A group of UPEI students is working to make the world of gaming more accessible by creating a more inclusive controller for people with disabilities. The group is made up of four engineering students: fifth year’s Graham Ching and Muhanad Hilaneh and fourth year’s Ryan Unuigboje and Denaj Miller. Hilaneh said they’ve created what they call a “No Pull No Lift” controller for the North American charity AbleGamers — a non-profit aiming to make gaming more accessible for people with disabilities.
Most modern gaming controllers are held with two hands and make use of both thumbs as well as both index and middle fingers. With more than 10 buttons, multiple joysticks, and directional pads on PlayStation and Xbox controllers, using a modern gaming controller can be difficult or impossible for someone with limited hand mobility.
“If you’re a person whose disability has a physical manifestation, oftentimes it’s the controllers themselves that we need to change,” said Mark Barlet, executive director of AbleGamers U.S.
“A standard controller … requires a lot of dexterity that many people just don’t have, and so we create new custom controllers to bridge that gap so you can get into a game and really enjoy it.”
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