[blindkid] Wii Device Teaches Visually Impaired to WalkwithCanes

Wed Jun 9 21:33:11 UTC 2010

Hey, Fakety Fake is pretty good for those of us who live in the frozen
tundra.  I use my treadmill for my walks in winter.  I'm old and need the
exercise year round!
Blessings,
Sue H.

On Tue, Jun 8, 2010 at 7:06 PM, Heather <craney07 at rochester.rr.com> wrote:

> I agree that the power outage thing is indeed silly, however, I disagree
> with you.  Why is total emmersion not an option for kids while it is for
> adults?  Why the heck not, take kids walking in urban, suburban and rural
> settings, to cross streets, navigate malls, college campuses, parks, etc?
> That is silly.  Why limit children?  My toddler even uses total emersion.  I
> don't get what you're saying on that score.  Also, I would not think that
> this would motivate, it would be easier, and would make kids not want to use
> the more difficult cane.  Also, a reward?  Most normal kids, who have not
> yet become couch potatos would much rather go out and walk down the street
> or explore their town, then use some fakity fake fake cane in their living
> room.
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Albert J Rizzi" <
> albert at myblindspot.org>
> To: "'NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)'" <
> blindkid at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2010 2:41 PM
> Subject: Re: [blindkid] Wii Device Teaches Visually Impaired to
> WalkwithCanes
>
>
> Here here David.
>>
>> 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."
>>
>>
>> Visit us on Facebook LinkedIn
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of David Andrews
>> Sent: Monday, June 07, 2010 10:50 PM
>> To: NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)
>> Subject: Re: [blindkid] Wii Device Teaches Visually Impaired to
>> WalkwithCanes
>>
>> Peter:
>>
>> I know your intentions, and sentiments are good, but I think you are
>> going way overboard with your reaction to the WII travel
>> game.  First, you aren't going to do total immersion training with
>> kids the way you would, if at all, as with adults.  Secondly, the
>> power failure stuff is just silly.  This is a game that teaches some
>> skills.  You use it a while then move on.  It isn't a mobility tool
>> you would use to get around your school or anything.
>>
>> Yes, if this was used in place of real hands-on training, it would be
>> bad, but as a motivator, or even a reward to a kid I think it could
>> be a fine thing.
>>
>> Dave
>>
>> At 04:05 PM 6/7/2010, you wrote:
>>
>>> 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
>>>
>>
>>                        David Andrews:  dandrews at visi.com
>> Follow me on Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/dandrews920
>>
>>
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