----- Original Message ----- From: "J volschenk" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "National Accessibility Portal mailing list with topics focusedonaccessibility for users with visual disabilities." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, September 27, 2006 5:17 PM Subject: [Blind] Fw: Israel-made devices get blind into gaming action
> > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Ricky Lomey" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <undisclosed-recipients:> > Sent: Wednesday, September 27, 2006 11:31 AM > Subject: Fw: Israel-made devices get blind into gaming action > > > > > > > Friday January 30, 2004 > > > > Israel-made devices get blind into gaming action > > > > by michele chabin > > correspondent > > > > jerusalem | Two children sit in front of a monitor and > enthusiastically > > play a computer game called Hidden Bombs. Each player imagines himself on > a > > ship being tossed by high seas, surrounded by mines. To survive, the > players > > must locate the mines as quickly as possible. If they make the wrong move, > > they are told, the mines will detonate. > > Hidden Bombs is just like any computer game, but with a crucial > difference: > > It is user-friendly for both blind and sighted people. The computer game, > > which is part of a series of educational software programs developed by > the > > Israeli company Virtouch, provides a wealth of tactile and audio clues > that > > level the playing field for blind competitors. > > The Jerusalem-based company specializes in educational hardware and > software > > for the blind and visually challenged. The mouse it invented, called the > > VTPlayer, utilizes an embedded tactile display that helps users "read" > > information on the screen through their fingertips. In the October issue > of > > Braille Forum, Arie Gamliel, one of the VTPlayer's blind testers, wrote > that > > the VRPlayer "looks almost exactly like the average computer mouse. It has > > two tactile displays on top, each consisting of 16 vibrating pins. There > are > > four controls or buttons, two on each side. It includes all of the > functions > > of a regular Windows mouse in addition to its unique capabilities as a > > tactical, immersive, multimedia device." > > In his review, Gamliel, a Jerusalemite who lost his sight shortly after > > birth, said that the device "is easy to install" on any computer. "You > plug > > it into a USB port, install the software and away you go. All of the games > > are designed from the ground up to serve a cognitive role." > > In playing them, he said, "the child gains skills in terms of > understanding > > spatial relationships, tactile differentiation, a sense of relative > > direction, comprehension of braille symbols, developing a mental 'picture' > > of complexity and so on." > > Gamliel said that schools and educational facilities serving blind kids > > "should seriously consider" purchasing the product, despite its $695 price > > tag. "That's much less than many common Playstations on the market," he > > noted. > > While Virtouch is of course a business, Arnold Roth, Virtouch's CEO, > insists > > that those involved in the venture have a mission above and beyond the > > bottom line. > > "I feel a real affinity for the products," says Roth, the father of a > blind > > child as well as several sighted children. "This company was founded to > help > > meet the needs of blind children, and we've expanded our scope to blind > > adults as well." > > Founded in the mid-'90s, Virtouch is the brainchild of Roman Gouzman, a > > cognitive psychologist from the former Soviet Union. Gouzman assembled a > > team of software and hardware developers and actively sought input from > the > > blind, including many children. Roth says that "there is a high degree of > > loneliness and separation in the lives of many blind people. Our goal is > to > > build cultural bridges" between blind and sighted children, between > siblings > > or schoolmates. I frankly don't know of any other solution that allows > [the > > blind] to be both educated and socially connected at the same time." > > Virtouch also offers several programs to help a child learn braille, as > well > > as tactile maps of the United States and Europe. > > "Many think that braille for the blind is like motherhood and apple pie," > > Roth says. "In fact, it's losing ground in the U.S. There is too much easy > > availability of audio, on the radio and via the Internet. We're in danger > of > > producing a generation of illiterate blind people." > > One entry in Virtouch's Braille Adventure Series enables players to > "visit" > > > > > > an amusement park where they must pick the correct braille symbols from a > > moving conveyor belt. > > Each Braille Adventure game includes a teacher mode, which allows the > > instructor to modify the games features to match an individual student's > > progress. > > A soon-to-be released title called Crazy Biker is a simulation game in > which > > the player assumes the role of a motorcycle rider who needs to react to > > threats and opportunities. As you explore the tactile map of the United > > States, the pins of the mouse suddenly jump up when you touch a border. > When > > the mouse hits the ocean, the pins feel like little waves, rising and > > falling. As you move to different parts of the map, the audio announces > the > > names of the states, allowing the user to integrate both audio and tactile > > clues. > > "You feel and focus on the tactile feeling," says Gouzman. "Second, you > > verbalize your intuitive hypothesis as to which direction you're going. > > Third, you actively interact with the computer," something a blind person > > does not do when using a puzzle map, for example. Roth calls it "sadly > > ironic" that, while numerous schools and other places serving blind > children > > have purchased the VTPlayer, the schools in Israel have not. > > "Israeli government support for the blind is far behind what it is in > other > > countries," Roth says. "The Ministry of Education says it doesn't have the > > budget." > > <br /> > > Information on Virtouch products: <a > > href="http://www.virtouch.com";>www.virtouch.com</a>. > > <br /> > > This article was first published in the New York Jewish Week. > > > > Copyright J, the Jewish news weekly of Northern California > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Blind mailing list > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://lists.napsa.org.za/mailman/listinfo/blind > > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.407 / Virus Database: 268.12.9/457 - Release Date: 2006/09/26 > _______________________________________________ Gamers mailing list .. Gamers@audyssey.org To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web.
