Creating Games for the Blind:Lessons Learned

Summary of the knowledge gained

From the development of

Electronic Games For Blind Children

This project is funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway under the EEA Grants Greek NGO Programme “We are all Citizens”. The Bodossaki Foundation is the Fund Operator of this Programme. The Programme aims to strengthen civil society and enhance the contribution of NGOs to social justice, democracy and sustainable development.

Creating Games for the Blind:Lessons Learned

Summary of the knowledge gained

From the development of

Electronic Games For Blind Children

Creating Games for the Blind: Lessons Learned by Vassilis Giannakopoulos is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Source of the knowledge gained (1/2)

● Project LEAP: Games for Blind Children

● Duration: 1.5 years (Oct 2015 - March 2016)

● Game design and Development: SciFY

● Binaural sound tech: Ionian University

● Funding: EAA and Norway Grants (We Are All Citizens programme)

● SciFY has developed 3 games for blind children, in 2 languages

● Games offered for free: www.gamesfortheblind.org

● Source code publicly available under Open Source licences on GitHub

Source of the knowledge gained (2/2)

● Methodology:

○ 24 Personal interviews with blind children

■ Before game development to get specs

■ After a first version of the game has been developed, to test it

and make improvements

○ 9 Personal interviews during a LEAP tournament with blind children

○ Input from teachers of the blind children

○ Mails with remarks

Main Findings

Fact/ Finding● The need to play electronic games is great● Blind children try to play with whatever device they can access, even if it is

not designed for them, even if they keep losing● Playing games boosts self-confidence

Implications

● The need to develop specially designed electronic games is great

● Gaming is a great tool to build skills

Main Findings

Fact/ FindingBlindness is often accompanied by other problems (e.g. cognitive, motor)

Implications

● Detailed, step by step tutorials to make introduction to games easier

● Many levels: from extremely simple to hard with many rewards for all

● Help from a teacher/parent is very helpful

● Use different interfaces (e.g. keyboard and joystick)

Main Findings

Fact/ FindingIn Greece, blind children up to 12 y.o.

are usually not acquainted with computers

Implications

● Very simple interaction with the game

● Help from a teacher/parent is very helpful to show the basic keys (e.g.

arrow keys, spacebar, enter)

Main Findings

Fact/ FindingBlind children want to get acquainted with computers

Implications

● Games are a great tool to introduce them to computers

● Less fear towards computers

● Learn indirectly by playing

Main Findings

Fact/ Finding● Sound perception is subjective● Left/Right and the sense of depth (far/near or “approaching”) are more

easily understood than up/down.

Implications● Different sound sets need to be included in the games● Different sound sets need to be tried to have the best possible experience● Stereo sound is adequate to communicate basic sound perception (e.g.

left/right)● Binaural sound is very helpful for more complex sounds (e.g.up/down and

sense of depth)

Main Findings

Fact/ FindingHaving an “ally” has strong positive effects in enjoying the game

Implications● Include a “friend” in the game, that introduces children to the game

(tutorial), and probably accompanies them throughout it.● Include different voices for the ally, from which they can choose (e.g. a

friendly male and a female voice)● Help from a teacher/parent/friend the first time(s) helps, too.

Main Findings

Fact/ Finding● In Greece, as blind children grow older, they add smart devices

(smartphones / tablets) to their everyday life.● Younger children and children in the US are acquainted earlier with smart

devices.● Children want to use smart devices.

Implications

Games need to be developed in many platforms

Main Findings

Fact/ FindingThey love to play with other players when they want to

ImplicationsInclude both options: the option to play by oneself, in one’s own pace and the option to have another player in the game

Sharing Technology

http://www.scify.org/en/site

Technological Non Profit Company

Established in 2012

We are Sharing Technology to solve real-life problems

SciFY at a glance

Technological Non Profit Company

Established in 2012

We are Sharing Technology to solve real-life problems

SciFY at a glance

2012

● 8 Members - Volunteers● 3 Projects

2016

● 40 Members-Volunteers● 3 awards● Partnerships with Universities, Research institutes,

NGOs● Projects funded by E.U Funding

Our journey...so far

and the journey continues ...

Sharing Technology to solve real-life problems

Use state of the art computer tech

Solve real-life problems

Form a community

Offer solutions for free

Share the know-how

Make them self-sustainable

How we do it

Sponsors● Major Greek Welfare Institutions

○ 4 Institutions, 6 projects

● International funding○ EAA and Norway Grants○ Bosch and MitOst foundations (Germany)○ EU projects

Collaborators: Universities and Research Institutes

● 5 Major Greek Universities● 2 Research Centres

Sponsors and Collaborators

Assistive technologies

SupportingCivil Society

Organizational Intelligence

Freedom for people with disabilities

Helping Civil Society

bring results

Helping Organizations

get smarter

Impact areas

E-democracy tools

Empowering Citizens

Contact us | info@scify.org

Vassilis GiannakopoulosMarketing Mng. & Partnership Developmentvgia@scify.org,mobile: +30.697.20.58.648LinkedIn: http://gr.linkedin.com/in/vgiannakopoulosTel. +30.211.400.4192, +30.211.014.9973

http://www.scify.org/en/site

Or learn more here:

Full SciFY presentation

Appendix: Other SciFY Assistive Tech

Assistive technologies

SupportingCivil Society

Organizational Intelligence

Freedom for people with disabilities

Helping Civil Society

bring results

Helping Organizations

get smarter

E-democracy tools

Empowering Citizens

ICSee (I Can See)Smartphone application for users with low visionThe user turns the camera onThe image on the screen is processed(S)he can finally read a restaurant menu, a small text...

v 2.0 ReadyAlready funded*Impact local/global

Key projects | Assistive Technologies

Ready, being testedAlready funded*Impact local/global

ICStudy (I Can Study)

Same technology for use in the classroom

Allows students with low vision to participate in class

LEAP

Software games for blind children

3d sound technology (Binaural sound)

Specially designed for the blind

Ready in 2 languagesAlready funded*Impact local/global

FeIRd - For motor disabilities

For people with restricted hand mobility

Programmable remote control for IR devices

Key projects | Assistive Technologies

Ready, disseminatedAlready funded*Impact local

Talk and Play

Mainly for people with cerebral palsy

Allows them to communicate, watch movies / listen to music

Tools for occupational therapists

Proposal submittedPotential Impact local/global

Think Freedom

Solution that will allow people to interact

with devices and people

“Irrespective of disability” (our Ithaka)

Key projects | Assistive Technologies

Research in progressImpact local/global

Let’s collaborate | For academics

● See your research applied

● Maximize impact by forming a community

● Validate your ideas

● Connect with market opportunities

● Disseminate your work beyond research groups

Let’s collaborate | For students

● Expand your skill-set - Machine learning, Natural Language Processing, Artificial intelligence - Web/Mobile development using the latest trends - Agile methodologies

● Contribute to the open source community

● Exposure on github / Connect with recruiters

● Change the world for everyone

So why do you do this?

Because we believe that science is the struggle of a fewto conquer a piece of knowledge that belongs to everyone.