[blindkid] Wii Device Teaches Visually Impaired to WalkwithCanes

Tue Jun 8 02:04:58 UTC 2010

Okay, if this device and technology had been around when I was a child, I 
would have thought it pretty cool to get to play with it once in a while. 
Let's look at from a weather perspective.  Who's going to want to get 
hands-on experience in a snow storm or high winds?  It would be a great 
incement weather tool to have in one's tool box.
Barbara

...
Yesterday is
A path well-trod,
A familiar lane
Through sacred sod,
A road we travel
Too often, I fear,
For there are the good times
When things are hard here,
...

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Peter Donahue" <pdonahue1 at sbcglobal.net>
Sent: Monday, June 07, 2010 4:05 PM
To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)" 
<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Wii Device Teaches Visually Impaired to 
WalkwithCanes

> Hello Holly and everyone,
>
>        We've seen too many trinkets of this kind developed by well-meaning
> "Professionals" in the field who at the end of the day do more harm to the
> blind than good. Many on this list learned to travel with a cane without 
> the
> need for video games, laser canes, etc. I'd like to know if the Wii Device
> will function during a power failure?  Hands-on, total immersion O&M
> instruction can occur whether there is electricity or not. The same
> observation has been made concerning the over-dependence on paperless
> Braille devices.
>
>    Last week we received a sobering reminder of this when a freak storm
> knocked out power to much of Northwest San Antonio. It was a stark 
> reminder
> of the dangers of an over-dependence on technology.
>
> Besides why not have the blind child invite his/her friends for hands-on
> cane sessions rather than just playing a video game. It will be great
> exercise for the kids as well as providing an opportunity for them to 
> learn
> how the blind travel with a cane and that they need not pity or fear their
> blind pears. This is the kind of total immersion you won't get from 
> sitting
> at a computer terminal.
>
> Peter Donahue
>    ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "holly miller" <hollym12 at gmail.com>
> To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)"
> <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, June 07, 2010 2:37 PM
> Subject: Re: [blindkid] Wii Device Teaches Visually Impaired to
> WalkwithCanes
>
>
> I am curious how you can know that something can not have any possible
> benefits before it has been put to use?  Yes it's possible it will be a 
> flop
> but what harm could there be in investigating new ideas?   Neither the
> creator or anyone here is suggesting this replaces real life O&M training,
> it's simply a potential tool to put in the tool box.  Isn't one of
> the reoccurring themes here that the best thing for our kids is to make 
> use
> of many different strategies and to not limit options?
>
> Are you familiar with the Wii game system?  If you aren't, it really is
> unique from other video game systems.   What I think may make this
> a plausible option is that the Wii is designed for the user to be in 
> motion
> while playing many of the games.  The system reads & reacts to the players
> motions, not just pushing of buttons. For instance, if you are playing a
> tennis game, you actually swing the controller like a tennis racquet. 
> The
> player wouldn't be sitting still, they would actually be walking around 
> the
> room.  The controller is a long, slim rectangle that can be held similarly
> to a proper cane grip.  The controller vibrates so it can give tactile
> feedback to a simulated obstacle.
>
> Again, this should not in any way be considered a replacement to real 
> world
> training, just an interesting supplement to it.
>
> Holly
> aka Hank's mom
>
> On Mon, Jun 7, 2010 at 3:01 PM, Peter Donahue
> <pdonahue1 at sbcglobal.net>wrote:
>
>> Good afternoon everyone,
>>
>>    Nothing will replace the total immersion experience. Cane travel is
>> very
>> hands-on. Playing video games of this kine do nothing to help the blind
>> child hone their cane skills and gain the confidence needed to become a
>> good
>> cane traveler and to feel good about using the cane. We learned cane use
>> that way and appreciate the value of having done so.
>>
>> Peter Donahue
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "holly miller" <hollym12 at gmail.com>
>> To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)"
>> <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Monday, June 07, 2010 1:50 PM
>> Subject: Re: [blindkid] Wii Device Teaches Visually Impaired to
>> WalkwithCanes
>>
>>
>> Peter,
>> It says in the article
>>
>> "The Wii Cane training program is not meant to replace traditional
>>  training  methods, but is only a supplement."
>> I would be concerned if someone thought it could replace actual real life
>> training but I don't think that's what they are suggesting at all.
>>
>> I'm going to reserve judgement on it until it's actually available.  It
>> sounds very interesting but of course well meaning ideas often fall far
>> from
>> the mark.  On the other hand, if it is well done it could be a huge help
>> especially for newly blind or partial vision kids that are having trouble
>> accepting the idea of a cane.  Cane training doesn't need high tech 
>> tricks
>> to be successful but if there is something that can make O&M training 
>> more
>> fun & add a coolness factor, why would that be a bad thing?
>>
>> If this project is successful or not, the research & development going
>> into
>> making a game might be a stepping stone to some other assistive 
>> technology
>> that hasn't even been considered before.
>>
>> Holly
>> aka Hank's mom
>>
>> On Mon, Jun 7, 2010 at 11:56 AM, Peter Donahue
>> <pdonahue1 at sbcglobal.net>wrote:
>>
>> > Hello Doreen and everyone,
>> >
>> >    All of the video games in the World won't replace hands-on cane
>> > travel
>> > instruction. Please don't fall for this stuff.
>> >
>> > Peter Donahue
>> >
>> >
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>
>
>
> -- 
> http://www.raceforindependence.org/goto/Hank
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