Design and Usability Testing of an Audio Platform Game for Players With Visual Impairments
By Oren, Michael; Harding, Chris; Bonebright, Terri L.; Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, Vol. 102, No. 12, pp. 761-773Publication Date: December 2008
Article describes the development and evaluation of an audio platform game for players with visual impairments that creates a spatial, interactive experience via audio cues. The game was modeled on a video platform game set in a two-dimensional, side-scrolling world with a user-controlled character that hops on or over objects to reach a goal. The player uses strategic thinking to travel across multifloor platforms to dodge approaching opponents and reach the goal. A type of auditory display, sonification, was used to create auditory icons including two types of adversaries, a barking sound bite for a dog and a buzz for a bee. So-called “earcorns”, sound bites such as “ouch”, footstep sounds, jumping sounds, and a drum beat were used to indicate hitting a platform, moving left and right, jumping over obstacles, and landing. Players used standard headphones and a dual-action game pad for playing the audio game. A pilot study with players with visual impairments, and usability testing comparing the visual and audio game versions using both sighted and visually impaired players, revealed that all the participants played the audio platform game successfully. Results of a follow-up survey showed that a majority of participants found both the audio-only and audiovisual games enjoyable.
Published by: AFB Press (Website:http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=46)
American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) (Web Site: http://www.afb.org )
Link to text: http://www.afb.org/store/product.asp?sku=jvib021205
This publication is included in the library of the National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC), accession number J56219
