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.

Duncan is MyCognition’s CEO and holds extensive technology and business management experience.

This guest post was submitted to us by Duncan Knight – Chief Executive Officer at MyCognition.

MyCognition is a new cognitive health organisation, that offers a fascinating, fun approach to assessing and improving cognitive health. MyCognition work in the education, business and health sectors to help enhance and further understand cognitive function. Duncan’s latest update brings news of how MyCognition are hoping to improve the lives of those with neurological and psychological conditions using their unique gaming therapy.

The Benefits of Gaming as Therapy

Applied, or serious gaming as it is sometimes called, is becoming an increasingly popular platform for cognitive training. Often called brain training in contemporary society. Traditional cognitive training is a very well understood training method, however it requires time and resources to be carried out. It is also not as engaging as it could be.

Therefore using video games as a therapy has become a more compelling option for some people. It is more engaging, resulting in higher training compliance, less time consuming as it is self-administered and less costly than traditional training.

Much of my recent work has been with students of both primary and secondary school age. They get to measure their cognitive capacity with our assessment tool MyCQ and then play one of our video games to train their cognition. They are all interested in what their cognitive measurements are and get very competitive with each other even when completing the assessment!

When playing our cognitive training games they are also enthused to see how they score and constantly compare these scores with the scores of their peers. This is very satisfying to see as it supports the idea that a self-administered cognitive training game is the way to go for students.

My Cognition games are designed to enhance cognition in a fun way. They are all linked to MyCQ™, cognition assessment tool, which assesses cognition before and during gameplay.

My experience working with business people is a little different. They are not as interested in the competitive side of playing the game. I notice they are more compelled by the potential outcome of having an increased cognitive ability. They genuinely want to be able to make more accurate and timely decisions at work. Many have shared the same sentiments that they want to be less stressed by having as much time as possible to do their work and not stay late to complete it.

MyCQ infographic shows the various processes and stages involved in an Applied Cognitive Gaming assessment.

We know that having an increased cognition will improve their efficiency. Working with a group of people with health motivations is completely different again. I met with a group of incredibly motivated young men who have been diagnosed with Schizophrenia. All of them were taking part in holistic programs including medication, counseling and cognitive therapy. The medication was helping them with their delusions, but the side effects make it impossible to find work or attend college.

They all said cognitive therapy was extremely boring and motivating themselves to attend these sessions became difficult. All of these patients spend much of their time playing console games such as GTA, Call of Duty and The Elder Scrolls. I was worried they wouldn’t want to play our video game (it didn’t cost US$500k to make). However their personal motivations to increase their cognition meant they said they would be happy to play and train. They want to lead as normal a life as possible, be productive and add value to their lives and the world around them. I take my hat off to them.

We are now running our first clinical trial with some of these Schizophrenia patients. Also included in this trial are those with a diagnosis of Depression and OCD.

Later this year I am going to work with much older patient populations. Folk with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s; it will be fascinating to see how they react to gaming as a therapy.

Dual Net Gaming Site Review of the Mini Connect

There are many gamers out there with disabilities and the number of blogs and reviewers is growing almost weekly.

We were very impressed with the newish blog called Ergo Hacks. They are building up a large and frequently updated site of all things accessible gaming, with recent news, game reviews and product and technical updates being added very regularly.

Trabasack Mini Connect detail taken by gaming reviews at Ergo Hacks

We were pleased to hear that they would review a Trabasack Mini Connect with a Media Mount with the uses for gamers with disabilities in mind…

The review was very positive and comprehensive. In particular they liked the design features that have been added to make trabasack a very ‘inclusive design ‘ and usable by a wide range of people.

Some nice touches demonstrate the attention to detail that makes this an exemplary bag. The tray has an edge that prevents items from sliding off, the zipper pull rings are chunky and large and easy to use even by those who have some impairment in their hands or small children. Two types of clips are used to attach the straps, a swivel clip and a snap hook clip, both are again easy to use.

They were also impressed with The Media Mount and the velcro receptive function of the trabasack connect tray surface and the  Media Mount:

Switches, a mouse mat and controllers can all be stuck to the tray in an ergonomic position for the user, preventing slippage and making it easy to move the whole tray with attached devices instead of having to balance or remove all devices before being able to move the tray to get up.

On the whole they concluded:

The Trabasack is a versatile innovative product highly recommended to anyone who travels frequently, don’t have a desk at home or requires a specialist surface due to a disability that reduces motor function or causes fatigue. It is easy to pack up your kit when retiring from the lounge to the bedroom and only have one bag to carry up and down the stairs. If you are gaming anywhere but a desk, it provides a stable surface on your lap for either a controller, switches or mouse and keypad set-up.

These extracts are taken from the Trabasack Review on Ergo Hacks The site is well worth a visit. There is lots more useful information there.

Trabasack Review from Izzy of  EnabledGaming Blog

Izzy is an antipodean gaming enthusiast who has a blog at EnabledGaming.blogspot (which is unfortunately currently unavailable). We first heard about Izzy’s enthusiasm for gaming when we read this interview with him at the excellent Special Effect Gamebase site.

In the interview Izzy talks about his current set up that allows him to enjoy gaming

My gaming setup includes a custom built mini joystick attached to a microphone stand, 2 micro switches and 2 touch switches. I also use a voice recognition program called Game Commander 3, and X-Keys switchbox and a custom Autohotkey script.

I use the mini joystick with my lips to move the mouse cursor around while using a micro switch in each hand for left and right clicking. I have 2 touch switches positioned near my face, 1 on each cheek, which I use for middle click and an extra button.

Game Commander 3 allows me to activate keyboard commands with my voice. It’s used for playing all of my games and is an essential gaming tool. My X-Keys switchbox allows me to program my switches to perform various commands depending on which program I have running. The Autohotkey script is used to program the mouse axis to perform different commands. This is essential for racing games and platformers.

Izzy has been very ill this year but we were thrilled when we discovered he had managed to record this video review of Trabasack Mini Connect:

Thank you very much Izzy for your efforts and very kind words! Anyone interested in talking to Izzy further can find him via his facebook profile.

He also was also recently interviewed about website accessibility for Red Bridge Web.

Trabasack on The AbleGamers Disabled Gamers Holiday Buying Guide

We were also chuffed to find that the Media Mount was included on the AbleGamers list of best buys for 2012:

Trabasack System One of the coolest items for the mobility impaired gamer, Trabasack’s new Media Mount uses Velcro “Noodles” to secure objects the surface of the tray. This soft felt beauty has a comfortable feel, but maintains its role as a sturdy table alternative with the added security of locking down your new expensive electronic items. Give yourself some peace of mind with a Trabasack this year.

So all in all there has been some great endorsements for the Trabasack from the disabled gaming community in 2012. Roll on 2013, there is much more to come! 😉

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.