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.

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.

Now launched it the versatility of the adroit switchblade looks awesome. Mark Barlet CEO of The Ablegamers Foundation describes it as a ‘game changer for people with disabilities’. Here is a video of Mark describing the new controller from the Joystiq site:

Said to be  the most adaptable controller on the market, the Adroit Switchblade has 19 ports (11 reprogramable and 2 sets of 4 for the thumb sticks). It means that gamers can decide their own preferred personal set up. Any switches can be plugged in from light touch to muscle twitch to gumball in any configuration so that the best individual set up can be achieved. Another amazing feature is that any of the 11 slots can be reprogrammed as any button on the Xbox controller.

Adroit Switchblade “A game changer for people with disabilities”

Each Switchblade is supplied with lightweight and easy to operate, very small thumb sticks for directional controls, included too is a rumble pack for each one. Rumble packs being one of the favourite  mods for gamers from Evil Controllers, the company who developed the Adroit Switchblade.

No need for Joysticks

For gamers who cannot use joysticks, each Adroit Switchblade comes with ports designed specifically for the directional movements. With this adaption you can now make thumb sticks yourself using the four switches in any configuration you choose. One suggestion is to mount four light touch switches around a central hub so that  you can move the switches with both hands.  There is a huge range of personal possibilities and unique set ups with this arrangement.

Switch Users

For switch users there is a special option called the Switchblade exclusive option. As switch users know there are usually only a few postions suitable for a switch. If you can only use a few switches at a time or you don’t want to spend a lot of money on different switches the Profile Option is excellent.

Joystick, the Adroit has amazing flexibility

The profile option allows for multiple functions on the same switch on three different profiles. If for example you can only use 2 switches after the directional controls, you could set switch number one to be the profile changer and thereby give you access to s to 6 controller functions. Profile one could be set to your main action buttons and profile two has the shoulder buttons and profile three can contain the remaining secondary action buttons. You would just press the profile changer to run through the profiles and use that button for the task you were currently trying to do.

The Switchblade arrives set-up for Xbox gaming, but using a straight forward adapter you can use it very quickly and easily with a PC, Laptop or Playstation. This will help reduce the costs for people with disabilities who often need to buy many different controllers for games on different platforms. It is a versatile piece of assistive technology so that  one device with a simple adapter can suit all a persons gaming needs.

The AbleGamers say that the Adroit Switchblade is a “dream come true for many disabled gamers” and has the greatest adaptability on the accessible gaming market.

The main controller and central hub of the Adroit switchblade with its many port options.

This new partnership between Evil Controllers and the Ablegamers Foundation is very encouraging for those supporting user designed technology. It is the the first in a new line of accessible controllers, but perhaps the beginning of more affordable assistive technology, of which the Trabasack design team are proud to be a part. We agree that equipment that can help people with disabilities is often too expensive for people on fixed incomes and benefits. The partnership intends to sell the new range of controllers in the Adroit line at an affordable price. The Adroit Switchblade will be $399, around £250 which is considerably cheaper than many adaptive devices for gaming currently on the market.

Big congrats from all at Trabasack the teams involved including Adam Coe and Jonah Coe, Mark Barlet and Steve Spohn. We hope to meet up with them in the US next year.

The Adroit switchblade is a step closer to achieving high quality, low cost accessibility for gamers everywhere!

Sometimes you just wish that you had thought of something first!  We need to think of a new idea for a video viral, and I came across this video. It is being shared across social media networks and many people do not realise it is a hoax. It supposedly show a new craze that has started in New York, Nude Gaming Parties!

It shows lots of people sitting around playing  video games in the nude at a New York night club. Black boxes tastefully hide any rude bits!

This video is a hoax viral for Xtendplay. You can see the people in the video using them. It is a controller holder that improves posture and grip of gaming handsets. The people in the video are actors and maybe unfortunately (!), there isn’t really a new craze for nude gaming sweeping across America.  I think the fact that eveyone has an extendplay in the video helps to give it away. Another clue is the unusual attractiveness and lack of diversity of these supposedly ordinary punters!

Now I really wish I had thought of this idea. We could of  shown nude gamers with trabasacks on their laps and controllers on the trabasacks. There would be far fewer black boxes needed in our video. It could have been a tasteful trabasack on the lap instead!  We would love to create another viral video. It will be hard to beat the 800,000+ views of the first trabasack video viral, but please email or  comment with any suggestions.

The Xtendplay Gaming Accessory

The Xtendplay holder does look useful though. Here is one of  the Xtendplay gaming accessory video’s from youtube that is a little less crytic and explains the benefits:

The soft foam controller holder is said to make gaming with Xbox360 and Playstation controllers more comfortable. These additions of a wide foam base to a controller could also help accessible gaming. They would add a wider and larger surface for people with poor grip. For those who want to attach their controller to something else, the foam could be modified or cut.

However, a disadvantage is that that anyone who uses a slightly modified or adapted controller might find that it did not fit the xtendplay as they are specific to the exact shapes of the original manufacturers models. More cutting and shaping would be needed.

If someone wanted to attach a controller to thier trabasack with velcro or ‘hook tape’, the xtendplay could help though. It would provide a bigger surface area for the tape and give move stability for a controller to be held on the ‘Connect’ surface of a Trabasack gaming bag. The xtendplay and controller would also fit inside the trabasack bag space after use.

We look foward to hearing from anyone who has used one with a trabasack. If any gamers reading this have tried using them together please let me know, a free trabasack T shirt of any pics sent in! But don’t worry, you won’t be asked to take part in the trabasack nude video gaming viral….

Post first appeared on the trabasack website xtendplay Nude Gaming Party Video