Technology has been improving in leaps and bounds, and this includes gaming tech. In 2017, there are several assistive tech options for gamers with disabilities.
From using eye-tracking technology to create a virtual keyboard onscreen to developing technologies that can help users play games in spite of their disabilities, the accessibility in the world of video games is steadily increasing.
This year, both video game and gadget companies are developing tech that can make it easier for gamers with disabilities to play the games they love.
Here are six of the best assistive technology options for 2022.
1. Eye-Tracking
Controlling a game with the help of eye movements is called eye-tracking. Many games have the ability to have a virtual keyboard overlaid over the gameplay, allowing users to interact with it with eye movements. Of course, specialized gaming controllers can be used in addition. Today’s most popular gaming devices are using eye-tracking as well. As demonstrated by Valve and in part by Sony, developers are creating fantastic gameplay experiences that require little or no button presses at all using eye-tracking tech at work.
This system works by using infrared sensors on the television screen to detect when your eyes move through the screen. A camera on the headset registers the movement of your eyes. These two pieces of tech are linked to a computer, which then sends the information to the game.
By 2013, a number of game titles were available that used eye-tracking technology. In 2016, Sony released a new line of PlayStation VR (PSVR) headsets that track players’ heads and eyes, utilizing their gaze for navigating menus and aiming for in-game opponents. This is what gamers had been waiting for?not having to use controllers with their hands at all. This has been elevated over the years and the use of VR and AR will only help to stretch it further in 2022 and beyond.
Tobii, the global leader in eye-tracking technology for gaming is celebrating a record number of years in delivering eye-tracking capabilities to a range of different industries, including gaming. The future holds much hope for eye-tracking technology which means some of gaming’s most favorite titles could be changed and adapted to be used with this type of technology offering a new and different experience.
2. The Dexmo
A glove that helps users better control their hand movements is a great assistive technology option for gamers with hand tremors. The Dexmo is a robotic exoskeleton glove that enables hand and finger motions with the help of straps and sensors inside the glove. The creators of this glove designed it to be compatible with the HTC Vive, meaning those who wear it can still play video games while wearing it. It also can be used in research labs and medical facilities to improve dexterity and reduce fatigue in long-term care facilities!
The Dexmo isn’t the only assistive tech option for gamers with hand tremors. Some use a glove augmented by sensors in the fingers, though not quite as heavy or robust as the Dexmo. This can help users move their fingers more precisely, but also makes it difficult for them to hold anything that requires strength?such as dials and buttons in games.
3. Tetraplegia and Other Motor Control Issues
Sometimes those with tetraplegia (a type of paralysis caused by damage to part of the nervous system) and other motor control issues find themselves unable to move their hands effectively at all through technology. Thankfully, there are gaming tech innovations that help them play games using their mouths as controls.
When users have super-fine motor control issues, neckband and mouth movement can be used for gameplay. With a portable gaming device, a headset with infrared sensors can detect hand gestures for navigation.
4. Emotiv’s Myo Armband
Myo is a brainwave-sensing armband that comes in the colors of many sports teams. The armband has a unique shape that allows it to fit into the contours of a player’s arm, while still being able to send data to a gaming computer. It’s worn on the upper arm and then wires are plugged into it.
One of the biggest assistive technology options for gamers with disabilities is the Emotiv’s Myo Armband . This armband uses electrical signals generated by muscles in your arm to allow you to navigate through a game instead of moving your hand on screen.
The armband is equipped with sensors that detect muscle movements of the arm to alter the direction of movement in-game. As an open-source device, it can be used with all sorts of devices, from your standard indie games to AAA titles from some of America’s best developers.
5. Twitch’s Gaming Gloves
Other assistive tech options for gamers with mobility issues or dexterity issues use gaming gloves like the ones available through Twitch. These are designed for PC players and don’t put as much stress on your hands as a VR headset might. These gloves have a bunch of finger sensors in them that you can use to control a game or interface for a game.
Keep in mind that this is not the only way to play games, and in fact, there are many gamers with disabilities who are still using other assistive tech that enable them to play video games. These include things like special large-button controllers, text-to-speech software, and even eye-tracking glasses. While these options may work well for some users, many gamers with disabilities find that they are easier to use within an open source environment like the one on Twitch.
