Information from the INDATA Project is now available via podcast! Every Friday, the INDATA Project will release two podcasts featuring new assistive technology projects. The podcasts are available for viewing on the INDATA Project website and on iTunes. The “Assistive Technology Update” is a fast-paced weekly update for AT professionals and enthusiasts. The “Accessibility Minute” is designed for all listeners to provide assistive technology tips and tricks.
| ATU024: Eye Tracker (Rob Chappel), Accessible Sports Facility, Note Taker Reviews, Robotic Guide Dog, Music & Disability, Bionic Bodies, Talking Glucose Meter
Jun 182010
VI Fit, a program created by Wii’s computer science and engineering department, designed this for children who are blind to become more physically active and healthy through the use of video games. This motion-sensing game has been created for individuals who are blind to play games such as tennis and bowling through an “exergame” video game system. The games can be played against the computer or against a friend using two Wii remotes.  Wii Remote “Lack of vision forms a significant barrier to participation in physical activity and consequently children with visual impairments have much higher obesity rates and obesity-related illnesses such as diabetes,” says UNR professor Eelke Folmer. “Our games are adaptations of the popular Nintendo Wii Sports exercise games that have been modified so they can be played without visual feedback.” VI Tennis and VI Bowling are the first of several games to be made available. VI Tennis implements the gameplay of Wii sports tennis providing audio and vibrotactile cues that indicate when to serve and when to return the ball. To play the VI Fit games, users would need a Wii remote and a Windows PC with bluetooth support or a USB bluetooth dangle. The games can be downloaded using instructions at www.vifit.org. Interested in video game accessibility? Sign up for our Statewide Assistive Technology Conference July 29 and 30th to attend the hands-on Game Accessibility Arcade!  Power Soccer Pretty awesome name, right? Well, it’s a pretty awesome sport! Matthew Griffin is the president of Power Soccer of IUPUI Student Organization at IUPUI, and he was kind enough to answer some questions about their group. What is the history of Power Soccer of IUPUI? Power Soccer of IUPUI started just this year. It was started by three Division 1 team members of Circle City Rollers who wanted to spread the world of Power Soccer around IUPUI and help promote the sport in general. Is Power Soccer much different than standard soccer? There are of course adaptations that have been made to the sport and rules implemented to help the play speed up. To ‘kick’ the ball in from out of bounds you usually do a spin. There are only four players per team on the field, and one is designated goalie and usually stays there, however some teams do play with their goalie up. The ball is 13” in diameter and the game is played inside on a basketball court instead of outside in a grassy field. Do you have a team name or mascot? Power Soccer of IUPUI is not a team; it is simply a Student Organization whose goal is to promote the sport around the IUPUI campus, and help recruit new players to the sport. When does the season start? How long is it? The season starts September 1st and ends after Nationals, which occurs in June. They are restructuring the sport and this may change.
Who do you play against? We play against different teams. Currently we have four athletes who are also members of our organization. Michael Archer, Case Calvert, and I play for the Division 1 team Circle City Rollers which plays against other Division 1 teams such as Sudden Impact (Carmel, IN), Ball State Cardinals (First College Team), Turnstone Flyers (Fort Wayne, IN), and many other teams from across the United States. Our other member who is an athlete, Erin McAloon, plays for RHI Indy Cruisers who play against other local and national Division 2 teams. The three players who play for Circle City also play for Team USA, who will be competing in the World Cup in Paris, France in 2011. When’s your next event? The next Power Soccer Tournament is in Fishers, IN at The Fishers Fieldhouse 11825 Technology Drive, June 17th-19th. Power Soccer of IUPUI has a basic monthly organization meeting coming up on May 1st (Saturday) in the Campus Center of IUPUI in room 264 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. We hope to plan another demonstration event at the beginning of the Fall Semester. Where can people find out more information? For more information about Power Soccer you can check out www.powersoccerusa.net, www.powersoccerteamusa.com, or just feel free to ask me more at mattgrif@iupui.edu about the organization.  Basketball and hoop, photo credited to ryan_fung of flickr If you have a physical disability and love to play basketball, this is one event you won’t want to miss! On Saturday, April 3, The Hartford, US Paralympics and the RHI Sports Program present this unique basketball clinic, featuring 6 US Wheelchair Basketball Team members. The event will take place at the Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis from 9 am to 10:30 am. The clinic is open to anyone with a disability, and only costs $5. Hurry and sign up, only 40 spots available! Questions? Contact RHI Sports at rhisp@rhin.com or call (317)329-2281. |
