[blindkid] Wii Device Teaches Visually Impaired to WalkwithCanes
Heather
craney07 at rochester.rr.com
Thu Jun 10 19:05:27 UTC 2010
lol Yes, in that situation, I understand completely. When Rochester
seriously starts to resemble Juno Alaska my stationary bike and I become
buds once again. I think what made me go "What the huh?" was that these
kids are in Manhatan, where no matter what time of year they have a wealth
of walking opertunities aforded them every day. I suppose if this does take
hold and is used in situations where extreme weather is a factor, that is
not a bad thing. It just seems silly in the context of NYC. Does that make
sense? I'm just picturing kids in this blind center or blind school tapping
WII canes around when a few stories below them thousands of blocks of easily
navigable sidewalks and street crossings are just waiting to be discovered.
Have a great day.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Susan Harper" <sueharper at firstchurchgriswold.org>
To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)"
<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, June 09, 2010 5:33 PM
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Wii Device Teaches Visually Impaired to
WalkwithCanes
> 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
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> blindkid mailing list
>>> blindkid at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> blindkid:
>>>
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/albert%40myblindsp
>>> ot.org
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> blindkid mailing list
>>> blindkid at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> blindkid:
>>>
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/craney07%40rochester.rr.com
>>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> blindkid mailing list
>> blindkid at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> blindkid:
>>
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/sueharper%40firstchurchgriswold.org
>>
> _______________________________________________
> blindkid mailing list
> blindkid at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> blindkid:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/craney07%40rochester.rr.com
More information about the BlindKid
mailing list