Is it possible to make dynamic one-switch video games for children with severe motor disabilities? Being able to play games in early years is very important for the development of children. Even though, children with physical disabilities encounter several obstacles that exclude them from engaging in many popular games. In particular, children with severe motor disabilities that rely on one-switch interfaces for accessing electronic devices find dynamic video games completely unplayable. We present GNomon: a framework, based on the NOMON interaction modality, that enables the creation of dynamic one-switch games for children with severe motor disabilities. The framework was designed in close collaboration with a team of speech therapists, physiotherapists and psychologists from one of the Local Health Agencies in Turin, Italy.

1. Playable One-Switch Video Games
for Children with Severe Motor Disabilities
based on GNomon
Sebastián Aced López*
Fulvio Corno
Luigi De Russis

2. GNomon
CONTEXT
2

3. GNomon
CONTEXT
Play is the leading source of development in
the early years.
2

4. GNomon
CONTEXT
Play is the leading source of development in
the early years.
Two forms of play: open-ended and
structured play (Games).
2

5. GNomon
CONTEXT
Play is the leading source of development in
the early years.
Two forms of play: open-ended and
structured play (Games).
Video Games are unique thanks to their
interactiveness.
2

6. GNomon
CONTEXT
Play is the leading source of development in
the early years.
Two forms of play: open-ended and
structured play (Games).
Video Games are unique thanks to their
interactiveness.
2

7. GNomon
PROBLEM
3

8. GNomon
PROBLEM
3
Children with sensorial, cognitive or motor disabilities cannot
use standard input/output devices to play video games.
Children with severe motor disabilities that rely on One-
Switch interaction for accessing electronic devices.

9. GNomon
PROBLEM
3
Children with sensorial, cognitive or motor disabilities cannot
use standard input/output devices to play video games.
Children with severe motor disabilities that rely on One-
Switch interaction for accessing electronic devices.

10. GNomon
PROBLEM
3
Children with sensorial, cognitive or motor disabilities cannot
use standard input/output devices to play video games.
Children with severe motor disabilities that rely on One-
Switch interaction for accessing electronic devices.
These children are EXCLUDED from playing dynamic video
games, as those played by their peers without disabilities.

11. GNomon
ONE-SWITCH INTERACTION
4

12. GNomon
DYNAMIC vs SCANNING
5

13. GNomon
 Timely responses  Time-Independent interaction
5
DYNAMIC vs SCANNING

14. GNomon 5
 Timely responses
 Highly interactive
 Time-Independent interaction
 Limited interaction
DYNAMIC vs SCANNING

15. GNomon 5
 Timely responses
 Highly interactive
 Moving elements
 Time-Independent interaction
 Limited interaction
 Stationary elements
DYNAMIC vs SCANNING

16. GNomon
 Timely responses
 Highly interactive
 Moving elements
5
 Time-Independent interaction
 Limited interaction
 Stationary elements
DYNAMIC vs SCANNING

17. GNomon
RESEARCH QUESTION
Is it possible to make dynamic
one-switch video games,
without scanning, but playable
by children with severe motor
disabilities
6

18. GNomon
GNomon

19. GNomon
GNomon
A framework that enables the creation of
dynamic one-switch video games.
Based on the NOMON mode of interaction.
Provides functionalities to support
common dynamic game actions.
7

20. GNomon
HOW GNomon WORKS?
8

21. GNomon
HOW GNomon WORKS? (1)
8
A clock is associated to
each selectable element

22. GNomon
HOW GNomon WORKS? (2)
8
A clock is associated to
each selectable element
Same rotation speed
Different phase

23. GNomon
HOW GNomon WORKS? (3)
8
A clock is associated to
each selectable element
Same rotation speed
Different phase
Probability of being the
selection is calculated for
each clock

24. GNomon
HOW GNomon WORKS? (4)
8
A clock is associated to
each selectable element
Same rotation speed
Different phase
Probability of being the
selection is calculated for
each clock
Selection occurs if
probability reaches a
threshold

25. GNomon
HOW GNomon WORKS?
8
A clock is associated to
each selectable element
Same rotation speed
Different phase
Probability of being the
selection is calculated for
each clock
Selection occurs if
probability reaches a
threshold

26. GNomon
GNomon ACCESSIBILITY
GNomon was designed in close
collaboration with a team of expert
speech therapists, physiotherapists and
psychologists.
9

27. GNomon
GNomon ACCESSIBILITY
GNomon was designed in close
collaboration with a team of expert
speech therapists, physiotherapists and
psychologists.
9
BEFORE
AFTER

28. GNomon
GNomon ACCESSIBILITY
GNomon was designed in close
collaboration with a team of expert
speech therapists, physiotherapists and
psychologists.
 Indicators for facilitating interaction
 Eye-catching design
 Auditory and visual feedback
BEFORE
AFTER
9

29. GNomon
THE GAMES
Three mini-games were made to evaluate
the playability of dynamic One-Switch
games based on GNomon:
One Switch Demo
One Switch Ladybugs
One Switch Invaders
10

30. GNomon
LADYBUGS AND INVADERS
11

31. GNomon
EVALUATION
The playability of dynamic video games based
on GNomon was evaluated by assessing:
12

32. GNomon
EVALUATION
The playability of dynamic video games based
on GNomon was evaluated by assessing:
Learnability
12

33. GNomon
EVALUATION
The playability of dynamic video games based
on GNomon was evaluated by assessing:
Learnability
Effectiveness
12

34. GNomon
EVALUATION
The playability of dynamic video games based
on GNomon was evaluated by assessing:
Learnability
Effectiveness
Errors
12

35. GNomon
EVALUATION
The playability of dynamic video games based
on GNomon was evaluated by assessing:
Learnability
Effectiveness
Errors
Satisfaction
12

36. GNomon
EVALUATION
The playability of dynamic video games based
on GNomon was evaluated by assessing:
Learnability
Effectiveness
Errors
Satisfaction
Memorability
12

37. GNomon
PARTICIPANTS
13

38. GNomon
PARTICIPANTS
13

39. GNomon
PARTICIPANTS
13

40. GNomon
PARTICIPANTS
13
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8
Age(years)
Participants
P1
P2
Cognitively able
Female
Male

41. GNomon
PROCEDURE
14

42. GNomon
PROCEDURE
14
SESSION 1 SESSION 2
1
3

43. GNomon
PROCEDURE
14
SESSION 1 SESSION 2
1
2DEMO
2LADYBUGS
2INVADERS
1DEMO
1LADYBUGS
1INVADERS

44. GNomon
PROCEDURE
14
SESSION 1 SESSION 2
1
2DEMO
2LADYBUGS
2INVADERS
1DEMO
1LADYBUGS
1INVADERS
2LADYBUGS
2INVADERS
2DEMO

45. GNomon
PROCEDURE
14
SESSION 1 SESSION 2
1
2DEMO
2LADYBUGS
2INVADERS
1DEMO
1LADYBUGS
1INVADERS
2DEMO
2LADYBUGS
2INVADERS

46. GNomon
PROCEDURE
14
SESSION 1 SESSION 2
1
2DEMO
2LADYBUGS
2INVADERS
1DEMO
1LADYBUGS
1INVADERS
2DEMO
2LADYBUGS
2INVADERS

47. GNomon
PROCEDURE
14
SESSION 1 SESSION 2
1
2DEMO
2LADYBUGS
2INVADERS
1DEMO
1LADYBUGS
1INVADERS
2DEMO
2LADYBUGS
2INVADERS
3

48. GNomon
PROCEDURE
14
SESSION 1 SESSION 2
1
3
2DEMO
2LADYBUGS
2INVADERS
2
1DEMO
1LADYBUGS
1INVADERS
2DEMO
2LADYBUGS
2INVADERS

49. GNomon
RESULTS
15

50. GNomon
RESULTS
Average session duration: 13 min
15

51. GNomon
RESULTS
Average session duration: 13 min
All the 8 children had fun while they were
playing
15

52. GNomon
RESULTS
Average session duration: 13 min
All the 8 children had fun while they were
playing
All the children understood the interface
15

53. GNomon
RESULTS
Average session duration: 13 min
All the 8 children had fun while they were
playing
All the children understood the interface
3 participans were able to play satisfactorily
One Switch Invaders
15

54. GNomon
CONCLUSION
16

55. GNomon
CONCLUSION
Dynamic One-Switch video games based on GNomon are
playable by children with severe motor disabilities:
 Learnability: two selection, in average, for learning the
mechanism
 Effectiveness: the GNomon interface allowed them to play
and achieve the mini games goals
 Errors: errors decreased with practice (within the same
test)
 Satisfaction: All the children liked the games while they
were playing
 Memorability: All the children remembered the games and
the interface mechanism
16

56. GNomon
CONCLUSION
Dynamic One-Switch video games based on GNomon are
playable by children with severe motor disabilities:
 Learnability: two selections, in average, for learning the
mechanism
 Effectiveness: the GNomon interface allowed them to play
and achieve the mini games goals
 Errors: errors decreased with practice
 Satisfaction: all the children liked the games while they
were playing
 Memorability: all the children remembered the games and
the interface mechanism
16

57. GNomon
THANK YOU