Playing video games has long been a challenge for people with disabilities, chiefly because the standard controllers for the PlayStation, Xbox or Nintendo can be difficult, or even impossible, to maneuver for people with limited mobility. And losing the ability to play the games doesn’t just mean the loss of a favorite pastime, it can also exacerbate social isolation in a community already experiencing it at a far higher rate than the general population.
As part of the gaming industry’s efforts to address the problem, Sony has developed the Access controller for the PlayStation, working with input from Lane and other accessibility consultants. Its the latest addition to the accessible-controller market, whose contributors range from Microsoft to startups and even hobbyists with 3D printers.
“I was big into sports before my injury,” said Cesar Flores, 30, who uses a wheelchair since a car accident eight years ago and also consulted Sony on the controller. “I wrestled in high school, played football. I lifted a lot of weights, all these little things. And even though I can still train in certain ways, there are physical things that I can’t do anymore. And when I play video games, it reminds me that I’m still human. It reminds me that I’m still one of the guys.”
Putting the traditional controller aside, Lane, 52, switches to the Access. It’s a round, customizable gadget that can rest on a table or wheelchair tray and can be configured in myriad ways, depending on what the user needs. That includes switching buttons and thumbsticks, programming special controls and pairing two controllers to be used as one. Lane’s “Gran Turismo” car zooms around a digital track as he guides it with the back of his hand on the controller.
Esta historia es de la edición October 21, 2023 de Techlife News.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición October 21, 2023 de Techlife News.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
CALIFORNIA SUES EXXONMOBIL AND SAYS IT LIED ABOUT PLASTICS RECYCLING
California sued ExxonMobil this week, alleging the oil giant deceived the public for half a century by promising that the plastics it produced would be recycled.
STRIKE BY MORE THAN 1,000 SAMSUNG WORKERS ENTERS A THIRD WEEK IN INDIA
A strike by more than 1,000 workers at a Samsung India Electronics plant has entered its third week, and management is at an impasse over their demands for recognition of the employees’ union and higher pay, a workers union spokesman said,
BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SEEKS TO BAN CHINESE RUSSIAN TECH IN US AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES
The Commerce Department said this week it’s seeking a ban on the sale of connected and autonomous vehicles in the U.S. that are equipped with Chinese and Russian software and hardware with the stated goal of protecting national security and U.S. drivers. `
GOOGLE BEGINS ITS DEFENSE IN ANTITRUST CASE ALLEGING MONOPOLY OVER ADVERTISING TECHNOLOGY
Google opened its defense against allegations that it holds an illegal monopoly on online advertising technology with witness testimony saying the industry is vastly more complex and competitive than portrayed by the federal government.
PHONE DEAL FOR VISITING FANS AT 2026 WORLD CUP PART OF VERIZON SPONSOR PACT WITH FIFA
Soccer fans arriving in North America for the 2026 World Cup have been promised help with their cell phone coverage from Verizon as part of a sponsor deal with FIFA announced this week.
UN EXPERTS URGE UNITED NATIONS TO LAY FOUNDATIONS FOR GLOBAL GOVERNANCE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
A high-powered U.N. advisory body said that global governance of artificial intelligence is “imperative” and urged the United Nations to lay the foundations for the first inclusive global institutions to regulate the fast-growing technology.
CALIFORNIA BECOMES LATEST STATE TO RESTRICT STUDENT SMARTPHONE USE AT SCHOOL
School districts in California will have to create rules restricting student smartphone use under a new law Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom signed this week.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE SUES VISA. ALLEGES 7 THE CARD ISSUER MONOPOLIZES DEBIT CARD MARKETS
The U.S. Justice Department has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Visa, alleging that the financial services behemoth uses its size and dominance to stifle competition in the debit card market, costing consumers and businesses billions of dollars.
ALMOST ALL SMALL BUSINESSES ARE USING A SOFTWARE TOOL THAT IS ENABLED BY AI
As the use of artificial intelligence is expands, more small firms say they’re harnessing AI to help their businesses.
APPLE BEGINS TESTING AI SOFTWARE DESIGNED TO BRING A SMARTER SIRI TO THE IPHONE 16
Apple is giving more people the chance to test a software update that will implant artificial intelligence into its virtual assistant Siri and automate a variety of tedious tasks on the latest iPhone coming out.
