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Headline: Xbox Unveils Adaptive Controllers For Players With Disabilities

Caption: A new Xbox and Windows 10 controller that lets people with disabilities plug in the assistive aids they already own to play games has been welcomed by charities in the UK. The Xbox Adaptive Controller allows those with limited mobility to use their own buttons, joysticks and switches to mimic a standard controller, so they can play any videogame. This allows them to choose which assistive aid will make the character jump, run or shoot, for example, without relying on pressing specific buttons on the controller that came with the Xbox. The device has delighted charities and gamers with disabilities, who say it will help them continue to enjoy something they love as well as connect with other people and be more independent. SpecialEffect, in Charlbury, Oxfordshire, was just one of the charities that worked with Microsoft to develop the Xbox Adaptive Controller. Founder and Chief Executive Dr Mick Donegan said the device has huge potential. “This has been a milestone collaboration for us,” he said. “Our experience in helping people with complex physical disabilities to access videogames has enabled us to provide not only very relevant advice about features and design, but also direct feedback from a user-centred perspective. Microsoft has a product here that has the potential to help many people globally to enjoy the magic of video games.” There are around a billion people across the world with a disability, including 13.9 million people in the UK. Research from Muscular Dystrophy UK found that one-in-three gamers has been forced to stop playing videogames due to their disability. The Xbox Adaptive Controller, which can be connected to any Xbox One or Windows 10 PC via Bluetooth, features 19 3.5mm input jacks and two USB ports. Gamers can plug their third-party devices into these, with specific support for PDP’s One-Handed Joystick, Logitech’s Extreme 3D Pro Joystick and Quadstick’s Game Controller. Two, large, easy-to-press programmable buttons and a D-pad means it can also be used as a standalone controller. The internal lithium-ion battery can be recharged, eliminating the need to change small batteries. Up to three profiles can be saved on the controller, allowing people to quickly switch between set-ups depending on the game they are playing. Hector Minto, Accessibility Evangelist at Microsoft who has worked in the field for 20 years, said the company was in talks with other firms to develop hardware such as foot pedals and joysticks to increase the options for gamers. “No two people are the same; everyone has their own wheelchair controller and their own TV controller adapted for their own use,” he said. “As with all assistive technology, people were making their own devices at first, but they were able to come to Microsoft and ask us to help. We were delighted to. Everyone should have a right to play games and experience a leisure activity that is enjoyed around the world. “With the Xbox Adaptive Controller, gamers can plug in the things they already have to customise the experience for themselves. Our message is: create your own controller.” Vivek Gohill has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, which causes muscle degeneration and weakness. He uses the Xbox Adaptive Controller and several switches and buttons around his body to play games. While playing Forza Horizon 3, for example, he uses a button next to his head to accelerate the on-screen car, while using a different one on his wheelchair to brake. “I’ve lost a lot of ability, and definitely couldn’t play as much as when I was younger,” said the 27-year-old, who has given feedback to Microsoft after finding it difficult to hold traditional controllers and press the buttons. “When I had to stop playing the games I wanted to, it was very frustrating and upsetting, because that was one of my favourite pastimes. By using the switches I already have for my computer or phone, the Xbox Adaptive Controller lets me have the freedom to play the games that I want.” The Xbox Adaptive Controller will be available on the Microsoft Store later this year, priced at £74.99.

Keywords: feature,photo feature,photo story,quirky,unique,design,tech,technology,gamer,gaming,control

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