Apple’s Award-Winning Accessibility Features Help Bring Gaming to the Blind on iOS
Apple today was honored as a recipient of a Helen Keller Achievement Award from the American Foundation for the Blind for the company’s accessibility efforts, particularly VoiceOver‘s ability to give vision-impaired users access to iOS devices. With the advent of the Apple Watch, many of those accessibility features are now also migrating over to the wrist.
Coincidentally, MacRumors‘ sister site TouchArcade today took a look at the possibilities for accessibility features in iOS gaming. The report highlights a close-knit community that is gaining the ability to use and interact with experiences on iOS thanks to a few motivated developers taking the time to implement Apple’s extensive accessibility options in their own games.
The genesis of the article came from a single comment posted on an RPG-related piece which included the game King of Dragon Pass [Direct Link]. The user, Zack Kline, caught TouchArcade‘s attention by mentioning the little talked-about feature of the iOS game implementing a successful and satisfying amount of options to become playable for blind players.
Screenshot from King of Dragon Pass
This time around, one comment from a reader named Zack Kline caught my attention. It reads, “One aspect which often gets overlooked is that it’s one of the few big iOS games which has really gone out of its way to become playable by the blind. There’s a sizable population of iOS users, myself included, who are really happy that Apple has done so much work on making their platform accessible, but don’t have a lot of interesting games to enjoy. Frankly, (King Of Dragon Pass) is the best, and certainly the deepest. I only wish we had more choices.”
The game, originally a PC title, was unable to include accessibility features in the PC version due to time constraints, but designer David Dunham felt adding VoiceOver options to the iOS port simply “seemed like the right thing to do.” VoiceOver’s simple gesture controls for reading text aloud make King of Dragon Pass, largely a text adventure and interactive story-based game, readily playable for blind users interested in the game.
Many apps and games lack such support, however, with the shortcoming largely stemming from a need to set priorities in the development process of every game. Given the often tight time constraints for development work, accessibility features frequently rank low on that priority list given the relatively small base of people who would benefit from it. Speaking with TouchArcade, however, Dunham points to a largely painless process of including VoiceOver support for his game, and the larger satisfaction of King of Dragon Pass being playable to even more fans as a result.
Since King Of Dragon Pass was mostly a text-based game, Dunham used UIKit to make it rather than a sprite-based engine. That meant that almost everything worked with VoiceOver to some extent without any extra work done. From there, it was just a matter of going through every screen and making sure things worked as they should, particularly with regards to pictures. The only part that required extensive work was the game’s map, which was originally designed as being coordinate-based. The new VoiceOver map is actually composed of discrete tappable areas, according to Dunham, something that came about as a result of enthusiastic testers and would-be players.
According to Dunham, in the last month or so about 7 percent of players booting up his game have done so in VoiceOver mode. Although that may seem low, Dunham says it was well worth the investment and time consumption of supporting the features in the game. Amir Rajan is the developer of another accessibility-supported iOS game, A Dark Room [Direct Link], and agrees with Dunham. “It’s worth it to get a thank you email from a father with a blind daughter that can enjoy a popular game that her seeing friends play too,” said Rajan.
Of course, the games supporting these features right now are a bit simpler, less intense experiences. The developers supporting these features should be celebrated, but, as members of Apple-focused accessibility site AppleVis point out, the hope for the future is more games built with these features in mind from the get-go.
The full article on TouchArcade is well worth a read, and goes into even more detail regarding specific testimonies from blind gamers, developer reactions, and the short list for the best accessible iOS gaming experiences out now.
Apple is crawling the web to help your Siri and Spotlight searches
Apple doesn’t have to rely solely on outside web providers like Google or Microsoft to fuel your iOS and Mac searches. The company has confirmed the rumored existence of Applebot, a web crawler that collects site information for the sake of Siri and Spotlight queries. It behaves much like Google’s crawler, looking for the familiar “robots.txt” file that tells it what results to exclude on a given site; it’ll follow typical Google instructions if there isn’t any Apple-specific rule set. It’s not clear how long Cupertino has been running its bot, or whether there’s anything more in the works. However, it’s evident that Apple wants its online searches to work no matter what its partnerships look like in the future.
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Software, Mobile, Apple
Via: AppleInsider
Source: Apple
Explore Vincent van Gogh’s painterly world in this VR project
We’ve seen modern ASCII art in virtual reality before, but until now nothing approaching the works of the masters. With “The Night Cafe” that changes. Strap a mobile VR headset on and you can take a gander through Vincent Van Gogh’s Le Café nuit as he might’ve seen it while at the easel. Waves of light circle out from hanging fixtures and unsurprisingly everything very much has a painterly vibe to it, from the way shading alters the color of the walls to the eerie look in Van Gogh’s cold, dead eyes. Wait, what? Well, as Killscreen notes, the project features a number of Easter eggs strewn about from various other Van Gogh works and that includes his self portrait. The brief video below doesn’t show if Starry Night made the cut, but artist Mac Cauley says he’s still adding to the experience that originated as an entry in this year’s Mobile VR Jam.
Filed under: Mobile
Via: Killscreen
Source: Mobile VR Jam 2015
The Large Hadron Collider is smashing protons together again
It’s been a long wait, but finally CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is back doing what it does best: smashing protons together. The machine was effectively shut down for two years while engineers in Switzerland carried out important upgrades. Scientists started firing proton beams again back in April, but avoided any collisions while they checked the new components were working properly. Now, CERN has announced that it’s carrying out proton-proton collisions again. The beams are being fired at a lower energy of 450 gigaelectronvolts (GeV), however, so that CERN can check its particle detection systems are firing correctly. The plan is to ramp up the LHC so it can handle dual proton beams at 6.5 TeV – almost double what it was operating at before the shutdown — for 13 TeV collisions later this summer. The Higgs boson was discovered last time, so we’re hoping something equally remarkable is uncovered during its sophomore season.
[Image Credit: CERN]
Filed under: Science
Source: CERN
NASA tech helps find Nepal earthquake survivors
A new search-and-rescue tech by NASA JPL and Homeland Security found living survivors buried underneath 10 feet of debris in Nepal, proving that it works in real-life situations. The briefcase-like device called Finding Individuals for Disaster and Emergency Response (FINDER) can listen for the heartbeats and breathing of survivors trapped beneath up to 30 feet of rubble, behind 20 feet of solid concrete or within 100 feet in open spaces. It uses microwave-radar technology to look for signs of life, after which one of its components can pinpoint the person’s location within five feet. That “locator” was added after a round of tests back in 2013.
In Nepal, the two prototype FINDERs that arrived on April 29th (four days after the earthquake) detected the heartbeats of four men — two each for two collapsed buildings. While NASA and Homeland Security already proved that it works, FINDER will still be demonstrated at the Virginia Task Force One Training Facility on May 7th. There, its creators will also announce that it’s going to be commercialized and be available for purchase by various first responders around the globe.
As you’ve probably guessed, FINDER is another NASA spinoff, particularly of the agency’s remote sensing technology. Many technologies the agency developed for space exploration helped advance invaluable and beneficial tech/tools over the years, such as the MRI, artificial limbs and robotic surgeons, among many, many other things.
Filed under: Science
Source: (2)
Deal: Grab Monument Valley for 75% off, Icewind Dale for 60% off in the Play Store
Need a few awesome games to help you get through the end of the week? At some point today, you might want to head over to the Play Store, where you can currently find the acclaimed puzzler Monument Valley and popular RPG Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition on sale at significant discounts.
Monument Valley recently made our list as one of the 70 best Android games available today, and during this sale, you can pick it up for just $0.99, which is 75% off the normal $3.99 price tag. Icewind Dale, which is also on our Best Games list, is normally sold for a hefty $9.99 but is currently on sale for 60% off at just $4.14. Additionally, the most recent Humble Bundle features Monument Valley, Joe Danger and a handful of other games for cheap, which is also a really great deal.
Head to the source links below to download these awesome games. Anybody taking advantage of these sales today?
Sony Xperia C4 announced as the phone for selfie-takers
Another company has announced a phone that targets selfie-takers. This time it is Sony and the new Xperia C4 as it has a 5MP front-facing camera. Sony bundled some of its most popular camera components to ensure that users get optimal results for their selfies. The Xperia C4 features a 25mm wide-angle lens, Exmor R sensor, soft LED flash, and SteadyShot technology. Sony also included special software to add some fun to the device’s experience. The AR Mask app, for example, allows users to take a selfie and place their face over someone else’s.
Hit the break to see what else is going on with the Xperia C4.
Key specifications:
- 5.5-inch, 1920×1080 resolution display
- MediaTek MT6752 octa-core processor
- 2G of RAM
- 13MP rear camera / 5MP front camera
- 16GB internal storage, microSD card slot
- 2600mAh battery
- Black, white, and mint color options
The Sony Xperia C4 will launch in select markets next month alongside a dual-SIM variant.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Source: Sony
Come comment on this article: Sony Xperia C4 announced as the phone for selfie-takers
Keylink reappears on Motorola’s online store
If you cast your mind back to November of 2014, you may just remember the launch of Motorola’s Keylink. However, the device wasn’t around for too long as it sold out almost immediately and has been missing from the company’s online store ever since.
Up until now, that is.
Earlier today, Motorola re-launched the Keylink and it’s currently available to purchase from its online portal for $25. Furthermore, it can be shipped anywhere in the world. Although, you may have to pay extra shipping for some regions.
In case you’re unaware or need a refresher of what the Keylink is, it’s essentially a little keyfob that connects to your phone via Bluetooth, allowing you to find either your phone or keys providing they are within 100 feet of each other. It can also be used to bypass a password lock when it’s paired with your phone.
If you like the sound of the Keylink and want to get your hands on one, hit the source link below, but hurry as we don’t know how long stock will last.
Source: Motorola
Come comment on this article: Keylink reappears on Motorola’s online store
NVIDIA halting Icera modem operations, will explore selling the division
The acquisition of Icera in 2011 will go down as a bust for NVIDIA unless the company scores big with the possibility of a sale. On Tuesday, NVIDIA revealed that it would be halting operations of the Icera division that produces modems. The original acquisition of Icera was meant to integrate high-speed connectivity into Tegra processors. The Tegra 4i, launched in 2013, was the first processor from NVIDIA and Icera to have an integrated modem. Competition from Qualcomm and Intel has effectively pushed NVIDIA out of the business. Moving forward, the company will look to “parter with third-party modem suppliers” as it explores selling the entire division or its technology.
NVIDIA will report its first quarter earnings on Thursday.
Hit the break for the press release.
NVIDIA to Wind Down Icera Modem Operations
SANTA CLARA, CA–(May 5, 2015) – NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) today announced that it will wind down its Icera modem operations in the second quarter of fiscal 2016. The company is open to a sale of the technology or operations.
The company purchased Icera in 2011 to engage the smartphone revolution with a leading integrated application processor and modem platform. Since then, the company has reshaped its strategy to focus on high-growth opportunities in gaming, automotive and cloud computing applications like deep learning, where its visual computing expertise is greatly valued.
The Icera 4G LTE modem meets the company’s needs for the next year or more. Going forward, the company expects to partner with third-party modem suppliers and will no longer develop its own. The Icera modem operation has approximately 500 employees, based primarily in the U.K. and France, with smaller operations in Asia and the United States. Further details, including the financial impact, will be provided when NVIDIA’s first quarter financial results are announced on Thursday, May 7. To listen to the conference call with analysts and investors, which will be held that day at 2 p.m. PT (5 p.m. ET), dial (303) 223-2696; no password is required. A live webcast (listen-only mode) of the conference call will be accessible at NVIDIA’s investor relations website, http://investor.nvidia.com, and at http://www.streetevents.com.
Come comment on this article: NVIDIA halting Icera modem operations, will explore selling the division
Last chance to enter the Chromebook Pixel Giveaway
Time for a new laptop? Whether your PC is on the fritz or you’re just in the market for something lighter, faster and more sophisticated, don’t pull the trigger on a purchase just yet. Why? Well, one lucky AndroidGuys reader will walk away with a Chromebook Pixel for absolutely no cost… and it could be you! What’s better than free stuff?
There’s no purchase necessary to enter and sharing via social media can dramatically increase your odds at being the chosen one. Want to call this 12.85″ touchscreen beauty with 8GB of ram and a 12 hour battery your own? Simply enter now (ends tonight) and you’ll be in the running. Good luck!
See more at deals.androidguys.com
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