[blindkid] Wii Device Teaches Visually Impaired to WalkwithCanes
Mike Freeman
k7uij at panix.com
Tue Jun 8 05:26:41 UTC 2010
Richard:
I'm going to go out on a limb here: I suspect that your daughter will
*never* travel in as straight a line as you might wish. I know many a
sighted person who has an absolute hizzy-fit if I deviate from what they
perceive to be a straight line by more than a few millimeters! Ignored in
all this is the (to me) relevant question: did I get where I was going
more-or-less intact? The answer is usually yes.
A treadmill is a great device for exercise and a great way to read a talking
book while doing that hateful thing of exercise (I'd much rather read than
exercise). But obviously I would never claim any benefit for mobility other
than building up stamina!
As I say, I think there's no further point in my discussing the issue. I
guess were I a parent, I'd be *very* skeptical of *any* claims. Perhaps
that's my cynical nature. (smile)
Peace!
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 8:18 PM
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Wii Device Teaches Visually Impaired to
WalkwithCanes
> Your point is well taken Mike, but I suggest that any tool that may offer
> a chance to isolate even one particular aspect of an activity that some
> find challenging or frustrating (such a can travel) and offer a chance to
> improve that area may be useful and helpful for some. My daughter, and I
> suspect many of our kids who are cane travelers, could certainly stand to
> improve her straight-line travel, just like she needs to learn to swim in
> a straight line.
>
> What about just walking on a treadmill? Could we not make similar
> arguments against using those? Where is the skill and challenge and
> delightful experience of going for a walk on a treadmill? My daughter
> loves to use a treadmill, but she doesn't use a cane for that (for what I
> suspect are obvious reasons). That doesn't make that a bad thing for her.
> In fact what it does is allows her to walk and build muscle strength and
> stamina far faster than when walking (at a much slower pace) with her
> cane.
>
> For my daughter, I say whatever helps any piece of her mobility advance
> is a good thing-- I know over time all these components will mesh
> together and all serve to help her become more independent and
> successful.
>
> Richard
>
>
>
>
> On Jun 7, 2010, at 10:40 PM, Mike Freeman wrote:
>
>> I think part of the problem here is that those of us who oppose the WII
>> device are not making the reasons for our opposition clear -- at least
>> this applies to me. Use of a cane implies active determination of
>> terrain; ups and downs and textures tell us quite a bit about what's
>> around us and where we are with respect to our surroundings. The WII
>> device would give no such information so is, in our view, almost worse
>> than useless, however "fun" the device may be. One is certainly
>> practicing a skill when using the device but it surely isn't cane
>> travel.
>>
>> Mike
>
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