Impact

Following the principles of Universal Access and Design for All, this research direction pursues the fusion of inclusive interaction, e-Learning and e-Entertainment towards the creation of software applications that support learning while having fun, are proactively designed to optimally fit and adapt to different individual user characteristics without the need of further adjustments or developments, can be concurrently shared among people with different (dis)abilities even when using the same computer and can be used on alternative technological platforms and contexts of use using a large variety of devices (including assistive technologies).

The underlying vision is that through inclusive games for learning, people will be able to learn while having fun, on an equal basis, while interacting easily and effectively, irrespective of individual requirements, skills and preferences, the technology used and their current location. Conducted activities:
a) Development of processes, methods and tools for developing inclusive games for learning.
b) Elaboration of case studies and design guidance and rationale for developing inclusive games for learning.
c) Development of playable interactive inclusive games:
- UA-Chess (2004): a universally accessible multi-modal chess game, which can be played between two players, including people with disabilities (low-vision, blind and hand-motor impaired), either locally on the same computer, or remotely over the Internet. For more information, see the leaflet about the UA-Chess.
- Access Invaders (2005): a universally accessible version of the popular classic "Space Invaders" action game.
- Game Over!: the world's first universally inaccessible game, meant to be used as a game accessibility educational tool

UA-Games are interactive computer games that:
- Follow the principles of Design for All, being proactively designed to optimally fit and dynamically adapt to different individual gamer characteristics without the need of further adjustments via additional developments.
- Can be concurrently played among people with different abilities, ideally also while sharing the same computer.
- May be played on various hardware and software platforms, and within alternative environments of use, utilizing the currently available devices, while appropriately interoperating with assistive technology add-ons.

Lessons learnt

Lesson 1 - A design method: Unified Design for UA-Games
The systematic design approach that we have followed in order to create our UA-Games reflects a process-oriented discipline emphasizing abstract task definition with incremental polymorphic physical specialization.

Lesson 2 - A novel concept: Parallel Game Universes
This theory aims to provide a way for creating multiplayer games where people with diverse abilities can play cooperatively, or against each other, while at the same time experiencing the game in an optimally adapted way.