[blindkid] Wii Device Teaches Visually Impaired to Walk with Canes

Tue Jun 8 18:17:35 UTC 2010

Like it or not the 21st  century will include technologies with or without
electrical outages. It is a fun way to learn and one which all other
children of all abilities use to garner skills, whether for reading, gross
or fine motor skills, or just about anything these days. Why should blind
children not have technological options for learning in their life

Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
CEO/Founder
My Blind Spot, Inc.
90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
New York, New York  10004
www.myblindspot.org
PH: 917-553-0347
Fax: 212-858-5759
"The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who is
doing it."

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-----Original Message-----
From: blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Peter Donahue
Sent: Monday, June 07, 2010 5:05 PM
To: NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)
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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