Tag Archives: accessibility

8BitDo controller makes gaming more accessible for people with limited mobility

Posted on by

Many gaming advocates insist that gaming is something that everyone should be able to enjoy, not just your hardcore gamer, be it on console or mobile. While that may be true in general, the fact is that most games do exclude a set of people that might actually need these games even more because of their emotional and psychological benefits. People with physical disabilities, both in senses and mobility, have long been left out of mainstream games, but things are fortunately changing for the better. Game developers have become more conscious of adding accessibility options to games, and gaming accessory makers are designing more peripherals to empower people with special needs to level up their game. Case in point is 8BitDo’s new Lite SE controller that is making gaming for people with limited mobility more accessible, both in design and in price.

Designer: 8BitDo

Game controllers further push the image of gaming as something only for able-bodied people. They require a certain set of skills to even hold, and the games that are designed around them presume full control of hands and fingers. The basic shape of the controller hasn’t changed much over the years, and, just like computer keyboards, they don’t exactly have the most ergonomic design, let alone an accessible design for less capable people. Prodded by a loving father who wants to see his son experience the joys of modern games, 8bitDo co-engineered a controller that could be used by people with limited mobility without having to burn a hole through their wallets in the process.

Microsoft’s Xbox Adaptive Controller (XAC) was one of the first mainstream companies to put out a controller specifically for people with physical disabilities. It looked more like a DJ box merged with an overblown controller. It is huge and, at $100, not inexpensive, though it makes up for that with its customizability and features. It does also mean that it requires a bit more setup (and additional peripherals) to make it work with regular games.

The 8BitDo Lite SE, in contrast, is targeting a more specific crowd and with a specific purpose, to make gaming easier, accessible, and affordable for people with limited mobility. It comes in the traditional shape of a game controller, so it could still be used as a regular one. It is, however, designed to stay put on a table like a joystick box but takes up very little space compared to the XAC. A non-slip matte bottom prevents it from sliding while you push and pull, but it seems to be removable, so you can still hold it in your hand comfortably.

What really makes the controller more accessible, however, is how all the controls are located on its face. No more trigger and shoulder buttons that require more dexterity to use, just buttons you can easily mash. The controls, including the analog joysticks, are designed to offer less resistance so that it won’t take too much muscle strength to manipulate them. Plus, it will only set gamers or their families back by $35, a far cry from the XAC’s hefty size and price tag.

That said, the 8BitDo Lite SE only solves half the accessibility problem of games. Even with all the buttons on the front, many games are still designed right from the start without considering the needs of people with disabilities. Fortunately, that trend is slowly but surely changing, with more developers and studios adding accessibility options from the get-go. And just like with any accessibility feature, these tend to also benefit “normal” gamers, which goes to show how everyone wins when you design with accessibility in mind right from the start.

The post 8BitDo controller makes gaming more accessible for people with limited mobility first appeared on Yanko Design.

A PS5 controller mod enables gamers to play with just one hand

Posted on by



Gaming should be for everyone, and a modder is making sure that the PS5 is exactly that, whether you have two hands or one.

Almost everyone enjoys games, even those that don’t formally consider themselves gamers. From kids’ games to cards games to casual games to hardcore console and PC games, these interactive activities have been bringing both joy and escape for centuries. Video games, however, haven’t exactly been accessible to all, even those titles that have specific accessibility features. Console controllers, for example, aren’t exactly designed for less physically able people in mind, but a one 3D printed add-on is aiming to change that without having to change the PlayStation 5 controller at all.

Designer: Akaki Kuumeri

Perhaps with the exception of joysticks that are better for very specific games, almost all game controllers are gamepads were designed for people that have full use of their two hands and ten fingers. And since games are designed around these two-handed control schemes, people with physical handicaps are often left out of these experiences. It’s more problematic in consoles like the Xbox and the PlayStation where alternative input devices are not supported unless made in partnership with large companies.

Fortunately, there is a growing awareness these days on accessibility in gaming, not just for the games themselves but also for controllers. Microsoft launched an Adaptive Controller for the Xbox long ago, but the PlayStation has yet to get something similar from Sony. There are quite a few DIY projects and mods that try to do something similar for Sony’s console, but the best thing about this One-handed DualSense is that you don’t need to modify the controller or buy anything esoteric. All you need is a 3D printer or a way to get the parts 3D printed.

With the adapter, you will be able to play a PS5 game using a regular PS5 controller with just one hand, no special hardware tricks or software features required. It doesn’t even matter if you’re left-handed or right-handed. Thanks to the PS5 DualSense’s symmetrical design, you can just mirror or flip the schematic before printing it, and it will still work. Bonus points, the mod uses PLA and TPU materials which are better for sustainability compared to other substances.

Admittedly, it’s also not the most ergonomic way to play a game with one hand, nor is it the easiest. Controlling the two analog joysticks requires that you play the controller on top of a surface, like a table or even your thigh, and move the controller in the direction you want the joystick to move. There are also extensions to bring the shoulder buttons all to one side, even allowing a gamer to easily press both L2 and R2 buttons with a single finger. The most cumbersome parts are the four U-shaped “linkages” that let you control the opposite face buttons, but thankfully they’re optional and don’t need to always be attached.

The add-on isn’t going to win any prizes when it comes to appearances, but its winning trait is its simplicity. Designer Kuumeri provides the files needed to 3D print the parts on your own or through some 3D printing service, and that’s pretty much all you need. You don’t even have to break open a PS5 DualSense controller to make it work. There are other designs available on The Controller Project’s page, and it’s quite encouraging to see how gamers and designers are becoming more conscious of the accessibility concerns of gaming.

The post A PS5 controller mod enables gamers to play with just one hand first appeared on Yanko Design.

Disability-friendly Aircraft seat design by PriestmanGoode folds up to fit a wheelchair in its place

Posted on by




Design Studio PriestmanGoode, along with Flying Disabled and SWS Certification, has unveiled Air 4 All, a system that aims to revolutionize and democratize air travel for passengers with reduced mobility (PRM) by enabling powered wheelchair users to remain in their own wheelchair for the entire air journey. The aircraft seat features a folding design that allows the seat to conceal itself within the backrest, while a rail and lock on the floor lets powered wheelchairs slide in and lock into place, fitting in the area where the seat once was. The launch coincides with the 35th anniversary of the Air Carriers Access Act, passed by US Congress in 1986 to guarantee that people with disabilities would receive consistent and nondiscriminatory treatment when traveling by air.

Designer: PriestmanGoode for Flying Disabled and SWS Certification

PriestmanGoode mentions that the Air 4 All system is designed to be compatible with a wide range of airline seats and powered wheelchair types. Currently, the system has been designed keeping the narrowbody 2+2 configuration in mind, giving flights the ability to convert front row seats and install a wheelchair guidance and locking system to the aircraft. This configuration allows for up to two wheelchairs per row to travel on a single flight. A consortium formed by PriestmanGoodde, Flying Disabled, and SWS Certification will also be working alongside Sunrise Medical to establish those powerchairs that would be fit to fly, as well as to retrofit and create new standards for powered wheelchairs, thus enabling passengers with the most challenging disabilities to travel. Chris Wood MBE, Founder of Flying Disabled mentioned that “Air 4 All is the first system that has been developed jointly by a design agency, a certification body and with input from the disabled community. With a leading global wheelchair manufacturer as well as the subsidiary of a major airline on board to develop the product, it’s a truly collaborative project.”

In a press release, Paul Priestman, designer and Chairman of PriestmanGoode said “Air 4 All will usher in a step-change in the industry and finally offer equal access to comfort, safety, and dignity for all passengers. The biggest barrier in the past has been that giving greater space to passengers in wheelchairs would have reduced seat count and resulted in a loss of revenue for airlines. Air 4 All solves this problem and has the added benefit of enabling airlines to retain the design of their cabin on every seat, ensuring brand consistency and a cohesive brand experience for all passengers. Air 4 All will facilitate a smoother boarding and disembarking experience for PRMs and will also significantly reduce the number of wheelchairs that are damaged through poor handling.”

The Air 4 All seating system forms just one of many innovations by PriestmanGoode in the aviation industry. In 2019, the studio unveiled an eco-friendly in-flight meal tray made from non-plastic elements that were “either partially edible, reusable, soluble or biodegradable.” The studio has also extensively worked with Airbus as strategic design and innovation partners for over 20 years.

The Air 4 All has been granted a patent, and the first prototype of the Air 4 All system is expected in December 2021. The patent covers all types of wheelchairs across every mode of public transport. The consortium is looking for partners across the transport sector to develop the system for other modes of travel like rail and metro.

Designer: PriestmanGoode for Flying Disabled and SWS Certification

Android update adds scheduled texts and improves accessibility

Posted on by
The first developer preview of Android 12 may not have told us a lot about what to expect from the next version of Google's mobile OS, but we're getting new features sooner than we expected. The company is announcing a set of six updates toda...

Microsoft will test Xbox and PC games to help make them more accessible

Posted on by
Ever since it released the Xbox Adaptive Controller in 2018, Microsoft has placed a greater emphasis on making its games more accessible to those with disabilities and impairments. Now, the company is taking perhaps its most significant step yet towa...

Facebook improves AI photo descriptions for the visually impaired

Posted on by
Facebook has long been using AI to describe photos for the visually impaired, but it’s stepping up its efforts in 2021. The social media giant has detailed a new version of automatic alternative text (AAT) that promises much more information.Instead...