Game Arts Curators Kit

User Tools

Site Tools

Trace:
accessibility

Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revision Previous revision
Next revision 		Previous revision
accessibility [2021/06/02 16:12]
jenna 		accessibility [2021/11/25 15:19] (current)
jenna
Line 1: Line 1:
 ====== ACCESSIBILITY ====== ====== ACCESSIBILITY ======
  
-“Accessibility” traditionally refers to making accommodations for disabled people. However, the word means so much more, and good planning, curation, and design can be welcoming and accessible to all. +Curators and game designers should prioritize universal design - the principle that from the earliest planning stages, an event will be accessible to all, without adding accommodations as an afterthought or placing the burden of seeking out accommodations on the people using them. There is much to consider outside of physical ability, including age or language. Aim to create events and games that are inviting to everyone, no matter who they are.
- +
-Whenever possible, practice universal design - the principle that from the earliest planning stages, an event will be accessible to all, without adding accommodations as an afterthought or placing the burden of seeking out accommodations on the people using them. There is much to consider outside of physical ability, like age or language. Aim to create events and games that are inviting to everyone, no matter who they are.+
  
 Gamified social platforms, streaming festivals, and open-world galleries that feel like MMOs have sprung up to fill a social void during the 2020-21 global pandemic. Virtual experiences like these have made art more and less accessible. Remote, asynchronous programming may make some events and venues more approachable, but many custom applications do not include or support basic assistive technology, like text-to-speech features. Gamified social platforms, streaming festivals, and open-world galleries that feel like MMOs have sprung up to fill a social void during the 2020-21 global pandemic. Virtual experiences like these have made art more and less accessible. Remote, asynchronous programming may make some events and venues more approachable, but many custom applications do not include or support basic assistive technology, like text-to-speech features.
Line 9: Line 7:
 Games that are designed to be played in physical venues and gamified virtual experiences alike face easily addressable accessibility issues. Whether you are making games or curating them, consider implementing, looking for, or requiring these important assistive settings in games and interface design that can make gamified virtual platforms more accessible to all: Games that are designed to be played in physical venues and gamified virtual experiences alike face easily addressable accessibility issues. Whether you are making games or curating them, consider implementing, looking for, or requiring these important assistive settings in games and interface design that can make gamified virtual platforms more accessible to all:
  
-**Text: +==== Text ====
-**+
  
 Closed Captioning is especially useful if it includes descriptive text in Plain Language. Plain Language orders information logically using common words, with important details first. (Harvard Plain Language resource: https://accessibility.huit.harvard.edu/use-plain-language) Game designers and virtual exhibition developers can implement customizable and resizable fonts/text colors, add text-to-speech functionality, provide real-time translation, and implement Alt-tags. Closed Captioning is especially useful if it includes descriptive text in Plain Language. Plain Language orders information logically using common words, with important details first. (Harvard Plain Language resource: https://accessibility.huit.harvard.edu/use-plain-language) Game designers and virtual exhibition developers can implement customizable and resizable fonts/text colors, add text-to-speech functionality, provide real-time translation, and implement Alt-tags.
  
-**Color: +==== Color ====
-**+
  
 How much does your game or event rely on color distinction? For people with colorblindness, a setting that alters red and green tints so they are more distinguishable can be extremely important. It is even better to consider this from the start - design physical signs at events or UI and assets in games in a way that is legible to people who see color differently. How much does your game or event rely on color distinction? For people with colorblindness, a setting that alters red and green tints so they are more distinguishable can be extremely important. It is even better to consider this from the start - design physical signs at events or UI and assets in games in a way that is legible to people who see color differently.
  
-**Mobility and Physical Interaction: +==== Mobility and Physical Interaction ====
-**+
  
 When planning events offline, consider how people will access spaces and featured projects. According to the ADA, wheelchair ramps must have a 1:12 slope ratio and a 5x5 flat area at the top and bottom of the ramp. Wide pathways and allocated spaces to sit will also be important for an accessible event. It is good practice to inform your attendees of these options prior to the opening of your event. When planning events offline, consider how people will access spaces and featured projects. According to the ADA, wheelchair ramps must have a 1:12 slope ratio and a 5x5 flat area at the top and bottom of the ramp. Wide pathways and allocated spaces to sit will also be important for an accessible event. It is good practice to inform your attendees of these options prior to the opening of your event.
 +
 Game developers can explore innumerous methods for obtaining input, like voice control, eye movement, or blinking, touch, and more. Some gamers experience tremors or reduced mobility, making controllers and keyboards more difficult to use (button mashing in general is not comfortable for many people). To help with this, PC and mobile games alike can include modes with larger hit-boxes and reprogrammable controller buttons. In AbleGamer’s 2012 accessibility guide, //Includification//, Steve Spohn (author, advocate, and COO of AbleGamers Charity) wrote, “Assistive technology is great, but its limitation is that the more buttons you program, the more complicated they are to use”. An accessible game doesn’t need to be stacked with built-in options — it should be at least playable with the fewest controls, or better yet, a few customizable controls. For example, some people will not be physically able to button mash. If this mechanic is the minimum requirement to play a game, an accessible version of the game could involve programming one button press to register 10 presses. Can this someday become a standard expectation for games on exhibition floors? Game developers can explore innumerous methods for obtaining input, like voice control, eye movement, or blinking, touch, and more. Some gamers experience tremors or reduced mobility, making controllers and keyboards more difficult to use (button mashing in general is not comfortable for many people). To help with this, PC and mobile games alike can include modes with larger hit-boxes and reprogrammable controller buttons. In AbleGamer’s 2012 accessibility guide, //Includification//, Steve Spohn (author, advocate, and COO of AbleGamers Charity) wrote, “Assistive technology is great, but its limitation is that the more buttons you program, the more complicated they are to use”. An accessible game doesn’t need to be stacked with built-in options — it should be at least playable with the fewest controls, or better yet, a few customizable controls. For example, some people will not be physically able to button mash. If this mechanic is the minimum requirement to play a game, an accessible version of the game could involve programming one button press to register 10 presses. Can this someday become a standard expectation for games on exhibition floors?
 For people with limited mobility, it can be imperative that a game includes a setting that prevents the game from ending if motion controls are not used with the required dexterity. Otherwise, a setting that will reroute motion controls to a button-based controller is helpful. For people with limited mobility, it can be imperative that a game includes a setting that prevents the game from ending if motion controls are not used with the required dexterity. Otherwise, a setting that will reroute motion controls to a button-based controller is helpful.
Line 28: Line 24:
  
  
-**VR, Immersive Platforms, and Accessibility: +==== VR, Immersive Platforms, and Accessibility ==== 
-**+ 
 +Unfortunately, VR is still a generally inaccessible platform for many reasons. Headsets present physical and logistical problems in exhibition spaces — some people may not be comfortable standing for long periods of time or performing repetitive tasks, with the added emotional pressure that others may be queued and waiting for a turn. In her 2020 article for Medium’s Debugger publication, //The Oculus Go Wasn’t Designed for Black Hair//, Arwa Michelle Mboya describes her 220-participant study on the topic and delves into the problematic logistics of wearing Oculus straps (a design that has since carried over to the newer Oculus Quest II) over black hair. (She also prototypes her own new design.)
  
-Unfortunately, VR is still a generally inaccessible platform for many reasons. Headsets present physical and logistical problems in exhibition spaces — some people may not be comfortable standing for long periods of time or performing repetitive tasks, with the added emotional pressure that others may be queued and waiting for a turn. In her 2020 article for Medium’s Debugger publication, //The Oculus Go Wasn’t Designed for Back Hair//, Arwa Michelle Mboya describes her 220-participant study on the topic and delves into the problematic logistics of wearing Oculus straps (a design that has since carried over to the newer Oculus Quest II) over black hair. (She also prototypes her own new design.) 
 Despite the ever-shrinking cost of new Oculus models, the price or availability of a headset is still prohibitive for anyone interested in casually dropping in on your virtual exhibition in VR. Meanwhile, VR games for Rift or tethered Vive models will require a gaming machine. VR can have a serious dizzying effect on participants, and headsets may not accommodate all types of eyewear. And, everything considered, it may be a while before it is safe to share forehead sweat with a stranger.  Despite the ever-shrinking cost of new Oculus models, the price or availability of a headset is still prohibitive for anyone interested in casually dropping in on your virtual exhibition in VR. Meanwhile, VR games for Rift or tethered Vive models will require a gaming machine. VR can have a serious dizzying effect on participants, and headsets may not accommodate all types of eyewear. And, everything considered, it may be a while before it is safe to share forehead sweat with a stranger. 
  
Line 43: Line 39:
 ==== Editors for this section: ==== ==== Editors for this section: ====
  
-Jose Luis Pacheco Boscan, Leland Heller+Jose Luis Pacheco Boscan, Leland Heller, Jim Munroe
  
accessibility.1622668362.txt.gz · Last modified: 2021/06/02 16:12 by jenna

Page Tools

Except where otherwise noted, content on this wiki is licensed under the following license: CC Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International
CC Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International Donate Powered by PHP Valid HTML5 Valid CSS Driven by DokuWiki