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WiiAssist for disabled users demoed at DEFCON

Written by Annette Gonzalez

Published on 07 August 2009

{sidebar id=3}{sidebar id=1}Many accessible controllers are made out of hacked mainstream controllers designed with a disability in mind. It is no surprise that an accessibility project using Nintendo Wii peripherals was demoed at DEFCON, a hacker conference, which took place this year from July 31 through Aug. 2 in Las Vegas.

According to VentureBeat, the project, named WiiAssist, features a hacked Wii Remote and Wii Balance Board that can be used with applications designed for the disabled.

Created by University of Delaware students, WiiAssist adapts the infrared sensors in the Wii Remote that detects the player's motion and position so that it may be attached to the player's head. The sensor can track head movements allowing a user to move their head to control the mouse in a computer application. The hacked Wii Balance Board can be used as a mouse pad of sorts to be controlled by a user's feet.

WiiAssist was created by University of Delaware students Rob Rehrig, Josh Marks and Larry Aiello. According to VentureBeat, even though the project is still a work in progress, their goal is to make computers easier to use for the disabled.

DEFCON is an event where hackers can check out presentations, attend talks and exchange ideas. We hope that with the attention WiiAssist has received, we'll see even more accessibility projects revealed at next year's conference.

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0 #1 COMMENT_TITLE_R E WiiAssist for disabled users demoed at DEFCON — One Switch Organisation 2009-08-07 19:14

Interesting article. Reminds me that I would love to see some way for switch users to be able to play Wii remote only games too. Perhaps a mix of controls interfaced to a PC running some assist software - blue-toothed up to the Wii to act as the Wii remote.

For example - Wii Bowling would have been so easy to make switch accessible if Nintendo had bothered to consider alternative gamers. Because they didn't the get around will need a huge technical effort. One day it will come I'm sure!

Some hope for that here actually: http://switchgaming.blogspot.com/2009/07/one-step-closer.html

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