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Microsoft. - Tuesday, May 22, 2018 at 12:00 PM
How Xbox's Adaptive Controller could revolutionize gaming for the disabled
<p></p>
Having a disability can interfere with a lot in life, including the ability to
enjoy gaming. Disabilities that impair movement often make this difficult, and
in some cases even impossible. Unfortunately for folks with this problem, there
are very few viable options available to help them ease this struggle.
The upcoming Xbox Adaptive Controller, however, changes this. Designed
specifically for people with limited mobility, it has a huge amount of
potential. Here's how the new controller might change the face of gaming
forever.
See on Microsoft
Store<https://www.windowscentral.com/e?link=http%3A%2F%2Fclkde.tradedoubler.com%2Fclick%3Fp%3D259740%26a%3D2542549%26g%3D0%26epi%3DUUwpUdUnU56081YYw%26epi2%3Ddwp%26url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.microsoft.com%252Fen-us%252Fstore%252Fd%252Fxbox-adaptive-controller%252F8nsdbhz1n3d8&token=JgMMjzWA>
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Incredible versatility
<p></p>
With the Xbox Adaptive Controller, a gamer can game with one hand and one foot,
or one hand and their shoulder, or even one foot and their chin.
Between the dual programmable buttons, fully customizable control scheme, and
the staggering 19 3.5 mm jacks that can be used to connect joysticks, keypads,
and more, the Adaptive Controller definitely earns its title. The possibilities
for all the different personalized rigs that could be organized for someone
with a disability are endless.
This extensive adaptability allows anyone that suffers from an impairment to
play video games like anyone else would, no matter what their personal struggle
is like. That's an incredible step forward for the accessibility community and
their effort to reintegrate with the gaming world.
We know it works
<p></p> Corey was able to game with his brother Zachary despite his
injuries thanks to the Adaptive Controller.
It's one thing to boast about the controller's capabilities, but it's another
to see them in action, being used by the people they were made for. Thankfully,
though, we're able to see that the product works excellently in its
introductory video<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fcK19CAjWM> on Xbox's
YouTube channel.
Throughout the video, various people suffering from a disability are shown
utilizing the Adaptive Controller to great effect, with a few of them
specifically noting how easy it is for them to play when using it. An
occupational therapist at Craig Hospital in Denver, Colorado spoke about the
hardware:
Our role as occupational therapists is to get people back to 'doing'. When the
Xbox Adaptive Controller came along, it acted like an Xbox controller. It just
worked.
All of this proves that the controller is accomplishing what it was made to do,
and that it's almost guaranteed that it will continue to be effective when it
releases to the wider public later this year.
A domino effect
<p></p>
The Xbox Adaptive Controller may only be the first of many
accessibility-focused products across the gaming industry.
Assuming the Adaptive Controller is as successful as it looks like it's going
to be, it's very likely that Xbox's competitors will develop something similar
in the near future. If we look past how various companies will attempt to outdo
each other, we'll see that there's one group that benefits no matter what: the
accessibility community.
If similar products are developed for PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and PC,
than physically impaired gamers will have more and more options to choose from
when it comes to deciding what kind of games they want to play. Indeed, the
Xbox Adaptive Controller may only be the first of many accessibility-focused
products across the gaming industry, and there's nothing I'd like more then for
that to be the case. Everyone deserves a chance to experience the magic of
video games. Thanks to the Xbox team, it's possible that everyone will.
Your thoughts
Are you excited to see how the Adaptive Controller might change gaming forever?
Let me know in the comments.
Upon becoming available later this year, the Xbox Adaptive Controller will cost
$99.99.
See on Microsoft
Store<https://www.windowscentral.com/e?link=http%3A%2F%2Fclkde.tradedoubler.com%2Fclick%3Fp%3D259740%26a%3D2542549%26g%3D0%26epi%3DUUwpUdUnU56081YYw%26epi2%3Ddwp%26url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.microsoft.com%252Fen-us%252Fstore%252Fd%252Fxbox-adaptive-controller%252F8nsdbhz1n3d8&token=JgMMjzWA>
https://www.windowscentral.com/how-xboxs-adaptive-controller-may-revolutionize-gaming-disabled
David Goldfield
Assistive Technology Specialist
Feel free to visit my Web site
WWW.DavidGoldfield.info<http://WWW.DavidGoldfield.info>
