All the news you missed in 2011...
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Eye-gaze reference hits the shelves
22 December 2011
The phenomenon of using eyes to control a computer has captured the public's attention over the last couple of years, and although it's a relatively new technology (in the mainstream at least) there's never been a comprehensive source of information that details the developments made to date.
But now a unique new book has just been published that gives an in-depth technical overview of the mechanics, evaluation and methodology of current eye-gaze systems and techniques. Gaze Interaction and Applications of Eye Tracking: Advances in Assistive Technologies was co-authored and co-edited by SpecialEffect Director Mick Donegan, and features contribution from over 20 research institutions, organisations and companies.
It's a collection of closely-related papers and articles that cover a wide range of issues involved in making eye-gaze work, and is an excellent reference resource for software developers, hardware manufacturers and researchers.
It's published by Medical Information Science Reference with the ISBN number 978-1-61350-098-9.
Auction boost for SpecialEffect
22 December 2011
Ken Hagar from West Oxfordshire Motor Auctions (WOMA) dropped in to present us with an amazing cheque for over £1500, the result of an auction of sports memorabilia and donations from their customers.
Ken, pictured below presenting the cheque to our Director Mick Donegan, said "WOMA are pleased to be supporting the vital work of SpecialEffect. It's a pleasure to be able to contribute, and we will continue to do what we can to help the charity."
Many thanks to Ken and all the team at WOMA, including their remarkable work on the night explaining our work to their customers and securing donations.
Tashtastic!
8 December 2011
Huge thanks to John Whitehouse from the gaming site www.ztgd.com who Movembered a moustache to help our work here at SpecialEffect.
The 20,000 Kettlebell Challenge
16 November 2011
The NCL Strength & Performance team have taken on a tough challenge. They plan to perform 20,000 kettlebell swings by the end of November to raise awareness and money for SpecialEffect.
The weight of each kettlebell varies between 16 – 32kg each. In one session alone the team have successfully moved over 20 tonnes between them.
If you would like to support this remarkable challenge please text PQYE81 followed by the amount you wish to donate to 70070.
Alternatively if you live in the Newcastle area and would like to get involved visit the website for more information:
www.nclstrengthperformance.co.uk/charity-swing-challenge
Fresh fundraising for SpecialEffect
6 October 2011
SpecialEffect is delighted to be chosen by Witney based Fresh, the independent design led contemporary greetings cards, gifts and home accessories store based at Marriots Walk in Witney as their supported charity for the next year. Fundraiser Nick Streeter attended the first birthday party at Fresh last week as covered by Witney TV http://www.witneytv.co.uk/videos/freshs-1st-birthday and is pictured below with Fresh owners Graham and Paul. Collection pots and information leaflets will be at Fresh for the duration of the year raising much needed funds and awareness and there are other exciting collaborations in the pipeline! Please do check out the Fresh website!
http://www.freshcardsgifts.co.uk/
SpecialEffect's World record attempt
24 August 2011
Video games charity SpecialEffect invites guests at this year’s Eurogamer Expo to participate in two Guinness World Record™ attempts
Visitors to this year’s Eurogamer Expo will be invited to set a new Guinness World Record for the fastest time lap time in a racing game using only eye-movement sensing controllers. By participating, all guests will also become part of SpecialEffect’s second record attempt; the greatest number of people competing in a videogames tournament using only eye control technology.
Visitors will need to register at the SpecialEffect stand and then set their time around the track using just their eyes. The participant with the fastest lap time over the duration of the Expo will be crowned the new Guinness World Record holder and considered for inclusion in the next Guinness World Records Gamer’s Edition.
It is hoped the record attempts will showcase the advances SpecialEffect have made in designing and adapting technology to enable those with a disability or severe illness to be able to play videogames, whether for therapy, rehabilitation or fun.
“It’s wonderful that SpecialEffect will soon be featured in the Guinness World Records Gamer’s Edition. The record attempts should create interest in the charity and draw attention to the work we do,” commented Mick Donegan, SpecialEffect's Director. “Our aim is to use technology and game therapy to improve people’s quality of life. Eyegaze technology, for example, can really change someone’s life for the better by helping them not only to communicate, but to play games and enjoy themselves too. We are very grateful to Guinness World Records for helping us to arrange the record attempts and equally we would like to thank the organisers of Eurogamer Expo for allowing us to attempt these records at their fantastic event, we hope that visitors to the Expo will join us in setting these all new Guinness World Records.”
Gaz Deaves, Editor of Guinness World Records Gamer’s Edition said “The Gamer’s Edition is all about recognising the amazing things that happen in videogames and we’re pleased to support the great work that SpecialEffect do for gamers of all abilities. This is a real chance to be featured in the 2012 Gamer’s Edition: all you have to do is learn how to control a car using your eyeballs. It couldn’t be easier!”
Rupert Loman, Managing Director of Eurogamer Expo said -"We're delighted that SpecialEffect are going to be showcasing the amazing work they do at the Eurogamer Expo once again, and we're looking forward to hosting their Guinness World Record attempt at the show. Everyone should check out what they are doing and get involved!"
Summer update 2011 - games as a force for good
28 July 2011
It has been an extremely busy and productive few months for SpecialEffect. In March we were delighted to welcome the Rt Hon David Cameron and Patron Matt Hampson to open our new fully accessible GamesRoom, enabling visitors to come to the SpecialEffect Centre to try out specially adapted equipment no matter what their disability; we have already begun welcoming visitors.
Download our summer newsletter here
We launched three new projects: the Loan Library, our RoadShows Project and StarGaze+. Fundraising for each project is going well, particularly for the Loan Library which is already proving invaluable to many disabled users and their families.
One recent fundraising event - the British 10k in July - saw 25 people from the games industry bring London to a standstill dressed as games characters, raising just over £13,000 for us!
In April we were honoured to win the Charity & Community Award in the West Oxfordshire Business Awards, and in June we went on to win the Oxford Times’ Charity & Community Award in the Oxfordshire Business Awards - all of which helps enormously in raising our profile and spreading the word about how we are able to help disabled people access technology - whether purely for fun, inclusion, raising self-esteem, aiding rehabilitation or, as with StarGaze+, using Eye Control computers to enable paralysed people to “speak” just by moving their eyes.
In the downloadable newsletter we have included recent Case Studies of some amazing people we have had the pleasure of supporting, and continue to support. We strive to do everything we can to help, no matter what it takes.
Cameron approval of SpecialEffect Beer
15 July 2011
On Saturday 9 July SpecialEffect set up shop at the Charlbury Beer Festival with a Pimms stand. Whilst this may not sound like the wisest business decision at a 'beer' festival, the stall, ran by SpecialEffect's events co-ordinator Sally and regular volunteers Jenny, Nic and John, sold out by early evening with the proceeds being split 50/50 between SpecialEffect's own projects and the other charities supported by the festival.
In addition to Pimms, the charity also had their own brew on the go, created by Tring Brewery, called Tring SpecialEffect, which gained a resounding "...very nice...'' from local taster and MP David Cameron. SpecialEffect Director Mick Donegan said of the event, ''The charity is all about having fun... how great that one of the ways we are raising funds is by people enjoying themselves on a day like today."
Mick Donegan and David Cameron MP taste 'Tring SpecialEffect.'
Photo by Barry Clack
Access Advice - Making Your Game Playable to a Broader Audience
15 July 2011
‘Accessibility’ is a difficult subject to define in relation to games. There are so many different ways people are able to and unable to access computers and consoles that it is near impossible to make a game that is playable by everyone.
It is important to say that not every game will be able to be played by everyone. This, however, does not mean that games can’t be made accessible to as wide an audience as possible.
Making a game ‘accessible’ for an individual can be down to a combination of hardware, software (middleware) and the game itself.
Team members of SpecialEffect, a charity which helps people with disabilities to access and enjoy video games, will be attending 'Develop' in Brighton on the 20th and 21st July and will be available on their stand to talk to anybody who is interested in making their game accessible to a wider audience.
The team has a wide breadth of experience and knowledge in special needs, games and access technology. They combine their skills, knowledge and experience throughout our various projects and activities, which all combine to offer a number of ways in which they can help people with any ability to access games.
Visitors to their stand will be able to find out about what standard practices can make a game accessible to more people, as well as to find out about how an individual game could be opened up to a larger audience through sometimes simple tweaks and changes. Some of the technology SpecialEffect use will also be on display to help demonstrate how people can play games, when using a standard gamepad or mouse and keyboard is not possible, to give visitors a broader idea of how someone's disability can affect the way a game can be played. Find out more on this years Develop here: http://www.developconference.com/
UK Video Games Industry Raises 11k for SpecialEffect
15 July 2011
On Sunday, 10th July 2011, representatives from across the videogames industry ran on behalf gaming charity SpecialEffect. Twenty six runners, including journalists, marketing specialists and PRs gathered for the 9:30 start in a mixture of SpecialEffect-branded shirts and fancy dress.
Entrants ran dressed as famed characters such as Mario, Sonic and Lara Croft, while Viva Pinata's Horstachio was accompanied by characters from Plants Vs Zombies, MoCap SuperHeroes and Prince of Persia. Together, the team raised an estimated £11,000 for SpecialEffect.
Following weeks of sponsorship pledges, everyone of the motley band completed the course, with all proceeds going to SpecialEffect, a charity dedicated to making gaming accessible for people with disabilities. "The SpecialEffect charity exists to enable everyone to play videogames, no matter how severe their disability," commented Mick Donegan, SpecialEffect's Director. "Once again, the games industry has done itself proud. An amazing achievement by all, raising much-needed funds which will make an immediate impact on the number of severely disabled people we can help. On behalf of them all, huge congratulations and many, many thanks."
Running for SpecialEffect were: Dave Moran (Midlifegamer), Kirsty Payne (SpecialEffect/Mastertronic), Andy Robertson (Family Gamer), Matt Eyre (Sega), Mark Ward (Warner), Johnny Minkley (SpecialEffect/Eurogamer), Simon Cowley (NCSoft), Korina Abbott (UbiSoft), Graeme Boyd (Microsoft), Dan Maher (Microsoft), Mark Robins (Lunch PR), Andrew Smith (SpiltMilk), Lucy Starvis (Lunch PR), Cat Channon (NCSoft), Craig Stephens (NCSoft), Nicky Hunt (Spiltmilk), Mick Morris (Audiomotion), Brian Mitchell (Audiomotion), Rachel Tudhope (Audiomotion), Luke Niejadlik (Audiomotion), Gareth Glover (Codemasters), Neil Grainger (Audiomotion), Steve Merrett (Voltage PR), Alison Beasley (Lincoln Beasley), Jacob Mattock (Lincoln Beasley) and Nick Streeter (SpecialEffect).
Kirsty Payne, SpecialEffect’s Vice President: “A huge thanks to everyone involved, the runners, organisers, supporters and sponsors, it was a brilliant day and a fantastic atmosphere, the SpecialEffect runner’s game character costumes really stood out in the crowd. Not only did we raise awareness for this brilliant video gaming charity, we raised a substantial amount of money and had a great day out! We’re already allocating SpecialEffect places for next year’s Olympic British 10K so just give us a shout if you’re interested in joining us.”
One-off PopCap auction
18 June 2011
PopCap Games (creaters of games such as Peggle, Plants Vs Zombies etc) have launched an ebay auction with proceeds going to SpecialEffect and US charity Starlight Online. The items in the auction are all one off PopCap artworks including concept drawings, paintings and pottery. The items will be auctioned off in sets on a weekly basis until July 12th.
Don't wait around and let the zombies eat your brains. The items will be auctioned in four waves of nine items each available for just 7 days, so go take a look and bid often!
Visit the auction site at: http://ow.ly/5hKBf
Having a ball of a time
2 April 2011
Thanks to the skill and hard work of our fundraiser, Nick, SpecialEffect was selected to be the beneficiary of a big charity Ball in London in December 2010. The Ball was organised by Intellect, The Technology Trade Association (www.intellectuk.org) and was held at The Northumberland, just off Trafalgar Square.
After several months of preparation, helping the Intellect team find sponsorship, auction promises and tombola prizes for the event, the SpecialEffect Team and a band of eager volunteers donned their evening attire and headed off to London. Heavy snow had fallen in the southeast and as we approached London, the clouds thickened and there was concern that the event would fall victim to the weather. However, the snow held off until all the guests were safely in the hotel and the weather was forgotten as the ‘Night of Razzle Dazzle’ began. SpecialEffect took along two of their accessible games for guests to try, and OM Interactive (www.om-interactive.com) kindly supported the event by setting up their omiVista Interactive Projection system across the entrance.
The tombola (£15 per ticket but a prize every time!) and silent auction were manned by some of our volunteers and proved very popular. Dinner was followed by Mick Donegan, SpecialEffect Director, having an opportunity to tell the guests about the work of the charity. He did this with the help of special guest Tim, a young man who has cerebral palsy. Tim helped Mick explain the work of SpecialEffect using an eye-gaze controlled computer and was very definitely the star of the show! Jeffrey Archer (below) auctioned several amazing prizes and the evening finished with a variety of entertainment.
Last week, two of the SpecialEffect team were the lunch guests of Intellect at a London hotel and the proceeds of the Ball were presented. We are delighted and very grateful to Tina Compton and her team at Intellect for all their hard work and support. The money raised will enable SpecialEffect to help more young people like Tim to enjoy computer games.
Below: the event organisation team
David Cameron launches Specialeffect Centre
10 March 2011
Prime Minister David Cameron was in his constituency of Witney, West Oxfordshire with SpecialEffect Patron Matt Hampson to open the UK’s first fully accessible Video Games Visitor Centre. The Centre is the first of its kind and has been created by video games charity SpecialEffect. SpecialEffect strive to enhance people’s lives by helping them access video games and leisure technology. The centre will be a central hub for SpecialEffect to develop accessible video games for people in the local area and across the UK.
Jumping for joy
16 February 2011
Shaz Hossain and Cassie Smith jumped from 13,000ft over Oxfordshire on Saturday to raise funds in support of SpecialEffect projects. At times freefalling at over 120mph, the tandem skydive was Shaz's second and Cassie's first, which she found to be "a smidge on the painful side."
Cassie seems to think it was worth it though, "it was for a really wicked cause. SpecialEffect improve the quality of life for many people with disabilities just by how they operate and what they are willing to do."
For Shaz jumping out of a plane has additional attractions, "I don’t see any boundaries or physical limitations (except the ground of course). I just feel a sense of freedom and it is an amazing experience."
Being a big gamer himself, Shaz connected with the work SpecialEffect does instantly, "I decided to jump for SpecialEffect as, unlike other charities that help people with disabilities, SpecialEffect are the first that I have come across that focus on the everyday aspects of day to day living like being able to unwind and playing games. There are so many aspects to take into consideration when you are living with a disability that a charity like SpecialEffect, whose main aim is to promote accessible gaming, can be a life saver. Playing games is a fundamental part of life and can help with self confidence and motivation, so it’s great to be able to support a cause such as this!"
Shaz and Cassie worked tirelessly in the build up to their jump to raise the sponsorship (totaling £1,400!). The pair have also represented SpecialEffect at the recent Parliamentary Games Day and will be attending the launch of the SpecialEffect GamesRoom at the charity's centre in Oxfordshire next month.
Shaz is also using his skills as a flash developer to build an ultimate accessible game to promote the charity's vision as well as a multimedia dvd to promote their work.
SpecialEffect are so pleased to have the backing of Cassie and Shaz, whose support and fundraising has been such a boost to us. Don't expect another skydive for the momment though says Cassie, "I won’t be rebooking anytime soon, maybe a bungee next."
The pics below show the landing, Cassie and Shaz handing over the cheque to SpecialEffect, and flying the flag before the flight:
SpecialEffect attend Parliamentary Games Day
13 January 2011
Gamers’ Voice took a giant step forwards on behalf of all gamers in Westminster yesterday, in order to dispel some of the misconceptions about video games. The ‘Gamer’s Voice Parliamentary Games Day’ brought together members of the games industry and Gamer’s Voice with MPs for an evening of gaming and discussion.
SpecialEffect were invited along to demonstrate the use of some of the technology they use to help people with even the most severe disabilities to play games, whilst contributing to the evenings promotion of a positive image of gaming.
Members of the team representing SpecialEffect included Shaz Hossain and Cassie Smith who will be jumping out of a plane to raise funds for the charity. Shaz is also creating a ‘fully accessible’ game for SpecialEffect as well as working on other multimedia projects to help promote their work.
Despite an MP’s vote taking place right in the middle of the event, there was a good turnout including Ed Vaizey, Keith Vaz and Luciana Berger (the latter is pictured below with Shaz and Cassie).
Gamers’ Voice was set up in 2009 by Tom Watson MP to create “an independent pressure group representing video and computer gamers in the UK which seeks to act as a conduit to make our voice heard in the government and mainstream media."
A write up on the event by Gamers' Voice can be read here: http://bit.ly/e8F7Uh
To join Gamer’s Voice visit: http://on.fb.me/43N2hl
A big Thank You to Walk4Matt
29 November 2010
On Friday SpecialEffect Patron Matt Hampson handed over a cheque to SpecialEffect for a percentage of the proceeds from Walk4Matt 2010. The cheque was accepted on behalf of SpecialEffect by Helen Oakley, her brother Stuart and mum Sandra at the launch of the completed 'A Game For Helen' Project at Helen and Douglas House in Oxford.
Below: Sandra, Matt, Helen and Stuart
The walk earlier in the year from Rugby to Twickenham was the second year the event was run and plans for 2011 are already under way. SpecialEffect would like to thank everyone who took part in the walk and are indebted to Matt for his amazing support of the charity. For more information on next years walk visit http://www.walk4matt.org/
