The QuadStick prototype

Gaming a social activity that people can enjoy from home and it’s a great outlet if getting out and about is difficult. Equally, it can be a way of interacting and meeting people as you connect with other gamers online. Playing PS3 games is about to get much easier for people living with quadriplegia and give them a more sensitive and tactile way of playing games utilising a complex mouth-based controller.

The controller, known as the QuadStick, has a Kickstarter Campaign in its name and we’re pleased to say it has already more than exceeded its $10,000 target with 7 days to go.

With mouth-based controllers available in addition to those using eye movements to play, there is increased accessibility to gaming every day.

The QuadStick: How it Works

The QuadStick works through a combination of a single joystick, four sip and puff sensors, a lip position sensor and a push switch. These are all linked together into a 32-bit ARM processor which allows for both USB and Bluetooth output as well as the gaming hardware. The best bit is the gaming software isn’t just your standard PCs it also includes Android devices and PS3s. There is also scope to buy further adapters for Xbox Ones and 360s.

The four different sip and puff straws can be used to shift in different directions and also navigate the mouse cursor.

Further functionalities include the opportunity to use third-party voice recognition suites as many users are used to so further voice commands can be included. There is scope for this to be furthered and allow for game specific actions such as “jump” for example.

This video gives even better insight into how the controller works:

The History of the QuadStick

The QuadStick has been developed by Fred Davison. Davison developed his idea from foundations delivered by Ken Yankelevitz’s Quad Control Joystick. Davison built upon the design, adding his own tweaks and made sure to take in the opinions and feedback from quadriplegic gamers along the way.

The Kickstarter funds original plan was to fund the development of 25 units as a minimum for $10,000 but with the target exceeded Davison will be able to hone his controller and develop even more.

As we speak there are five working prototypes. Their testing has shown that a range of different games can be played using the QuadStick including Call of Duty, BioShock, Assasin’s Creed and Gran Turismo.

As more prototypes are developed more games will be able to be enjoyed and the QuadStick team will surely use their funding to ensure more quadriplegic gamers can benefit from their product.

New Resource Guide to Switch Technology Published

Using Switches – An Introductory Guide

We have recently published a brand new guide to Switch Technology, with the aim of introducing the benefits of assistive switches to those who know little or nothing about them. We hope that our guide will introduce switch technology to people who can benefit from it as well as helping gamers and educators utilise switches to enhance educational environments, as well as providing access to gaming and enjoyment too.

The guide is available as a free PDF and is split into several short, but informative sections, which are as follows:

Introduction – What is Switch Technology

Advantages of Switch Technology

Types of Switches

Determining Correct Switch Positioning

Simple Switch Activities

Switch Mounting

More Useful Information and Links

Each section is designed to give a summary of the topic and gives a great introduction and overview.

Accessible Gaming & Switch Technology

One Switch Pinball Game

As gaming fans know, accessing a range of games and consoles can be difficult when living with a disability but the development of a range of single and multi-touch switches has meant that gaming has become more accessible overall. As well as a range of predesigned and developed switches specifically for gamers on the market, there are companies who design bespoke items for hardcore gamers out there. 

There are a number of questions you need to ask yourself before deciding which type of switch to use to access your favourite games. Thought will need to go into how you plan to access the switch: will you use your digits or eye movement? This is a totally personal decision which is dependent on the abilities of the gamer in question.

Our new guide doesn’t specialise in gaming but shows a range of switches and their uses and also the importance of correct mounting and who can benefit from their usage.

To get your own copy of the guide, click here

The Media Mount is a brand new addition to the Trabasack product range, designed to make utilising any media device or in reality,

Use with a wide range of controllers.

just about anything, much easier to access, use and operate from the comfort of your Trabasack. Despite being brand new, the product is already attracting positive attention as its universal multipurpose usage makes it fantastic for many different users and their differing needs.

A Closer Look at the Media Mount

Flexible and easy to manoeuvre, the Media Mount comfortably attaches to your Trabasack and allows you to hold any device in the exact position you require. Perfect for switch positioning and gaming controllers, the Media Mount is ideal for gaming. Extremely useful for supporting a range of smaller media devices including tablets and eReaders, you can use this device for so many different purposes it fits perfectly into the innovative, multipurpose range that Trabasack already boasts.

The Media Mount for Gaming

The Media Mount ensures you can easily access your switch or gaming device

As already mentioned, we believed the Media Mount is perfect for creating an accessible gaming environment via your Trabasack. Whether you use a switch or an adapted or traditional controller, the Mount can be used to ensure the device remains in perfect position and doesn’t slip or fall whilst in use. It’s fantastic if you have tremors or weak grip as it means you can ensure your controller is always where it should be and as the picture shows, you can even use the Media Mount to ensure your hands remain in the right position to access your gaming controller. We believe the Media Mount makes gaming even more accessible and therefore enjoyable.

The Media Mount is currently available via the Trabasack website with a retailer-wide roll out planned for later next month.

The Orthros PlayStation Controller

The Trabasack team were pleased to do a spot of networking at the Naidex National Convention again in May and whilst at the event it’s always on our mind to scout out likeminded business and those who have exciting innovative creations in the New Products Showcase. This year we were particularly interested in LEPMIS (Long Eaton Powered Mobility Integration Service) who used the national event to launch their accessible and ingenious ORTHROS gaming controller.

The ORTHROS one handed gaming handset is a completely original creation which allows a user access to all the standard PlayStation controls via one single controller, therefore making the console itself much more accessible. The ORTHROS controller attracted a lot of attention at the convention and in fact came third in one of the many fantastic awards that Naidex offer to their most innovative and up and coming new inventions. Orthos is named after the two headed dog in Greek Mythology if you are wondering!

Their first customer for Orthos was an amputee serviceman who was thrilled with it and within minutes was back to the same level on his playstation game that he had been before his injury!

A Closer Look at LEPMIS and Orthros

LEPMIS have been trading since 2005 and work with individuals to help provide a range of gaming equipment and technology to enhance their gaming experience and access to regular console gaming and other similar devices and technology. LEPMIS gaming products allow gamers with disabilities to access their favourite Sony PlayStation games without issue, using specially designed custom switches, adapted joysticks or further specifically designed products.

Orthros is an example of a product which LEPMIS have been able to market more widely and has proven a huge success when taken to Naidex. With its sturdy design incorporating every one of the PlayStation 3 controller’s buttons on a single one-hand joystick, PlayStation gaming has never been more accessible, as this video demonstrates:

Playing via Orthros using a Trabasack as a Mount.

Trabasack as a Mount for the Orthros Accessible Controller

Whilst at Naidex the Trabasack team gave the guys at Lepmis a chance to trial the Trabasack lap tray and bag as a mount for the Orthros with positive results as the pictures show and with the new Media Mount available, we’re sure the LEPMIS range of products would work fantastically in conjunction with trabasack to provide a secure mount for your gaming controller.

Tobii EyeAsteroids

Tobii are a world-renowned, field-leading vendor of eye tracking technology, a process that can revolutionise computing and now, gaming for individuals with motor disabilities. Enjoying arcade gaming can be made accessible with the installation of Tobii Eye-Controlled arcade gaming machines equipped with Tobii’s trade-marked EyeAsteroids game.

EyeAsteroids is the only arcade game which is solely controlled by your eyes and without the need for complicated wires and connections between you and the game machine. EyeAsteroids is both fast and intuitive and makes gaming an extremely exciting experience for all.

Using your eyes as a game controller is an extremely different experience to standard gaming and allows users with motor disabilities to fully enjoy gaming the ways other can. Using gaze interaction in a gaming environment is extremely in depth technology and put basically, the game is programmed to understand your gaze in the same way people do. This is gaming on a new level.

The game itself is quite simple, like all good arcade games are and basically the gamer’s avatar is Earth and you need to defend yourself from in-coming asteroids by firing laser beams and bombs. It contains all the traditional, retro features you could want from an arcade game.

Tobii is the world’s leading supplier of eye tracking and eye control technology and their research has become integral to developing technology in many aspects of research, not just gaming. They’re committed to innovation and their eye tracking technology has revolutionised research across many fields. As well as making gaming accessible, Tobii’s technology has aided communication for thousands of non-verbal individuals who previously had no access to communication at all.

This video shows exactly how Tobii Asteroids works and how their technology makes arcade gaming a totally new experience:

Help Myles and his family, who are almost at their fundraising target.

We recently received an e-mail from Christine Sketchley telling us all about her inspirational son Myles and his charity appeal. Myles is a twelve year old wheelchair user who has a combination of conditions which can make daily life very difficult for him. He has Cerebral Palsy, Scoliosis, high muscle tone and is partially sighted, but he remains positive and happy and his family says that he is an inspiration.

Myles’ conditions have meant that he’s had over twenty operations in the twelve years of his life and this has resulted in him needing to use a wheelchair full time. Myles and his family had to make the difficult decision to have Myles’ hips removed so that he could sit comfortably. This means that his only way of exercising is in water and through hydrotherapy as, without hips, he is unable to weight bear. Unfortunately due to funding cutbacks, his school are only able to take him swimming once a fortnight.

However, Myles’ consultants have said that he regular daily exercise to be healthy. To help Myles have the opportunity to exercise, Myles’ mum Christine decided to raise money for a hot-tub at home and so that he can get the hydrotherapy he needs. They have already made a huge achievement and are ‘nearing the finish line’ to get it to the £10,000 target.  In fact, they’ve received £7,100 so far thanks to a range of different fundraisers and donations. However, the final cash is still needed and a local charity in Myles’  home town of Hucknall, Nottinghamshire are helping out.

The Men of Sherwood Society are staging a race night at the Royal Legion Social Club in Hucknall on January 13th. During this night, there will also be a fundraising raffle with many great prizes (including of course a Trabasack!). We have also sent a Trabasack to Myles to so he can more easily enjoy his favourite games.

Myles the Trabasaxon!

We sincerely hope that the fundraiser will help Myles’ family along the way to their final target so Myles can exercise at his own pace with the support he needs.

If you’d like to buy a ticket for the fundraiser, donate to Myle’s hot tub appeal, offer up a prize for the raffle or anything else, please contact Christine on 0115 9632401 or leave a comment below and we will pass on your details to the family.

One of the oldest games that ill be featured at the SpecialEffect stand at REPLAY will be Minestorm for the MB Vectrex, originally from 1982. This cool vector-scan video game has modified so that it can be played with a single switch: Hyperspace.

Enjoy accessible gaming at Replay Expo 2011, a hugely popular and exciting retro video gaming exhibition which attracts people from all walks of life united by their love of video gaming in all the old nostalgic forms!

This year, it’s taking place on 5^th and 6^th November in Blackpool’s Norbeck Castle and it’s an event which should surely bring back memories of early gaming on Pac-Man to Space Invaders! Whether you’re an ardent Playstation lover or prefer to stick to your Nintendo, you are sure to enjoy Replay.

Even more excitingly, especially for us at Trabasack and accessible gaming is the SpecialEffect stand which is offering fully accessible retro gaming at the event. All range of games from racing to one-switch dance mat games, you can thoroughly enjoy the gaming experience in an accessible and enhanced way!

Visit the SpecialEffect Stand for Accessible Gaming

At the SpecialEffect stand you can enjoy all your favourite games, play for fun, compete against friends or even try and win some of the

Use Trabasack as a level playing surface that holds adapted controllers securely with its velcro ready surface

sweets in the mini-challenges set by the stall holders! The stall will also feature Trabasack products which are obviously fantastic for accessible gaming use, perhaps to mount your gaming switch.

Trabasack’s innovative lap tray surface is ‘velcro-receptive’ so that it can hold adapted controllers and switches securely. It is very versatile for mounting switches, joysticks or any type of controller and means that you can easily play any game you please from the comfort of your seat. If you want to you can use one of the longer supplied straps as bumbag strap around your waist and keep you controller and your Trabasack securely strapped to your lap!

An Able-Net “Big-Red” accessibility switch and a Trabasack.

Play a new one-switch version of the legendary Taito Space Invaders

Retro gaming is a huge craze which looks to remain popular as technology develops we love reminiscing about the old Ataris, Megadrives and other consoles of our childhood and teens. One of the oldest games that will be featured at the SpecialEffect stand at REPLAY will be Minestorm for the MB Vectrex, originally from 1982. This cool vector-scan video game has modified so that it can be played with a single switch: Hyperspace.

 The oldest game will be the original Taito Space Invaders game from 1978. The team from the Replay SpecialEffect stand have made a version that is one-switch accessible, including adding playing credits, choosing a one-player game and playing this ultimate classic game!

For full details of the event click the poster image below:

The Special Effect Accessible Retro Gaming Stand at REPLAY 2011 – click the image for more info.