Seminar: Computer Games, Access, Disability
London Knowledge Lab, Institute of Education
London Games Research Group
Monday 27th October
The speakers at the seminar presented a collection of research projects on gaming and learning for disabled users. The focus for the evening was the different accessibility needs for disabled user groups and covered users with a wide range of disabilities. The event was hosted at London Knowledge Lab by the London Games Research Group. The London Knowledge Lab is a collaboration between the research centres of the Institute of Education and Birkbeck. The Lab brings together computer and social scientists from a very broad range of fields.
Seminar Presenters:
Diane Carr of the Institute of Education, introduced her research on teaching and learning in the virtual environment ‘Second Life’, in particular how disabled users are marginalised in online environments. Her work has focused on deaf users and the switch from text based communication in ‘Second Life’ to voice based interaction between users, which has lead to a debate about the exclusion of deaf users. To find out more on this work you can visit the project blog.
David Squire, from the Sheffield based company ‘Desq’ develops e-learning materials and learning games for a broad range of clients. David presented a game aimed at visually impaired users. The game was is set in a railway station in the 1930’s and requires users to find their way around the station by interacting with sound objects and involves simple game play for the user to solve puzzles to complete the game. The game has been created with the idea that it will be used in a classroom setting by children who have a visual disability with support from someone without a disability.
Martin Wright from GameLab London based at London Metropolitan University, presented several interactive projects aimed at visually impaired and deaf users. The games presented included a fun way for blind users to learn mathematics using only as a guide sound and also a story telling game that is used to teach literacy using sign language. You can find out more by visiting the Gamelab website.
Siobhan Thomas, Researcher for The Rix Centre, introduced some of the findings from the ‘Inclusive New Media Design’ research project based at The Rix Centre. Siobhan recommended that game developers included people with learning disabilities as user testers as this audience are keen game players. Siobhan explained that during this research project participants had learnt a lot from working with the learning disability user group, about designing accessible new media. Go to the Inclusive New Media Design website to find more about the research project.
Nick Weldin from The Rix Centre, highlighted the need for cheap switch solutions for people with learning disabilities to have access to the internet. He also demonstrated the use of open source software and symbols that can be used to enable people with learning disabilities who have limited physical movement to be able access the web. Nick has worked for many years with people who have learning difficulties in a wide range of settings. He is currently exploring the use of open source software solutions here at The Rix Centre, which can help people with learning disabilities to access the web. To find out more about his work visit The Big Tree blog, where Nick is discussing and giving guidance on this and other topics.
