SPECIAL EVENT: Morse code game jam
​September 13-16, 2018
Join the Adaptive Design team and the team from Google Creative Lab for a unique weekend of custom game-making, switch adaptation and interdisciplinary collaboration. The theme is PLAY, and all who attend are required to have fun, while doing serious learning and networking.
​
Five potential users of Morse code, with their families and supporters, will work with software developers to design games that will help them, and others, learn and practice Morse code. Over the course of the​
Game Jam weekend, several developers will work with each of the end-users to make a game that ​will be of real interest to that individual, be lots of fun, and also be feasible to use with Morse code. For instance, for someone with an interest in music, they might develop a Morse code game with a musical theme.
​
With Gboard (Google's ​virtual keyboard), people can use two switches to input text, even if they 're unable to use a regular keyboard.
We'll be programming and adapting every day, and our workshop in midtown will be open to visitors all weekend!
​
If you're interested in alternate methods of communication, alternate access to electronic devices, game design and development, custom adaptations of any sort, or individual empowerment, then you're invited.
Google will be taping the event and making a video we can use to further increase awareness of Morse code as a viable assistive technology.
PROGRAM
​
Thursday, September 13: Open house & Launch
4:00 pm -- Doors open
5:00 pm -- Opening remarks
Intro to Gboard and Hello Morse
5:45 pm -- Team meet & greet
Brainstorming and fitting of switches
6:30 pm -- Starter kit distribution; wrap up
​
We're hoping to gather as many stakeholders as possible on Thursday, which will be the kickoff to the Game Jam. ​Clinicians, users and families, software and hardware developers, assistive technology fans, STEAM educators--anyone with an interest is welcome.
​
If you can't make it Thursday (or even if you can) come (or come back) whenever you can.
Friday, September 14: Getting ready
8:00 am -- Doors open
All day -- Game development
Morse code education activities
10:00 pm -- Close
Saturday, September 15: Full-on jam
8:00 am -- Doors open
11:00 am -- Families arrive; play tests & consultations
2:00 pm -- Families depart
10:00 pm -- Close
​
Sunday is wrap-up day, when the game developers, and game users get to show what they've accomplished.
​
Sunday, September 16: Demo Day
8:00 am -- Doors open
11:30 am -- Families arrive; Playtests & consultations
2:30 pm -- Wrap up projects
3:00pm -- Show & tell (doors open for outside
play testers and press)
5:00pm -- Closing
Where:
Adaptive Design Association
313 West 36th street
New York, New York 10018
212.904.1200
While you're here, you can:
-
get help setting up Gboard on your device
-
be introduced to various methods of learning Morse code
-
see game developers and hackers at work
-
meet Morse code celebrities Tania and Ken Finlayson, and Prof. Thomas King
-
watch the individualized selection and mounting of switches and other input devices
-
witness the end-users learning and practicing
-
view our mini-museum of Morse code as assistive technology
-
learn more about any of this that interests you
What's a game jam?
A game jam is a focused, intense period of rapid development of a computer game. In our event, game designers will have roughly 72 hours to create a customized game for a participating child.
​
Game jams often have a theme. Our Morse Code Game Jam will focus on creating games for families with whom we partner so that their children with disabilities can play using Morse code input.
​
The Game jam Wikipedia page, describes some of the common features of game jams.
Visit: Ablegamers to see another type of game jam