Developing and Evaluating a Non-Visual Memory Game

Abstract

This paper describes the development of a non-visual memory game based on the classic game ‗Simon™', where users are presented with a sequence of stimuli, which they need to replicate in the same order to progress to the next level. Information is presented using a combination of speech, nonspeech audio and/or haptic cues, designed to aid blind users who are often excluded from mainstream gaming applications. Findings from an empirical study have revealed that when haptic feedback was presented in combination with other modalities, users successfully replicated more sequences, compared with presenting haptic feedback alone. We suggest that when developing a nonvisual game using an unfamiliar input device, speech-based feedback is presented in conjunction with haptic cues.

MathMelodies: Inclusive Design of a Didactic Game to Practice Mathematics

“…Auditory user interfaces have been extended with haptic or tactile feedback in order to help blind people to construct a mental representation of the scene. Audio-haptic educational games have been proposed both with general purpose haptic devices [4] and with new hardware devices employing vibro-tactile feedback [5,6], specifically designed to generate tactile stimuli which reinforce audio cues. These solutions proved to be more usable by blind people, but they are far more expensive and, as far as specific devices are concerned, they are currently only available as prototypes.…”