OneSwitch.org.uk blog

iOS 7: Better Switch Access On the Way

noreply@blogger.com (OneSwitch.org.uk) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 20:37:00 +0000

I've made no secret that I think current Apple iOS switch access is a confusing mess and extremely limited. With news of the pending iOS7 operating system update (see the video above), it looks like things could be improving soon. I'm second guessing, but I think there will still be some way to go before the following ever becomes a reality...

For Apple to set up a versatile Alternative User Interface Device protocol. Something that takes into account switch, joypad and mouse/head-tracker/eye-gaze access.

That (ideally) the wide range of existing switch interfaces remain compatible with the new interfacing protocol.

That a keyboard can be used to simulate a switch interface, and ideally a mouse can be used to simulate a future head-tracker or eye-tracker interface to keep costs down for developers. This would also open up a path for a wide range of controllers being developed for alternative access and some exciting D.I.Y. hacks.

That switches can be set-up to trigger held presses, taps, emulated gestures/taps, and work on old Apps and games (even if only to a limited extent).

Multiple-controller profiles being possible to easily set-up, save and load. How brilliant this would be for massively improving physical access to iPhones, iPods and iPads.

Moon Waltz

noreply@blogger.com (OneSwitch.org.uk) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 08:42:00 +0000

Fun, but potentially ultra-violent, Major Beuno's Moon Waltz, gives you the power to reveal a full moon using the SPACE BAR. This will affect the state of a young man walking to the end of his town to buy some cigarettes, who happens to be a Werewolf.

You can choose to wreak absolute pandemonium upon the town, or try to be a more upstanding citizen. Hugely accessible, with a variety of different endings. My only wish is that you didn't need an additional switch to start and restart (key "R"), as this would make a brilliant pure one-switch game

Polybius (1981) - Urban Myth

noreply@blogger.com (OneSwitch.org.uk) — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 07:48:00 +0000

"According to legend, an unheard-of new arcade game appeared in several suburbs of Portland, Oregon in 1981, something of a rarity at the time. The game proved to be incredibly popular, to the point of addiction, and lines formed around the machines, often resulting in fighting over who played next.

This was followed by clusters of visits from men in black. Rather than the usual marketing data collected by company visitors to arcade machines, they collected some unknown data, allegedly testing responses to the psychoactive machines. The players themselves suffered from a series of unpleasant side effects, including amnesia, insomnia, nightmares, night terrors, and even suicide in some versions of the legend."

That game's name was said to be Polybius. Looks like a one-switch game too, if the Simpsons' take is to be believed.

Via Wikipedia and WikiSimpsons.

Cursor Click

noreply@blogger.com (OneSwitch.org.uk) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 21:55:00 +0000

Cursor Click from Don Calaca replicates one of the earliest ever one-button games, played before most people had home computers. It took one or more pocket calculators that had a "constant calculations" mode, started by tapping in 1,+,+. You would then be able to hammer the equals button as fast as you could to constantly count upwards. With two players and two calculators you could both race to a set-number, e.g. first to 100 wins. The 1970s equivalent of Track and Field or Sonic and Mario at the Olympics.

10 Years of OneSwitch.org.uk

noreply@blogger.com (OneSwitch.org.uk) — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 23:01:00 +0000

Today (10.06.2013) is the 10th anniversary of OneSwitch.org.uk being launched as an official business. Before then I was toying with it being a charity or something in between. It was started to share ideas and to try and make a small difference in the world.

It's nice to look back, and I'm so pleased to have started this journey for the many wonderful and supportive people I've come into contact with. It's good to look forward too. The book I planned to have ready today, OneSwitch 100, is still being written, but I'm determined to finish it. Coming soon too will be a solderless D.I.Y. switch interface and D.I.Y. analogue controls. Far off in the future another two books are planned. So many ideas, and so little time...

Hug Punx vs. Punks Not Dead

noreply@blogger.com (OneSwitch.org.uk) — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 21:48:00 +0000

HugPunx and PunksNotDead are two games sharing simple controls but opposing Utopian/Dystopian scenarios when the world turned Day-glo.

Both require excellent tracking skills, as it's easy to lose track of your character when things get busy. HugPunx is incredibly easy to complete. PunksNotDead is nightmarishly hard (even with the extra ability to jump bullets). Great music in both and striking pink on black graphics. HugPunx can be made one-switch accessible using William Pilgrim's brilliant 4Noah 2010 Beta utility. A one-switch hugging simulator. Hmm... Recon it wouldn't be too tough to adapt a hugging machine for real (see below).

Being Human

noreply@blogger.com (OneSwitch.org.uk) — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 08:15:00 +0000

Switch Accessible Drinks Dispenser

noreply@blogger.com (OneSwitch.org.uk) — Fri, 31 May 2013 16:48:00 +0000

Simple drink dispenser imported from Japan, inspired by "moroQ" and switch adapted. Likely a complete one-off as so hard to find, so if you want it, now's your chance. 30 quid plus postage from the OneSwitch shop brand new old-stock and has never had liquid through it.

Basic PS3 Switch Interface

noreply@blogger.com (OneSwitch.org.uk) — Fri, 31 May 2013 15:47:00 +0000

Just sent out a "P3" marked PS3 wireless joypad, adapted for switch access to the shoulder buttons. This type of controller uses all digital contacts for all buttons, so is (in theory) easy to hook switches up to. They're very delicate in reality, so a very careful hand is needed with these when adapting. Seem great once done.

Thanks to Gav Tan for the tip about the P3.

"Very Manly Computer Interface"

noreply@blogger.com (OneSwitch.org.uk) — Thu, 30 May 2013 08:59:00 +0000

Love this video by Kurt Robinson of his "Very Manly Computer Interface". His set-up is designed to alleviate some of the pains caused by repetitive and fine motion, and I can honestly say I've never seen anything quite like it. Brilliant!

I was sorry though to be unable to help Kurt more with some X-keys switch interface issues he has been having. Certain dialogue buttons within Windows are not responding to switch input emulating keyboard and mouse input. Admin mode is not fixing this for him. Any ideas anyone?

Tug the Table

noreply@blogger.com (OneSwitch.org.uk) — Tue, 28 May 2013 21:06:00 +0000

Tug the Table is a one-switch / one-button battle for one or two players by Otto Ojola. Try to drag your opponent into your side of the room to win a star. Win five stars to win the game and a dance in confetti.

Via: JayisGames.com - see also Wrestle Jump.

My Carnival Needs Support

noreply@blogger.com (OneSwitch.org.uk) — Sun, 19 May 2013 21:38:00 +0000

My Carnival hopes to become a video game for children with Cystic Fibrosis. If it reaches it's funding total, it will be released free of charge on PC. It's a laudable project, by the proven and brilliant AccessAble Games, but it needs support or it won't happen this way. 12 days to go at the time of writing...

Via: Javier Mairena on the IGDA GASIG mailing list. Poster below.

The World is in Your Hands

noreply@blogger.com (OneSwitch.org.uk) — Sun, 19 May 2013 20:43:00 +0000

This one-switch game by Jack le Hamster sees you in "the story of a paralyzed man who can only used his right hand." You fly his arm-chair from left to right, seeking to put some wrongs right in the world. Land in the right spot to give a person a lift then take them where they can do the most good.

Your control is the Space Bar to fly up and right-wards. Release to sink down and if over a level surface, land and stop. This does require a very high level of skill, but you can't die, and there's no time limit.

I am also impressed by the other two games also hosted at Dobuki.com being a manic one-switch chase game called OMGAF Dragon! and the point and click puzzle game World of Turtle which I think should be a great fit for eye-gaze play.

Via: Lundum Dare.

The New Xbox: Brand New You're Retro

noreply@blogger.com (OneSwitch.org.uk) — Sun, 19 May 2013 19:27:00 +0000

The dusty old set-up above was a once loved Ken Yankelevitz adapted Atari VCS 2600 games console. Probably dating from 1982 this set-up features push button handsets using off the shelf arcade parts.

This sorry sight replicates the fate of a lot of old assistive gaming technology. If it won't connect to the next generation (in this case the Nintendo Entertainment System) then a completely new set of custom controls often need to be built. Expensive and rendering the old set-up redundant for many people after the latest in gaming.

Whilst many are looking forward to the new Xbox being revealed on Tuesday, I'm left thinking after the PS3 and Wii-U launch, can console game controllers get any more complex and disabling? Fingers crossed Microsoft will have given accessibility more thought this time around.

Radio On (1979)

noreply@blogger.com (OneSwitch.org.uk) — Wed, 15 May 2013 14:18:00 +0000

Radio On (1979) by BFIfilms (18 certificate). One of my favourite films in full thanks to the BFI and Dailymotion. Love Always Crashing in the Same Car by Bowie and Kraftwerk are always wonderful.

Camera Mouse (2013)

noreply@blogger.com (OneSwitch.org.uk) — Tue, 14 May 2013 21:11:00 +0000

Huge thanks to Eleanor and John Bannick of 7-128.com for re-pointing me to Camera Mouse. I was aware of this back in 2007, tried it, and I think duly forgot about it as it didn't work too brilliantly for me.

Well, I'm guessing some significant updates (and me having a better computer) have turned this into an absolutely brilliant utility. So simple to use from the go and effective. I'm very curious to see how well it works on top of the likes of Alt-Controller. Free as well.

Added to the Accessible Gaming Shop: Head, Mouth and Eye Control section.

The Sensory Story Project - Kickstarter

noreply@blogger.com (OneSwitch.org.uk) — Mon, 13 May 2013 19:41:00 +0000

Joanna Grace is the author of a range of accessible sensory stories, some of which have been published by Oxfam and Amnesty International. Joanna has created a Kickstarter project that hopes to create a carefully crafted range of affordable sensory stories to sell on-line.

The Kickstarter Sensory Stories project, if funded, aims to complete within seven months. Backers get all kinds of interesting rewards. This is a great project, well worth supporting.

Reminds me a little of this passage from Jack Kerouac's The Dharma Bums that I'm half-way through at the minute: "A real haiku's gotta be as simple as porridge and yet make you see the real thing, like the greatest haiku of them all probably is the one that goes 'The sparrow hops along the veranda, with wet feet.' By Shiki. You see the wet footprints like a vision in your mind and yet in those few words you also see all the rain that's been falling that day and almost smell the wet pine needles."

A is for Autism

noreply@blogger.com (OneSwitch.org.uk) — Sat, 11 May 2013 18:00:00 +0000

A is for Autism and Drew Taylor's Story are two short films that explain a little of what living with Autism is like. Brilliant.

Via: Thurrock POINT.

One Button Cardboard Arcade

noreply@blogger.com (OneSwitch.org.uk) — Tue, 07 May 2013 07:08:00 +0000

One Button Games in cardboard D.I.Y. cabinet via Twitter: Kaho Abe

Nod

noreply@blogger.com (OneSwitch.org.uk) — Mon, 06 May 2013 20:49:00 +0000

Nod by Rose Abernathy is a one-switch mini-dating sim. Simply nod at the right time to win a date. Such a simple but fun idea, and an amusing two-minute distraction. Created for the Lundum Dare "Minimalism" competition.

Via: IndieGames.com

Pogo

noreply@blogger.com (OneSwitch.org.uk) — Wed, 01 May 2013 21:46:00 +0000

Floating sleepily around the web, and happy to see New Port State of Mind reinstated, I found The Wizard of Meh by Pogo. It rather tickles me.

Amazing PinInterest Collection

noreply@blogger.com (OneSwitch.org.uk) — Wed, 01 May 2013 06:00:00 +0000

Lauren S. Enders jaw dropping collection of Pinterest boards, sharing a staggering array of accessibility information. Hugely impressive.

OAK Air Switch (PC Kinect)

noreply@blogger.com (OneSwitch.org.uk) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 21:15:00 +0000

This is a remarkable and exciting development from RCAST at the University of Tokyo and Microsoft Japan. Kinect PC software that enables multiple switches to be created in thin-air for the user: Observation and Access with Kinect (OAK). The following is mainly cribbed from their video above:

OAK is software created to support people with severe physical disabilities to enable activities of daily living using Kinect for Windows.

OAK can create non-contact switches for the user using the human motion tracking of Kinect.

OAK Air Switch is the software that can create nonexistent but repsonsive switches in the air. The switches are called air switches.

Air Switch Depth mode: In Depth mode, OAK allows you to draw a switch "in the air" (much like Eye Toy buttons, but looking far more responsive). Activating A "Tracking" mode enables the switch to proportionately follow the user to take into account if they shift from their original position.

Air Switch Colour Mode: Drag a switch anywhere on screen. If the pixels change within that box, a switch is activated. This looks like very small changes can be detected, such as a small finger movement.

Face Switch: This enables switches to be controlled using the face, mouth, tongue and eyes.

The potential for this software is huge. Single switches can be tailor made to suit each individual across a broad range of possible motions. The ephemeral nature of the switches means they can be quickly adapted to keep in step with any changing needs, at no extra cost. At the other end, an elaborate array of switches could be created to give huge power. Although the tactile nature of a physical switch is a hard thing to improve upon for many the OAK Air Switch offers such great poential. I wonder when it will be released and for how much. I wonder if it can be used with with the likes of the Cronus to control Xbox 360 games too.

Huge thanks to Brannon Zahand for the links and tip-off. Read more at www.assist-i.net, at their OAK switch PDF and at Microsoft.

Gooooooaaaaaaalllll!

noreply@blogger.com (OneSwitch.org.uk) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 07:16:00 +0000

Love this YouTube footage of a young lad called Arlo playing video games on his switch accessible C-SID controller. Via SpecialEffect and their YouTube feed.

Sugru

noreply@blogger.com (OneSwitch.org.uk) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 21:27:00 +0000

Sugru is a air-drying rubber compound that suits a lot of potential D.I.Y. fixes, hacks and mounting needs. One example is the hack above showing a pre-modified Evil Controller Xbox joypad with Kontrolfreek thumb-stick extension, further modified by the user using Sugru.

With thanks to Bill Donegan for sending me some originally. Added to the OneSwitch D.I.Y. area.