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Creating Games for the Blind:Lessons Learned
Summary of the knowledge gained
From the development of
Electronic Games For Blind Children
This project is funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway under the EEA Grants Greek NGO Programme “We are all Citizens”. The Bodossaki Foundation is the Fund Operator of this Programme. The Programme aims to strengthen civil society and enhance the contribution of NGOs to social justice, democracy and sustainable development.
Creating Games for the Blind:Lessons Learned
Summary of the knowledge gained
From the development of
Electronic Games For Blind Children
Creating Games for the Blind: Lessons Learned by Vassilis Giannakopoulos is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Source of the knowledge gained (1/2)
● Project LEAP: Games for Blind Children
● Duration: 1.5 years (Oct 2015 - March 2016)
● Game design and Development: SciFY
● Binaural sound tech: Ionian University
● Funding: EAA and Norway Grants (We Are All Citizens programme)
● SciFY has developed 3 games for blind children, in 2 languages
● Games offered for free: www.gamesfortheblind.org
● Source code publicly available under Open Source licences on GitHub
Source of the knowledge gained (2/2)
● Methodology:
○ 24 Personal interviews with blind children
■ Before game development to get specs
■ After a first version of the game has been developed, to test it
and make improvements
○ 9 Personal interviews during a LEAP tournament with blind children
○ Input from teachers of the blind children
○ Mails with remarks
Main Findings
Fact/ Finding● The need to play electronic games is great● Blind children try to play with whatever device they can access, even if it is
not designed for them, even if they keep losing● Playing games boosts self-confidence
Implications
● The need to develop specially designed electronic games is great
● Gaming is a great tool to build skills
Main Findings
Fact/ FindingBlindness is often accompanied by other problems (e.g. cognitive, motor)
Implications
● Detailed, step by step tutorials to make introduction to games easier
● Many levels: from extremely simple to hard with many rewards for all
● Help from a teacher/parent is very helpful
● Use different interfaces (e.g. keyboard and joystick)
Main Findings
Fact/ FindingIn Greece, blind children up to 12 y.o.
are usually not acquainted with computers
Implications
● Very simple interaction with the game
● Help from a teacher/parent is very helpful to show the basic keys (e.g.
arrow keys, spacebar, enter)
Main Findings
Fact/ FindingBlind children want to get acquainted with computers
Implications
● Games are a great tool to introduce them to computers
● Less fear towards computers
● Learn indirectly by playing
Main Findings
Fact/ Finding● Sound perception is subjective● Left/Right and the sense of depth (far/near or “approaching”) are more
easily understood than up/down.
Implications● Different sound sets need to be included in the games● Different sound sets need to be tried to have the best possible experience● Stereo sound is adequate to communicate basic sound perception (e.g.
left/right)● Binaural sound is very helpful for more complex sounds (e.g.up/down and
sense of depth)
Main Findings
Fact/ FindingHaving an “ally” has strong positive effects in enjoying the game
Implications● Include a “friend” in the game, that introduces children to the game
(tutorial), and probably accompanies them throughout it.● Include different voices for the ally, from which they can choose (e.g. a
friendly male and a female voice)● Help from a teacher/parent/friend the first time(s) helps, too.
Main Findings
Fact/ Finding● In Greece, as blind children grow older, they add smart devices
(smartphones / tablets) to their everyday life.● Younger children and children in the US are acquainted earlier with smart
devices.● Children want to use smart devices.
Implications
Games need to be developed in many platforms
Main Findings
Fact/ FindingThey love to play with other players when they want to
ImplicationsInclude both options: the option to play by oneself, in one’s own pace and the option to have another player in the game
Technological Non Profit Company
Established in 2012
We are Sharing Technology to solve real-life problems
SciFY at a glance
Technological Non Profit Company
Established in 2012
We are Sharing Technology to solve real-life problems
SciFY at a glance
2012
● 8 Members - Volunteers● 3 Projects
2016
● 40 Members-Volunteers● 3 awards● Partnerships with Universities, Research institutes,
NGOs● Projects funded by E.U Funding
Our journey...so far
and the journey continues ...
Sharing Technology to solve real-life problems
Use state of the art computer tech
Solve real-life problems
Form a community
Offer solutions for free
Share the know-how
Make them self-sustainable
How we do it
Sponsors● Major Greek Welfare Institutions
○ 4 Institutions, 6 projects
● International funding○ EAA and Norway Grants○ Bosch and MitOst foundations (Germany)○ EU projects
Collaborators: Universities and Research Institutes
● 5 Major Greek Universities● 2 Research Centres
Sponsors and Collaborators
Assistive technologies
SupportingCivil Society
Organizational Intelligence
Freedom for people with disabilities
Helping Civil Society
bring results
Helping Organizations
get smarter
Impact areas
E-democracy tools
Empowering Citizens
Contact us | [email protected]
Vassilis GiannakopoulosMarketing Mng. & Partnership [email protected],mobile: +30.697.20.58.648LinkedIn: http://gr.linkedin.com/in/vgiannakopoulosTel. +30.211.400.4192, +30.211.014.9973
http://www.scify.org/en/site
Or learn more here:
Full SciFY presentation
Appendix: Other SciFY Assistive Tech
Assistive technologies
SupportingCivil Society
Organizational Intelligence
Freedom for people with disabilities
Helping Civil Society
bring results
Helping Organizations
get smarter
E-democracy tools
Empowering Citizens
ICSee (I Can See)Smartphone application for users with low visionThe user turns the camera onThe image on the screen is processed(S)he can finally read a restaurant menu, a small text...
v 2.0 ReadyAlready funded*Impact local/global
Key projects | Assistive Technologies
Ready, being testedAlready funded*Impact local/global
ICStudy (I Can Study)
Same technology for use in the classroom
Allows students with low vision to participate in class
LEAP
Software games for blind children
3d sound technology (Binaural sound)
Specially designed for the blind
Ready in 2 languagesAlready funded*Impact local/global
FeIRd - For motor disabilities
For people with restricted hand mobility
Programmable remote control for IR devices
Key projects | Assistive Technologies
Ready, disseminatedAlready funded*Impact local
Talk and Play
Mainly for people with cerebral palsy
Allows them to communicate, watch movies / listen to music
Tools for occupational therapists
Proposal submittedPotential Impact local/global
Think Freedom
Solution that will allow people to interact
with devices and people
“Irrespective of disability” (our Ithaka)
Key projects | Assistive Technologies
Research in progressImpact local/global
Let’s collaborate | For academics
● See your research applied
● Maximize impact by forming a community
● Validate your ideas
● Connect with market opportunities
● Disseminate your work beyond research groups
Let’s collaborate | For students
● Expand your skill-set - Machine learning, Natural Language Processing, Artificial intelligence - Web/Mobile development using the latest trends - Agile methodologies
● Contribute to the open source community
● Exposure on github / Connect with recruiters
● Change the world for everyone