[games_access] Project Natal: Microsoft's Alternative Controller

Sat Jun 6 23:13:30 EDT 2009

They aren't just interested in the peripheral. They invited me to give a series of talks on accessibility overall.

---- Original message ----
>Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 22:51:33 +0100
>From: "Barrie Ellis" <barrie.ellis at oneswitch.org.uk>  
>Subject: Re: [games_access] Project Natal: Microsoft's Alternative Controller  
>To: "IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List" <games_access at igda.org>
>
>I don't quite understand that either - but if we've got their ear - then 
>let's make the most of it!
>
>We can use Forza 3's as an example of some of what we'd like to see more of 
>too:
>
>http://switchgaming.blogspot.com/2009/06/forza-3-one-switch-mode.html
>
>Barrie
>www.oneswitch.org.uk
>
>
>----- Original Message ----- 
>From: "Reid Kimball" <rkimball at gmail.com>
>To: "IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List" <games_access at igda.org>
>Sent: Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:36 PM
>Subject: Re: [games_access] Project Natal: Microsoft's Alternative 
>Controller
>
>
>I don't understand why MS is interested in hearing about accessibility
>issues for only one peripheral. Why not for their whole console? They
>need to get developers to allow reconfigurable controls, text scaling,
>closed captioning with tinted background so text is easier to read,
>etc.
>
>-Reid
>
>On Wed, Jun 3, 2009 at 1:54 PM,  <hinn at illinois.edu> wrote:
>> Hey Richard!
>>
>> It would be totally appropriate to have an on list discussion now that 
>> it's been announced! That wouldn't break any NDAs -- I'm glad to be able 
>> to finally talk about it! I don't know everything about it and can't say 
>> some stuff but what's out there about it from the press release is way 
>> more than enough information to start with!
>>
>> I offer the off-list option to those who may not feel comfortable 
>> discussing something on list but everyone should feel free to contribute 
>> to an onlist discussion! I encourage it! This isn't for a story -- it's to 
>> go directly to their engineers. So we're reaching out to as many people as 
>> we can so that we have loads of input for them! On AbleGamers we're hoping 
>> to get lots of input from the community of game players and on here we 
>> need all the expertise from everyone in the design and research world.
>>
>> And, yes, this is worth surviving death for! Finally we're getting through 
>> to a console company!! :) I think with both AbleGamers and the SIG pushing 
>> for so long we finally found our way in to make real change happen! Again, 
>> it's a great day for the accessibility movement!!
>>
>> Michelle
>>
>> ---- Original message ----
>>>Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 22:43:02 +0200
>>>From: "AudioGames.net" <richard at audiogames.net>
>>>Subject: Re: [games_access] Project Natal: Microsoft's Alternative 
>>>Controller
>>>To: "IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List" <games_access at igda.org>
>>>
>>>Hey!
>>>
>>>:):):) This really is great news*! Congratz!!! (Unless it's inappropiate
>>>toward our current relationship with MS of course but) I wouldn't mind to
>>>have an on-list conversation about the concerns and possibilities of 
>>>Natal.
>>>I'm eager to hear all of your opinions :) I think game accessibility can
>>>surely benefit from this technology and that it definitely can be used to
>>>include new gamers with impairments who are now left out. I guess this 
>>>would
>>>still require good implementation and application of the technology, to
>>>which I hope this community can contribute :) Can't wait to see how Natal
>>>can be used to make games more accessible for sight-impaired gamers!
>>>
>>>Cheers :)
>>>
>>>Ries
>>>
>>>
>>>*and worth surviving death, eh? Glad to hear again from you, M... :)
>>>
>>>
>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>From: <hinn at illinois.edu>
>>>To: "IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List" <games_access at igda.org>
>>>Sent: Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:17 PM
>>>Subject: Re: [games_access] Project Natal: Microsoft's Alternative
>>>Controller
>>>
>>>
>>>Thanks everyone! As I mentioned before, I will be speaking in Redmond in a
>>>few weeks (a reschedule from a few weeks ago due to emergency surgery I 
>>>had)
>>>about it and game accessibility. I used to work for Microsoft and have had 
>>>a
>>>long standing relationship with them so they invited me to talk on behalf 
>>>of
>>>AbleGamers and the IGDA SIG.
>>>
>>>I'll be having one-on-one and group meetings with several of their 
>>>engineers
>>>on the project, etc. in addition to my two schedule talks. If anyone would
>>>like me to cover a particular concern, please email me off-list at
>>>hinn at uiuc.edu and we can discuss your concerns in more detail so that I 
>>>have
>>>more information to give the engineers that would go beyond media 
>>>coverage.
>>>This is definitely our chance to get information directly to those who can
>>>make changes happen now! It actually worked out better to have had to 
>>>delay
>>>the talk because now we can all talk about it on here and off-list BEFORE 
>>>I
>>>go so that I can help make sure that they know everything they can to make
>>>this project as accessible as possible. Yay! This is going to be a big win
>>>for the movement, I know it!
>>>
>>>I have been working with Microsoft and AbleGamers for a long time now on
>>>this but due to an NDA none of us who were included in the conversation 
>>>were
>>>able to mention anything about the project -- now that it's been announced
>>>we can say that we knew it existed but nothing else that they haven't
>>>already told the public. Please feel free to email Mark Barlet
>>>(mark at ablegamers.com) as well with comments that we can get to their
>>>engineers -- I can reveal now that he's the only other person that was
>>>involved outside Microsoft. :) They reached out to both of us as 
>>>individuals
>>>and we've been working together ever since.
>>>
>>>Microsoft is the first console company who has involved any of us in the
>>>game accessibility movement at this level and this is exciting! I'm glad 
>>>the
>>>announcement finally came out so that we can now freely discuss the 
>>>project!
>>>Don't let this chance pass us by -- let me know what you are thinking so 
>>>we
>>>can get information to those in positions of power at Microsoft to make
>>>change happen!
>>>
>>>Michelle
>>>
>>>---- Original message ----
>>>>Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 11:54:10 -0400
>>>>From: Mark Barlet <mark at ablegamers.com>
>>>>Subject: Re: [games_access] Project Natal: Microsoft's Alternative
>>>>Controller
>>>>To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List <games_access at igda.org>
>>>>
>>>> we did a stroy on it the day it was announced and
>>>> there are some great comments from the community
>>>> that may be worth taking a look at.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> http://ablegamers.com/xbox-360-news/571-natal-be-a-disabled-gaming-revolution.html
>>>>
>>>> Mark
>>>>
>>>> On Wed, Jun 3, 2009 at 11:49 AM, Nathalie Caron
>>>> <nathalie at gamefwd.org> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> I am preparing an article on the subject and will
>>>> be contacting Microsoft with some questions.
>>>>
>>>> If you have some you'd like answered about this
>>>> technology, please let me know asap and I will
>>>> include them.
>>>>
>>>> NC
>>>>
>>>> On Wed, Jun 3, 2009 at 3:44 AM, David Colven
>>>> <Colven at ace-centre.org.uk> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> I have hopes that it may be a useful tool for
>>>> people with Asperger's
>>>> syndrome or similar inter-personal communication
>>>> problems.
>>>>
>>>> It would be interesting to see if it could be
>>>> refined to produce switch
>>>> actions - I am with the Cambridge team at the
>>>> AEGIS meeting and they are
>>>> very interested.
>>>>
>>>> How about the 3D web cam I've seen advertised?
>>>>
>>>> David
>>>>
>>>> David Colven
>>>> Technical Advisor
>>>> 01865 759813
>>>> 077121 68901
>>>> Why not visit our website: www.ace-centre.org.uk
>>>>
>>>> Please visit our website: www.ace-centre.org.uk
>>>>
>>>> The ACE Centre is a registered charity (no
>>>> 1040868) You can donate here
>>>> now!
>>>>
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>>>>
>>>> > -----Original Message-----
>>>> > From: games_access-bounces at igda.org
>>>> [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
>>>> > On Behalf Of will wade
>>>> > Sent: 02 June 2009 19:14
>>>> > To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
>>>> > Subject: Re: [games_access] Project Natal:
>>>> Microsoft's Alternative
>>>> > Controller
>>>> >
>>>> > Its a interesting development.
>>>> > I agree - as it stands its not that
>>>> potentially useful to
>>>> > children/adults with a lot of movement. What
>>>> would be interesting if
>>>> > the technology could be used to look at a
>>>> particular reliable movement
>>>> > of a person for a particular output - e.g.
>>>> move a hand inwards at a
>>>> > certain angle in relation to the body, or a
>>>> head movement to the left,
>>>> > and that produces a output just like a switch.
>>>> Something like this is
>>>> > currently being developed by the inference
>>>> group at Cambridge so watch
>>>> > this space..
>>>> >
>>>> > w
>>>> >
>>>> > 2009/6/2 Nathalie Caron
>>>> <nathalie at gamefwd.org>:
>>>> > > Hi Barrie, and group:
>>>> > >
>>>> > > I watched the Microsoft presentation
>>>> yesterday and while it has a
>>>> lot of
>>>> > > potential to increase mainstream
>>>> accessibility, I think there is
>>>> some
>>>> > way to
>>>> > > go in order for it to be accessible to all.
>>>> > >
>>>> > > I can already imagine one of my friends, who
>>>> argued the same point.
>>>> He
>>>> > has
>>>> > > CP and is in a wheel chair with minimal hand
>>>> coordination, has
>>>> managed
>>>> > to
>>>> > > adapt to use a controller, but does not
>>>> speak (unless using a voice
>>>> > device).
>>>> > > I don't think Natal would be able to
>>>> recognize his facial
>>>> expressions as
>>>> > > well, nor would it be able to find
>>>> expressions in his synthetic
>>>> voice
>>>> > > (thinking in reference to that interactive
>>>> game with the little boy
>>>> -
>>>> > Tobi
>>>> > > was it?)
>>>> > >
>>>> > > I think that if Microsoft was really serious
>>>> about this, they would
>>>> have
>>>> > to
>>>> > > look, perhaps into neurofeedback for those
>>>> who do not have the means
>>>> to
>>>> > use
>>>> > > their bodies, voices and facial expressions.
>>>> Surely they have the
>>>> > ability to
>>>> > > implement something like this en masse.
>>>> > >
>>>> > > I don't know if they would consider that, or
>>>> if they are satisfied
>>>> by
>>>> > having
>>>> > > already "broken new ground"... I guess we
>>>> will have to watch and
>>>> see.
>>>> > >
>>>> > > Nathalie
>>>> > > http://gamefwd.org
>>>> > >
>>>> > > On Mon, Jun 1, 2009 at 5:14 PM, Barrie Ellis
>>>> > <barrie.ellis at oneswitch.org.uk>
>>>> > > wrote:
>>>> > >>
>>>> > >> Lots of potential for improved
>>>> accessibility? But will it be
>>>> > realised...
>>>> > >>
>>>> > >> Microsoft announce Project Natal - gesture,
>>>> facial expressions and
>>>> > voice
>>>> > >> recognition:
>>>> > >>
>>>> > >>
>>>>
>>>> http://switchgaming.blogspot.com/2009/06/microsofts-new-controller.html
>>>> > >>
>>>> > >>
>>>> http://kotaku.com/5274317/microsoft-makes-you-the-motion-controller-
>>>> > with-project-natal
>>>> > >>
>>>> > >>
>>>> > >>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> > >> 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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>>>> > games_access at igda.org
>>>> >
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>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> games_access mailing list
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>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> games_access mailing list
>>>> games_access at igda.org
>>>> http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Mark C. Barlet
>>>> Editor-in-Chief
>>>> AbleGamers.com
>>>>________________
>>>>_______________________________________________
>>>>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
>>
>
>
>
>-- 
>Reid Kimball
>Game Designer / Writer
>http://game.rbkdesign.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
.......................................
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"
.......................................