Entertaining software for young persons with disabilities

Abstract

Leisure time activities that are exciting, fun and entertaining are important for everyone, also disabled people. Computer games have become part of everyday life for many people. There are however few entertaining computer games which are accessible for disabled users. Research and development in the field of IT and the disabled has focused on education rather than leisure. The aim of the UPS project is therefore untraditional: "to make entertaining software accessible". The setting up of guidelines for development of new products is important both for standard software and products designed especially for disabled users. Young people with disabilities wish to use the popular computer games used by friends and family. The complexity and speed of standard computer games and the input requirements often prevent this. The project is focusing on standard products. However the variation in the level and type of disability means that not all can use standard products, and one activity is to develop new software. The project will also establish a web site for disabled users, parents, teachers and assistants. © Springer-Verlag 2004.