>>>>>> different
>>>>>>>>>>>> disabled groups are faced with deeply frustrating barriers
>>>>>>>>>>>> with >
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> many
>>>>>>>>>>>> main-stream games". I know Deaf gamers might struggle at
>>>>>>>>>>>> certain
>>>>>>> points
>>>>>>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>>>>>>> certain games - and gamers using a single button frequently
>>>>>>>>>>>> have >
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>>>>>> rely
>>>>>>>>>>>> upon a friend/helper to take on extra controls and so on -
>>>>>>>>>>>> but >
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> they
>>>>>>> can
>>>>>>>>>>>> still play.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> EG: Good suggestion, thanks! I might make a change to the >
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> argument
>>>>>>> on
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> the online version.<<<
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> Chaper 2
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> "Game controls should be as simple as possible, but no
>>>>>>>>>>>> simpler." -
>>>>>>> Not
>>>>>>>>>>>> really sure what you're saying here.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> EG: Simplicity is good, but you don't want to go overboard.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> You
>>>>>>> don't
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> want to cut out critical game elements or features in the
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> name of
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> "cleaner" UI. Maybe that's not clear? <<<
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> 2.5 "a rhythm title like Guitar Hero which focuses on music
>>>>>>>>>>>> will >
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> not
>>>>>>>>>>>> work
>>>>>>>>>>>> for the hearing impaired, and it is probably not possible to
>>>>>>>>>>>> make
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> an
>>>>>>>>>>>> accessible version." - I don't agree with this. Deaf gamers
>>>>>>>>>>>> as a
>>>>>>> whole
>>>>>>>>>>>> covers a very broad range of hearing ability. There will be
>>>>>>>>>>>> many >
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> deaf
>>>>>>>>>>>> gamers
>>>>>>>>>>>> perfectly able to play Guitar Hero. Even those unable to hear
>>>>>>>>>>>> at >
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> all
>>>>>>>>>>>> might
>>>>>>>>>>>> enjoy such a game - did you see Deaf Gamers 8.5/10 review
>>>>>>>>>>>> score:
>>>>>>>>>>>> http://www.deafgamers.com/07reviews_a/gh3_x360.html
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> EG: Wow, I flubbed this one. I'm going to have to change the
>>>>>>> language
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> on this. Good catch, thanks!<<<
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> But aside from this, I frequently found myself in full
>>>>>>>>>>>> agreement >
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> with
>>>>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>>>> majority of your thesis - and did enjoy reading it. Thanks
>>>>>>>>>>>> for >
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> making
>>>>>>>>>>>> it
>>>>>>>>>>>> publicly available.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Great, thanks so much!<<<
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> Barrie
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Eitan Glinert" > >>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> <glinert at mit.edu>
>>>>>>>>>>>> To: "IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List"
>>>>>>> <games_access at igda.org>
>>>>>>>>>>>> Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2008 10:50 PM
>>>>>>>>>>>> Subject: [games_access] The Human Controller
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Good news, everyone! In a surprise twist, I'm graduating! I
>>>>>>>>>>>>> know
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>> lot
>>>>>>>>>>>>> of you are interested in my thesis, so you can check it out
>>>>>>>>>>>>> at
>>>>>>>>>>>>> web.mit.edu/glinert/www/thesis . I'm happy to answer
>>>>>>>>>>>>> questions >
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> about
>>>>>>>>>>>>> it, and I welcome feedback (both positive and negative).
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Special
>>>>>>>>>>>>> thanks to Dimitris, Eelke, Michelle, and Reid for all their
>>>>>>>>>>>>> help
>>>>>>>>>>>>> answering my questions over the months.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> In case you're not sure whether it is worth reading, here's
>>>>>>>>>>>>> some
>>>>>>> more
>>>>>>>>>>>>> info:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> TITLE: The Human Controller: Usability and Accessibility in
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Video
>>>>>>> Game
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Interfaces
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> ABSTRACT:
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Despite the advances in user interfaces and the new gaming >
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> genres,
>>>>>>> not
>>>>>>>>>>>>> all people can play all games - disabled people are
>>>>>>>>>>>>> frequently
>>>>>>>>>>>>> excluded from game play experiences. On the one hand this
>>>>>>>>>>>>> adds to
>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>>>>> list of discriminations disabled people face in our society,
>>>>>>>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> while
>>>>>>> on
>>>>>>>>>>>>> the other hand actively including them potentially results
>>>>>>>>>>>>> in >
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> games
>>>>>>>>>>>>> that are better for everyone. The largest hurdle to
>>>>>>>>>>>>> involvement >
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> is
>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>>>>> user interface, or how a player interacts with the game. >
>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Analyzing
>>>>>>>>>>>>> usability and adhering to accessibility design principles
>>>>>>>>>>>>> makes >
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> it
>>>>>>>>>>>>> both possible and practical to develop fun and engaging game
>>>>>>>>>>>>> user
>>>>>>>>>>>>> interfaces that a broader range of the population can play.
>>>>>>>>>>>>> To
>>>>>>>>>>>>> demonstrate these principles we created AudiOdyssey, a PC
>>>>>>>>>>>>> rhythm
>>>>>>> game
>>>>>>>>>>>>> that is accessible to both sighted and non-sighted
>>>>>>>>>>>>> audiences. By
>>>>>>>>>>>>> following accessibility guidelines we incorporated a novel
>>>>>>> combination
>>>>>>>>>>>>> of features resulting in a similar play experience for both >
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> groups.
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Testing AudiOdyssey yielded useful insights into which
>>>>>>>>>>>>> interface
>>>>>>>>>>>>> elements work and which don't work for all users. Finally a
>>>>>>>>>>>>> case
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> is
>>>>>>>>>>>>> made for considering accessibility when designing future
>>>>>>>>>>>>> versions
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>>>>>>>> gaming user interfaces, and speculative scenarios are
>>>>>>>>>>>>> presented >
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> for
>>>>>>>>>>>>> what such interfaces might look like.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Eitan
>>>>>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>>>>> 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
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>> games_access mailing list
>>>>>>>> games_access at igda.org
>>>>>>>> http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ________________________________
>>>>>>> Search that pays you back! Introducing Live Search cashback.
>>>>>>> Search Now!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ________________________________
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> 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
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>>
>>>>>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>>> Eelke Folmer Assistant Professor
>>>>>> Department of CS&E/171
>>>>>> University of Nevada Reno, Nevada 89557
>>>>>> Game interaction design www.eelke.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
>
> _______________________________________________
> games_access mailing list
> games_access at igda.org
> http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
More information about the games_access
mailing list