Space Invaders: Hand Edition
The topic that I really wanted to work towards was providing methods for improving the user’s visuomotor control, aka hand-eye coordination. In the last five years, there have been several studies on the effectiveness of video games improving users’ visuomotor control and reactivity. Yet, there is still a significant gap in the industry that lacks support for gamers with physical disabilities. Although there are several organizations working towards adaptive controllers, Warfighter Engaged, the AbleGamers Charity, and SpecialEffect, the accessibility to these controllers is still relatively low. Through the use of Infrared Sensors, I’d like to provide a button free controller that works with a few games to help improve the visuomotor control of young gamers with physical disabilities.
In order to do this, I first had to acknowledge the current conditions for video games improving visuomotor control. Typically, this is achieved with a standard micro-controller, an Xbox or PlayStation controller, or a mouse and keyboard combination. In the last five years, there have been several studies that prove that playing video games improve users visuomotor skills and reactivity. As said previously, I’d like to create a couple games that work through the use of infrared sensors to provide a fun and interactive way for young gamers with physical disabilities to improve their visuomotor skills, reactivity, and to have fun. In order to do this, I will first have to develop an infrared sensor component that will act as the controller. Following this, I would like to create at least two games that utilize the Infrared sensors to allow users to easily interact with the games. To really involve interactivity, the games and the position of the Infrared sensors will be setup to have the in-game character move in tandem with the user’s hand, as if their hand is the character. Although not to the extent of intended audience for these games, a friend recently fractured their wrist, rendering him incapable of using the standard gaming controllers comfortably. Due to this tragic convenience, he will be the mechanism used to provide feedback for player testing. I believe he will be able to provide information on usability of the games, as well as allowing me to better understand and empathize with my intended audience.
My plan for attacking this project is to first come up with two games that utilize hand movement in two different ways. After developing the ideas, I want to begin designing the games in processing to make it aesthetically pleasing for the user and reflect some form of achievement and to ensure the games are fun to play. Once this is done, I will begin user testing with my friend mentioned above to see if there is anything that needs changed and make those changes. In order to make sure that I have a better understanding, I will complete the first game within a week and do my user testing on that before developing the idea for the second game.
While doing my preparatory research, I knew I wanted to create a videogame and did some research on the positive impacts that video games have. Originally, I just wanted to create a fun video game that was designed for a specific audience. But then, I came across a NYTimes article on adaptive controllers for gamers with physical disabilities and completely changed my idea to better accommodate young gamers with physical disabilities. My thought process that followed was that although gamers with physical disabilities had access to these adaptive controllers, they may not have the developed visuomotor skills to make these games usable and fun. No one enjoys a game that they don’t have the reactivity or skills to play, causing them to just die. It is frustrating and off-putting. Having a basis at a younger age, that lacks the complications of buttons, can give young gamers the confidence and visuomotor skills to eventually progress to these adaptive controllers for more complicated games. My idea of interaction is a little more radical than most, I define interaction as a form of communication that provides information and a feedback mechanism of useful information. In terms of my final project, the hand acting as the in-game character makes the user physically feel as a part of the game. After my project is completed, I think it could potentially act as a basis for one of the organizations above to create a further developed platform for young gamers with physical disabilities.