[blindkid] Wii Device Teaches Visually Impaired to WalkwithCanes

[Mike Freeman]

Richard:

I know many parents see us die-hard opponents of this device as being 
negative. Many of you (parents) are asking "what if this device might 
help?". But to some of us, playing with a WII device in lieu of or even 
supplemental to using a cane is precisely playing into the hands of those 
you cite below who do not believe that canes are valid devices for young 
children. Anything but put a cane in the kids' hands.

Frankly, although some on this list may disagree with me (and that's OK), I 
think that in most instances, veering is more a problem of sighted persons 
watching blind persons than of the blind persons themselves. Yes, it's 
annoying once-in-a-while to get off-line in a large open area. But frankly, 
it has been my experience that practice tends to improve one's performance 
in this regard. And I just don't see the WII device as being useable over a 
large enough area to truly give blind persons the experience of traveling 
straight in an area without landmarks.

But I'm going to cease posting on the subject since most parents on this 
list seem mesmerized by the technology rather than asking the hard question 
of whether it is possible for the technology to do what it is claimed to do.

Some of us have given you our perspective; let it rest there. I just hate to 
see time, money and effort put into a solution of a problem that I do not 
see as being able to live up to its advertisement.

Wonder if the inventors of this WII mobility game will be in Dallas or 
Phoenix?

Mike

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Richard Holloway" <rholloway at gopbc.org>
To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)" 
<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, June 07, 2010 8:52 PM
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Wii Device Teaches Visually Impaired to 
WalkwithCanes


> So then you would probably not be good candidates to buy and use this 
> product. This doesn't mean it cannot be useful or helpful for others.
>
> I have no agenda to convert you or Peter to wanting to use this  product. 
> My concern is when such effort is made to prevent others from  looking 
> into something that could possibly be of use to their kids (or  other 
> adults for that matter).
>
> Many people have argued for YEARS that a cane is not a useful or  helpful 
> piece of equipment for young children-- that it is only  appropriate for 
> older kids who can "grasp the concept" of cane travel.  Most on this 
> listserv would take issue with that position, yet many  parents of young 
> children have in the past believed this (and in fact  some still do). How 
> many parents need to believe this and deny their  kids canes, even for a 
> short period of time to make this a tragedy?
>
> What if this Wii game can help some-- if even only a few kids improve  any 
> aspect of their cane travel? Where exactly is the harm in that?
>
> Lots of people both with and without sight walk on treadmills, ride on 
> stationary bikes, and ride real bikes on sets of rollers (sort of a 
> "treadmill for your bike"). They "ski" on ski machines, row on rowing 
> machines-- you can even swim in a "swimming spa" and go nowhere in the 
> water. I've seen where you can "surf" into a jet of water and stay in 
> place as well. You can "skydive" over a huge fan. There must be  countless 
> similar examples. Every one of these devices offers only a  small portion 
> of the full experience of the "real" activity to which  they are connected 
> outside of the gym, amusement park, etc.
>
> Oh, and on the Guitar Hero attack, from what I can gather, there have 
> been quite a number of people who have been inspired to pick up real 
> guitars and learn to play after messing around with this game. The 
> strangest things can plant the little seeds of ideas which grow into 
> bigger things later. How ironic might it be if even a handful of 
> outstanding O&M instructors should appear years down the road because  of 
> questions or ideas that grew out of an encounter with this game...
>
> Richard
>
>
>
>
> On Jun 7, 2010, at 10:36 PM, Mike Freeman wrote:
>
>> Holly:
>>
>> I guess Peter and I see no reason for a supplement.
>>
>> Mike
>
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