Usability of a Multimodal Video Game to Improve Navigation Skills for Blind Children

Abstract

This work presents an evaluative study on the usability of a haptic device together with a sound-based video game for the development and use of orientation and mobility (O&M) skills in closed, unfamiliar spaces by blind, school-aged children. A usability evaluation was implemented for a haptic device especially designed for this study (Digital Clock Carpet) and a 3D video game (MOVA3D) in order to determine the degree to which the user accepted the device, and the level of the user’s satisfaction regarding her interaction with these products for O&M purposes. In addition, a cognitive evaluation was administered. The results show that both the haptic device and the video game are usable, accepted and considered to be pleasant for use by blind children. The results also show that they are ready to be used for cognitive learning purposes. Results from a cognitive study demonstrated significant gains in tempo-spatial orientation skills of blind children when navigating in unfamiliar spaces.

Hacia una conceptualización de los videojuegos como discursos multimodales electrónicos

“…Esta indagación permite a los autores de este escrito visualizar que las definiciones respecto a los videojuegos provienen de áreas tales como la educación (Grupo F9, 2000;Gómez et al, 2003;Mendiz et al, 2003;Pérez et al, 2003;De Aguilera & Mañas, 2001;De Aguilera & Mendiz, 2003;Sánchez et al, 2010) la ludología (Aarseth, 1997) y la informática (Nussbaum et al, 2003), entre otras; no obstante, no se evidencia una construcción teórica que asuma al videojuego como un discurso, es decir, que provenga desde el ámbito de la lingüística y desde una perspectiva multimodal. Knight (2015).…”

ICTs and Special Education in Kindergarten

“…The researchers state that children like, accept, use, and are very motivated with the use of the certain software [11].…”

BraillePlay

“…Researchers have created recreational digital games for traditional computers as well as various other hardware platforms [7,8,11,16,27,34,37]. McElligott et al [26] conducted co-design with blind children and developed several computer games with audio feedback.…”

“…They found that children enjoyed playing their games individually and in groups, working together on challenging parts of the game. Sánchez et al [34] also developed an accessible game on a custom hardware platform called MOVA3D, which teaches children orientation and mobility skills. …”