AbleGamers Chats with Mike Taylor of Dream Technology - Part 2

Posted here is PART 2 of our interview with Mike Taylor of Dream Technology, click here to see part one...

Steve Spohn:  Barrie Ellis is a great person; AbleGamers has had the privilege of working with him many times.  I personally have recommended that website to many gamers with limited dexterity.  Your company seems to be one that is also going to help individuals with limited mobility.  So far, which are the most popular items from the Dream Technology catalog?

Mike Taylor: The switch-adapted toys we introduced earlier this year are very popular at the moment and then Dream-Racer and Dream-Gamer.

SS:  Judging from the way your contact page is set up, you must take many personalized orders.  What is the process you use to determine what will help each individual best?

MT: You are right; we do get requests to help with personalised equipment. If we can, we'll have a go and so far, we have been successful especially with the Dream-Gamer PlayStation controller. Because of those special requests, we have added two extra PlayStation controllers that we anticipate will have wider appeal.

One of the issues we have to be aware of is that in modifying any equipment we do not push the design outside of the original concept we originally certified for product compliance. In Europe, that is the CE mark.

Another consideration, it must be technically possible to incorporate the modifications requested and at a realistic cost, the user is willing to accept.

SS:  Just to put you on the spot, let's say one of our readers contacts you with a specific game system they would like to have adapted, can you adapt any system the gamer desires?

MT: So far, all of our products are focused on the PlayStation consoles 1 & 2.  The PlayStation 3 if we use an adapter. We have plans to build a prototype Xbox 360 system in 2009. The reason we have continued to focus on PS1 & 2 is that most of our sales and requests are from families with young children that are looking to get into gaming for the first time and PS2 is an inexpensive way in.

We do realize that there are people that would like to have access to more advanced gaming terminals and that are why we are going to have a go at an Xbox system.

SS:  Ok, what about my fellow PC gamers?  Is there a setup that you offer that will allow someone to play today's popular PC game titles that require keyboard movement as well as mouse interaction?

MT: One of our other products, Dream-Mouse, is being used to access PC games and, of course, the Dream-Gamer units can be connected using an adapter to the PC which then allows it to be used for PC games as well.

SS:  That is good to hear because in several interviews, I have found that a major problem for assistive technology is that gaming companies are trying to make things too difficult, as in the need to press multiple successions of buttons in a row in order to accomplish a task in the game.  Do you find that the older systems are more easily adaptable with fewer switches to worry about?  Do you see games going towards being simple or more complex in button schemes?

MT: I think it is the case that software and hardware advance together. You would not want to play "Pong" on an Xbox or PS3. In addition, I think there is a "challenge" built into the software that is, in part, there to test the dexterity of the gamer. I think that for many there is a lot of "pride" in showing the scores they reached through mastering a game that requires a series of complex button-press combinations.

Nevertheless, for some that level dexterity is impossible. For those individuals crashing a car around a track may be just as exciting and if they can do this without the hardware and software getting in the way so much the better.

SS:  exactly, no one wants games to be simplified to the point that they are not challenging and fun for everyone.  The point that AbleGamers is pushing is that games and toys can be made to be accessible for those that cannot do things a certain way.  It's good to see your company providing options for those situations.

How far do you think this technology can go?  Can the technology be used to make anything adaptable given enough time and ingenuity?

MT: We would like to think there are no limits but that is unrealistic. At some point, someone will ask for something that is too difficult to do.

Just this week we were asked whether we could adapt our technology to control 16-foot sailing boats. Now that will be a challenge!

SS:  I expect an exclusive if you can make that happen!

How about the gaming industry itself, have you ever been contacted by one of the major game system manufacturers such as Nintendo, Sony, Sega, or Microsoft?  Have you ever reached out to them about mass marketing some products that could have serious impact on the quality of life for individuals that are in need of help?

MT: Well not so far but I guess it would be a worthy cause for Uncle Bill with his Windows billions.

SS:  If you could magically convince one gaming company that there is a need to make games and gaming consoles more adaptable, what advice would you give them about accessibility?

MT: I am sure any of the major gaming companies could produce superb equipment if they put weight behind it. The obvious one is Nintendo. The Wii technology is sure to be taken down this route eventually. It may not be by Nintendo but someone will do it I am sure. It may be us.

SS:  I'm sure I speak for our readers when I say we hope you are correct!  Of course, you are part of a smaller company.  The advantage of being a smaller company is that you listen when people have special projects that they need help to solve.  Since the website really does not go into many examples of the special projects your company has completed, describe one or two of your favorite special projects fulfilled by Excitim Limited, for our readers.

MT: Let me expand the question a little. We recently filmed at a pre-school nursery in Birmingham, UK. The nursery had been supplied with several of the switch adapted toys we produce by a program we support called Play AT IT run by AbilityNet one of the UK's largest disability charities.

All of the children attending the nursery originated from an Asian background, none of them had any physical disabilities but none of them had English as their first language. It turned out, and we only found this when we filmed at the nursery, that the children were using the switch adapted toys as a way of developing their English language skills. Essentially the toys were helping the children to learn nursery rhymes and early-years songs children sing. In turn, at home the kids were teaching the same songs on to their brothers, sisters and even parents.

In my opinion, this is a great example of switch-adapted technology that is helping the whole family.

SS:  I could not possibly end this interview without mentioning the incredibly cute holiday teddy bears that have been adapted to be used with switches.  Do you plan to have toys for every season?  What is your favorite plush toy with a switch?

MT: We started with Easter bunnies, broadened the portfolio to add some "all-year-rounders" and ended the year with some Christmas specials. Putting my commercial hat on I prefer not to have toys that are specific to a short-term seasonal event. However, as I said earlier, we listen to the customer and when they tell us, they want Christmas toys; I try to work something out.

My favorite?  I think it is probably Mongo the gorilla because he sings, "if you're happy and you know it clap your hands"

SS:  That's awesome, it's nice to see a company that cares more about the quality of the products that they are designing and selling than the bottom line.  I'd like to thank you, Mike Taylor, once again for sitting down with us.  On behalf of the AbleGamers readers, I would like to wish you and your company continued success.  Happy holidays my friend!

MT: Thank you Steve for inviting me. Let me wish you and all the AbleGamers readers a happy Christmas and a successful 2009.

Dream Technology is helping bring joy to children that might not otherwise get to play with the toys that they love.  The ability to adapt PlayStation controllers so that they can be used other than hands-on means that gamers with a large range of disability have a new option to operate the controllers.  There are limitations to the technology such as the need to use games that have analog controllers with the dream gamer on the PlayStation 2.  Additionally, as Mike said, there will be things that cannot be done with the technology that currently exists.  Fortunately, for us companies like Excitem Limited will continue to advance accessibility as quickly as technology allows.