Hi Ken, This news is already quite old (januari 2004) and by now the VirTouch Mouse is out of business as far as I know. The original page is offline but you can still find some info through www.virtouch2.com/Products.
Greets, Richard > Wow--I want one! Oooo--I'm so envious... > Ken Downey > President > DreamTechInteractive! >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> From: "Ricky Lomey" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>> To: <undisclosed-recipients:> >>> Sent: Wednesday, September 27, 2006 11:31 AM >>> Subject: Fw: Israel-made devices get blind into gaming action >>> >>> >>> > >>> > > Friday January 30, 2004 >>> > >>> > Israel-made devices get blind into gaming action >>> > >>> > by michele chabin >>> > correspondent >>> > >>> > jerusalem | Two children sit in front of a monitor and >>> enthusiastically >>> > play a computer game called Hidden Bombs. Each player imagines himself >> on >>> a >>> > ship being tossed by high seas, surrounded by mines. To survive, the >>> players >>> > must locate the mines as quickly as possible. If they make the wrong >> move, >>> > they are told, the mines will detonate. >>> > Hidden Bombs is just like any computer game, but with a crucial >>> difference: >>> > It is user-friendly for both blind and sighted people. The computer >> game, >>> > which is part of a series of educational software programs developed >>> > by >>> the >>> > Israeli company Virtouch, provides a wealth of tactile and audio clues >>> that >>> > level the playing field for blind competitors. >>> > The Jerusalem-based company specializes in educational hardware and >>> software >>> > for the blind and visually challenged. The mouse it invented, called >>> > the >>> > VTPlayer, utilizes an embedded tactile display that helps users "read" >>> > information on the screen through their fingertips. In the October >>> > issue >>> of >>> > Braille Forum, Arie Gamliel, one of the VTPlayer's blind testers, >>> > wrote >>> that >>> > the VRPlayer "looks almost exactly like the average computer mouse. It >> has >>> > two tactile displays on top, each consisting of 16 vibrating pins. >>> > There >>> are >>> > four controls or buttons, two on each side. It includes all of the >>> functions >>> > of a regular Windows mouse in addition to its unique capabilities as a >>> > tactical, immersive, multimedia device." >>> > In his review, Gamliel, a Jerusalemite who lost his sight shortly >>> > after >>> > birth, said that the device "is easy to install" on any computer. "You >>> plug >>> > it into a USB port, install the software and away you go. All of the >> games >>> > are designed from the ground up to serve a cognitive role." >>> > In playing them, he said, "the child gains skills in terms of >>> understanding >>> > spatial relationships, tactile differentiation, a sense of relative >>> > direction, comprehension of braille symbols, developing a mental >> 'picture' >>> > of complexity and so on." >>> > Gamliel said that schools and educational facilities serving blind >>> > kids >>> > "should seriously consider" purchasing the product, despite its $695 >> price >>> > tag. "That's much less than many common Playstations on the market," >>> > he >>> > noted. >>> > While Virtouch is of course a business, Arnold Roth, Virtouch's CEO, >>> insists >>> > that those involved in the venture have a mission above and beyond the >>> > bottom line. >>> > "I feel a real affinity for the products," says Roth, the father of a >>> blind >>> > child as well as several sighted children. "This company was founded >>> > to >>> help >>> > meet the needs of blind children, and we've expanded our scope to >>> > blind >>> > adults as well." >>> > Founded in the mid-'90s, Virtouch is the brainchild of Roman Gouzman, >>> > a >>> > cognitive psychologist from the former Soviet Union. Gouzman assembled >>> > a >>> > team of software and hardware developers and actively sought input >>> > from >>> the >>> > blind, including many children. Roth says that "there is a high degree >> of >>> > loneliness and separation in the lives of many blind people. Our goal >>> > is >>> to >>> > build cultural bridges" between blind and sighted children, between >>> siblings >>> > or schoolmates. I frankly don't know of any other solution that allows >>> [the >>> > blind] to be both educated and socially connected at the same time." >>> > Virtouch also offers several programs to help a child learn braille, >>> > as >>> well >>> > as tactile maps of the United States and Europe. >>> > "Many think that braille for the blind is like motherhood and apple >> pie," >>> > Roth says. "In fact, it's losing ground in the U.S. There is too much >> easy >>> > availability of audio, on the radio and via the Internet. We're in >> danger >>> of >>> > producing a generation of illiterate blind people." >>> > One entry in Virtouch's Braille Adventure Series enables players to >>> "visit" >>> > >>> > >>> > an amusement park where they must pick the correct braille symbols >>> > from >> a >>> > moving conveyor belt. >>> > Each Braille Adventure game includes a teacher mode, which allows the >>> > instructor to modify the games features to match an individual >>> > student's >>> > progress. >>> > A soon-to-be released title called Crazy Biker is a simulation game in >>> which >>> > the player assumes the role of a motorcycle rider who needs to react >>> > to >>> > threats and opportunities. As you explore the tactile map of the >>> > United >>> > States, the pins of the mouse suddenly jump up when you touch a >>> > border. >>> When >>> > the mouse hits the ocean, the pins feel like little waves, rising and >>> > falling. As you move to different parts of the map, the audio >>> > announces >>> the >>> > names of the states, allowing the user to integrate both audio and >> tactile >>> > clues. >>> > "You feel and focus on the tactile feeling," says Gouzman. "Second, >>> > you >>> > verbalize your intuitive hypothesis as to which direction you're >>> > going. >>> > Third, you actively interact with the computer," something a blind >> person >>> > does not do when using a puzzle map, for example. Roth calls it "sadly >>> > ironic" that, while numerous schools and other places serving blind >>> children >>> > have purchased the VTPlayer, the schools in Israel have not. >>> > "Israeli government support for the blind is far behind what it is in >>> other >>> > countries," Roth says. "The Ministry of Education says it doesn't have >> the >>> > budget." >>> > <br /> >>> > Information on Virtouch products: <a >>> > href="http://www.virtouch.com";>www.virtouch.com</a>. >>> > <br /> >>> > This article was first published in the New York Jewish Week. >>> > >>> > Copyright J, the Jewish news weekly of Northern California >>> > >>> > >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Blind mailing list >>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>> http://lists.napsa.org.za/mailman/listinfo/blind >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> No virus found in this incoming message. >>> Checked by AVG Free Edition. >>> Version: 7.1.407 / Virus Database: 268.12.9/457 - Release Date: >>> 2006/09/26 >>> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Gamers mailing list .. [email protected] >> To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can >> visit >> http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make >> any subscription changes via the web. >> >> >> -- >> No virus found in this incoming message. >> Checked by AVG Free Edition. >> Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.12.8/455 - Release Date: 9/22/2006 >> >> > > > _______________________________________________ > Gamers mailing list .. [email protected] > To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can > visit > http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make > any subscription changes via the web. _______________________________________________ Gamers mailing list .. [email protected] To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web.
