Assistive technologies for brain-injured gamers

Jason Colman, Paul Gnanayutham

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter (peer-reviewed)peer-review

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Abstract

This chapter surveys assistive technologies which make video games more accessible for people who have an acquired brain injury (ABI). As medical care improves, an increasing number of people survive ABI. Video games have been shown to provide therapeutic benefits in many medical contexts, and rehabilitation for ABI survivors has been shown to be facilitated by playing some types of video game. Therefore, technologies which improve the accessibility of games have the potential to bring a form of therapy to a larger group of people who may benefit. Hardware technologies which may make games more accessible for brain injury survivors are considered. Complementing these devices is the inclusion of accessibility features into games during the development process. The creation of best practice accessibility guidelines among game development practitioners is a nascent field, considered important by the authors. Play testing is common practice during game development. We consider the ethical issues involved when the play testers are brain injury survivors. Overall, the aim of this chapter is to improve the accessibility of future games, and thus their therapeutic potential, for brain injured, and other disabled gamers.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAssistive technologies and computer access for motor disabilities
EditorsG. Kouroupetroglou
Place of PublicationHershey, PA
PublisherIGI Global
Pages28-56
Number of pages29
ISBN (Print)9781466644380
Publication statusPublished - 2013
EventInformation Technology & Computer Science 8th Annual International Conference - Athens, Greece
Duration: 21 May 201224 May 2012

Conference

ConferenceInformation Technology & Computer Science 8th Annual International Conference
Country/TerritoryGreece
CityAthens
Period21/05/1224/05/12

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