Special Effect is a charity based in Oxfordshire, a central location which helps them to quickly access large parts of the UK to aid people with physical disabilities of varying needs. Such cases may include stroke and road accident patients, people with life limiting conditions and injured soldiers. They have a firm belief that reintroducing people to the gaming world plays an important factor in kick starting rehabilitation, encouraging self esteem and most importantly inclusion.
Whilst at EGX I was able to try out their Eye Gaze technology which allows eyesight to control the action onscreen. This particular piece of equipment could benefit those who suffer from locked-in syndrome, motor neuron disease, muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsy.
I met Gavin, an approachable and friendly member of the Research and Development team who helped get me set up by calibrating my eyes against a motion detector positioned on a laptop. This required that I glance from dot to dot as they appeared on screen. Control wise the process was straightforward. To turn left/right I had to look at the respective left/right side of the monitor, to accelerate I looked at the upper central part of the screen and to reverse I had to look at the lower section. Soon I was ready to play and complete a lap of a popular AAA title racing game which had originally not been designed for such a specific style of play.
It is difficult for me to imagine a life in which playing videogames was impossible due to physical conditions and I often - like thousands of others - take this fact for granted. Whilst it may not seem like videogames require much physical effort to play, consider how much importance that even just the use of your thumbs hold in terms of how you navigate virtual spaces. To be unable to move them for whatever reason could quickly isolate you from the fast paced gaming world you know and understand. Whilst games consoles and equipment are continually advancing around us, it is a shame that there is not more technology out there to aid disadvantaged players.
I met Gavin, an approachable and friendly member of the Research and Development team who helped get me set up by calibrating my eyes against a motion detector positioned on a laptop. This required that I glance from dot to dot as they appeared on screen. Control wise the process was straightforward. To turn left/right I had to look at the respective left/right side of the monitor, to accelerate I looked at the upper central part of the screen and to reverse I had to look at the lower section. Soon I was ready to play and complete a lap of a popular AAA title racing game which had originally not been designed for such a specific style of play.
It is difficult for me to imagine a life in which playing videogames was impossible due to physical conditions and I often - like thousands of others - take this fact for granted. Whilst it may not seem like videogames require much physical effort to play, consider how much importance that even just the use of your thumbs hold in terms of how you navigate virtual spaces. To be unable to move them for whatever reason could quickly isolate you from the fast paced gaming world you know and understand. Whilst games consoles and equipment are continually advancing around us, it is a shame that there is not more technology out there to aid disadvantaged players.
Luckily, Special Effect are aware of the benefits of reintroducing such individuals back into the gaming community and they are currently the only charity within the UK addressing the problem.
The services Special Effect offer to quickly get clients back into the gaming world includes:
ASSESSMENTS - Special Effect take into consideration what abilities each individual possesses rather than specifically focusing on the conditions they have. They work alongside committed occupational therapists to make sure that seating, positioning and mounting will be suitable for any technology recommended to that particular individual.
LOANS LIBRARY - Choosing the right equipment through a process of trial and error can prove to be expensive. The loans library is a bank of adapted equipment that has been continuously backed up by their advice and support services. This allows individuals to put equipment through its paces, see how suitable it is for the needs of the person using it and once tested, possibly purchase.
The services Special Effect offer to quickly get clients back into the gaming world includes:
ASSESSMENTS - Special Effect take into consideration what abilities each individual possesses rather than specifically focusing on the conditions they have. They work alongside committed occupational therapists to make sure that seating, positioning and mounting will be suitable for any technology recommended to that particular individual.
LOANS LIBRARY - Choosing the right equipment through a process of trial and error can prove to be expensive. The loans library is a bank of adapted equipment that has been continuously backed up by their advice and support services. This allows individuals to put equipment through its paces, see how suitable it is for the needs of the person using it and once tested, possibly purchase.
Wish to find out more? Interested in getting involved? Know anyone that would benefit from the charity?
The details are provided below!
SPECIAL EFFECT
Website : http://www.specialeffect.org.uk/
Telephone: 01608 810055
Email: [email protected]
It was a pleasure to meet some of the Special Effect team during Thursday's event and I wish them all the best for the future.
The details are provided below!
SPECIAL EFFECT
Website : http://www.specialeffect.org.uk/
Telephone: 01608 810055
Email: [email protected]
It was a pleasure to meet some of the Special Effect team during Thursday's event and I wish them all the best for the future.
Paul Stone