MIT students create AudiOdyssey, a musical game for the blind

It’s good to see someone working on games for those who are disabled in some way.

The Singapore M.I.T. Gambit Game Lab’s main goal is to make games that can be distributed globally from the start instead of producing games from one continent, then later translating them for other continents. A student named Eitan Glinert thought it would be a good idea to make a game catered to people who are visually impaired for his Master’s thesis.

Along with the help of seven other students and a professor, the team created a game called AudiOdyssey that allows the blind to play alongside with those who can see.

The game can be played with either a WiiMote via Bluetooth or a standard keyboard. In order to make the game equally enjoyable to the blind and the seeing, Gilnert thought a musical approach would be the best way to go since both groups are very familiar with music.

The goal is to listen for claps and match them to the rhythm of the music. A clap that comes from the left side of the speakers signals the player to either press the left arrow key on the keyboard, or swing the Wii Remote to the left. More layers get added on to the track when the claps are matched perfectly. The levels get progressively more difficult as the tracks get more complicated over time.

Gilnert has gone on to form Fire Hose Games with the goal of making games with a positive social impact.

Read [New York Times] Download [AudiOdyssey]