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Physically-Challenged Gamer Hacks Together Custom PS3 Controller

Posted by Soulskill on from the quick-get-a-patent dept.

Destructoid has a neat post about a gamer whose condition prevents him from using a standard video game controller. With the help of a company called GimpGear, which markets devices for people with limited mobility, he designed and built a custom input device that makes use of fingers, toes, and even sips or puffs of air to control his favorite games. Pictures and a video of the setup are both available in the post.

12 of 50 comments (clear)

  1. "GimpGear" FTW by Valacosa · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The best way to fight a derogatory term is to take it back. A group trying to run away from a word with negative connotations is simply running on a treadmill, each new euphemism becoming an insult in a few years. (e.g. Retarded -> Mentally Disabled -> Differently Abled etc.)

    --
    "Live as if you'll die tomorrow." Ridiculous. You could die later today.
    1. Re:"GimpGear" FTW by dosius · · Score: 5, Informative

      I actually prefer to refer to myself as "handicapped" rather than "disabled" - since handicap suggests a slight limitation, disabled suggests a total incapacitation.

      I'm not the first person to say this either.

      -uso.

      --
      What you hear in the ear, preach from the rooftop Matthew 10.27b
    2. Re:"GimpGear" FTW by wild_quinine · · Score: 5, Interesting

      The best way to fight a derogatory term is to take it back. A group trying to run away from a word with negative connotations is simply running on a treadmill, each new euphemism becoming an insult in a few years. (e.g. Retarded -> Mentally Disabled -> Differently Abled etc.)

      My brother is severely physically disabled (oh no! that's the not the politcally correct way of saying it any more!) and playing online video games has given him a freedom and confidence I've never seen in him. When he gets on teamspeak, he's just one more of the guys. He's not the greatest gameplayer in the world, but he doesn't let the side down in a five man instance, for example.

      He doesn't play on Xbox Live! though. In his words 'Those guys are retards'.

    3. Re:"GimpGear" FTW by Roland+Piquepaille · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I know a person born with no arms who says she isn't handicapped or disabled, since she never had arms in the first place so didn't "lose" physical abilities, does everything (and I mean everything) with her feet, and knows no other way of doing things.

    4. Re:"GimpGear" FTW by Heian-794 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      That's absolutely the right way to go about it.

      I myself was born partially blind and am often asked by "normal" people if it's difficult to get through life. I have the irresistible urge to quote Hall-of-Fame Chicago Cubs pitcher Mordecai "Three-Finger" Brown, who, when asked the same question regarding the disfiguring hand injury he sustained in a mining accident as a child, would reapond, "I wouldn't know. I've never tried it the other way."

    5. Re:"GimpGear" FTW by Daimanta · · Score: 3, Funny

      "In his words 'Those guys are retards'."

      No, they are differently abled.

      --
      Knowledge is power. Knowledge shared is power lost.
  2. How? by skirmish666 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I'm impressed and confused that someone who can't hold a PS3 controller managed to build a custom input device.

    --
    Sigger than your average
    1. Re:How? by Roland+Piquepaille · · Score: 3, Informative

      from TFA:

      KitsuneYume made things work, working with an engineer to devise an adaptive controller to help him get his game on.

  3. Re:bah by 21st+Century+Peon · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...the PC crowd must be on holiday or something.
    Which is why he built it for the PS3! Badum-tsh!

    --
    "Knowledge, sir, should be free to all!"
    ~Harcourt Fenton Mudd
  4. Ben Heck by adamofgreyskull · · Score: 2, Informative

    Ben Heckendorn, has also done something similar for the XBox 360 controller, with left-hand and right-hand versions.

  5. Re:Yawn... by Amouth · · Score: 3, Insightful

    "Gotta love how being disabled automatically makes everything you do amazing and inspiring."

    That is because it is amazing and inspiring - if you have ever worked one on one with disabled children - and seen them struggle on the simplest of concepts - when they findly get it it is inspiring - but when they go past that and do something you had never even considered them able to do - that is amazing and truley inspiring.

    your comment as a lack of compassion - till you have any understanding what these peoples lives are like do not by any means put them down for anything they do or can't do - instead just keep quite and move along

    --
    '...if only "Jumping to a Conclusion" was an event in the Olympics.'
  6. I am disabled too. by antdude · · Score: 2, Informative

    For me, I play computer games since I like big clicky keyboards and mice. I used to own an Atari 2600 and their joysticks were simple. I can't use the newer game consoles' controllers very well, including the normal ones from NES'. I have no thumbs and only four fingers. I have to have support to hold my controllers in order to play.

    --
    Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).