Samsung and SPD Announce Assistive Technology for Cyber Gamers

Leading electronic manufacturer Samsung Electronics and The Society for the Physically Disabled (SPD), a voluntary welfare organization, revealed plans to jointly develop customized assistive technology devices for gaming for people with physical disabilities. Rapture Gaming, organizers of World Cyber Games 2005 Singapore National Final, serves as the special adviser to the program.

Dr. Ow Chee Chung, executive director for SPD said, “In cyber gaming, through modifications made to the keyboards and consoles, disabled people and non-disabled people alike can participate and interact as equals.”  The program, for now, aims to provide familiarization and training for 50 players in selected games, with the potential for 200 players in 2006, software and hardware customization of games, and a proposal to conduct Enabled Cyber Gamer tournament next year.

Kim Jeong-Wook, managing director for electronics business division of Samsung Asia said, “We hope to promote better understanding between disabled and non-disabled people, and provide alternative sources of education, inclusive fun and friendship for people from all walks of life.” Some game controllers customized for physically disabled gamers on the Xbox and PC are on display at the Samsung exhibition stall, where the public can play Halo 2, Dead or Alive Ultimate and Need for Speed Underground 2 with the customized controllers.

George Ng, a digital artist at SPD’s Multimedia Center said, “Since my stroke, I find it hard to play some games which require speed and hand coordination. With the customized game controller, I can challenge my friends on Halo 2.” The Enabled Cyber Gamer, proposed to be held next year in Singapore, will be the first of its kind in the country and is designed for people with physical disabilities to participate in gaming activities.

Source: Hardware Zone