Leap Motion

For just $70 this little device (about the size of a flash drive) says it will change how you interact with your computer.  The Leap Motion is a external input device like a trackpad or keyboard, but it's more like a Kinect for your computer.

The Leap Motion creates a 3-D space around it that allows you to put your hands in and control your computer.  It is supposedly able to distinguish from fingers and thumbs, and would effectively turn any computer you have into a touch screen.  There's a good demo video here at their site - http://www.leapmotion.com/

I've written before about alternative ways to interact with a computer - Alternative Computer Access, Free Switch Accessible Games, 10/GUI, Oribitouch - but there is something different about this option.  Having a device that responds to your hands, using either built in or customized gestures (which you can do) gives you a flexibility when looking at access for all individuals.  I've also mentioned that one of the best features of iOS devices is the touch interface (kids just get it), and this brings that to all computers, at a very reasonable cost.

The only caveat is that, this is not out yet.  It says there will be a limited amount available in the winter. I hope that this product comes to market because I can see it's potential to open up access to many, many individuals.

Patrick

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All Abilities ePlayground #a11y #assistivetech #spedtech #spedchat #tck

All Abilities ePlayground is an online, or virtual, playground that features fun and games that are accessible to children of ALL abilities. This site, which is based in Australia, is an initiative of the Gold Coast City Council supported by the Department of Communities (Disability Services) and developed by Sonokids Australia.  The All Abilities ePlayground reflects the values and aims of 17 outdoor all abilities playgrounds funded by the Queensland Government.  Learn more about this ground-breaking project enabling all children to participate in play - Queensland All Abilities Playground Project.


The All Abilities ePlayground, which was developed to create a way for children to visit an all abilities playground from anywhere, aims to:

• reflect an all-inclusive and safe play environment
• offer fun, innovative and accessible ways of interactive online play
• stimulate and support imagination, skills development and cognitive learning
• allow a child with a disability to play as independently as possible
• create awareness and acceptance of alternative ways to play
• support integration and mutual understanding by play and interaction

The ePlayground features a number of entertaining actions as well as 4 games: IbisBuster, Memory, TrixMix, and Roo Hill Thrill.

1. IbisBuster - adventure game in which the player collects different "good things" and "shoo" Iris the ibis who tries to steal them.  The game is accompanied with a great adventure story.
2. Memory - puzzle-type game that involves finding the matching pairs of sounds and images
3. Trix Mix - creative game with music and animations that allows the child to mix and record musical sounds to a set beat.
4. Roo Hill Thrill - action game with a fantasy setting in which a kangaroo must surf over hills and avoid beach balls.

The entire site features audio instructions\narration by BuddyFly, who guides children through the playground.

Also, please note that you will need to complete a FREE registration to use the site.

With regards to accessibility, there are two versions of All Abilities ePlayground:

1.  Mouse and keyboard ePlayground - recommended for children who are able to use a mouse or keyboard.  This version is also accessible for children who are blind using a screen reader.  There are a number of ways the games in this version could be accessed: mouse & keyboard,  interactive whiteboard, touch screen, or trackball\joystick.

2.  Automatic scanning ePlayground - In this version, all actions as well as the games are played feature automatic scanning.  Access options include single switch, space bar, mouse left-click, puffing into microphone (Puff2Play™) , or interactive whiteboard.

The activities and games on the site have been tested by children with print disability, autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, learning difficulties, speech impairments, cognitive delays, and physical impairments.

-  Jeremy
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Pointscribe

One product that I had decided to check out at ATIA is Pointscribe.  I'd heard about it on the QIAT list and thought it sounded interesting.  Basically it's software for teaching handwriting.  Sounds simplistic, but it's more than that.  It has several very interesting features - it works with touchscreens & tablet computers (that work with pens). It includes auditory & visual feedback and can teach basic shapes/lines, and will move up to letters, numbers and even cursive.  You can even create own scripts and have kids trace over it.

At ATIA I took the opportunity to try out the program, it worked extremely well, was responsive, and was easy to use.  It worked well with both the pen from a tablet computer as well as using my finger on a Magic Touch screen.  You can download a free 30-day trial from Pointscribe - Free Trial.  At this time the program is only available for PC, but I'm told a Mac version is forthcoming.  Try out your copy today!

Patrick

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10/GUI

I read many other tech blogs, and RSS feeds. Yesterday I ran across a very interesting new type of interface. Of course at this time it's only conceptual, but has very interesting implications for Assistive Technology and computer access.

10/GUI from C. Miller on Vimeo.

10/GUI (pronounced gooey) is an interesting idea on how to reinvent the computer interface. As it points out we are rather limited and have reached a point where the mouse interface is not going to change anymore. Touch is the new interface. While touchscreens have been around for quite a while, they are sometimes just as limiting as the computer mouse. I have my own personal bias about touchscreens too (many children with disabilities generalize that all computers have touch screens and get confused when they don't, again just a personal bias).

This interface seems to have broad implications for students with disabilities. It allows students to interact with a computer in a more natural way. While we all know that the computer mouse can be difficult to teach or learn for some students, they might have more opportunity for interaction with this interface. Again, I know that it's a concept, but maybe, just maybe we can get enough people talking about it to get the ball rolling!

10/Gui

Patrick

Photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons: Eph Zero

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Make your own Interactive Whiteboard

One of the more techy adaptations floating around the internet at this time is the Wiimote Whiteboard. What exactly is a Wiimote Whiteboard? It's a way to turn a simple projector into a Smartboard. Basically you connect your Wiimote to your computer (that's hooked up to your projector), point the Wiimote at the screen, and use an LED pen to access the screen. The Infrared Sensor on the Wiimote detects where you touch and translates that to the computer, just like a mouse. The beauty of this, it can all be done for $75 or less! The software is available free on the internet, a Wiimote costs-$40, a LED pen-$10, a tripod-$20, & an adapter for the tripod-$10. Here are several sites that talk about how to set up a Wiimote Whiteboard:

Alltogether.com - Wiimote Whiteboard in Education: A tutorial

Speech Language Pathology Sharing - Low-Cost Interactive Applications for the MacBook - Touch-Screen, Interactive Whiteboard, Gesture Recognition

Check out these tutorials, and get started on your own Wiimote Whiteboard today!

Patrick

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