By Andrew Young
A groundbreaking new technology is set to make first-person shooter video games more accessible to visually-impaired gamers – through the use of sounds.
The brand-new, first-of-its-kind software utilises cutting-edge AI, and algorithms learned by machines, to translate in-game visual elements and obstacles into audio cues – allowing players to explore their gaming surroundings through sounds.
JBL's new Quantum Guide Play technology replicates echolocation, used by the likes of dolphins and bats to understand their environments, to give gamers a more in-depth awareness of their surroundings.
And the head tracking and Spatial Audio technology, which can be used with any headset, is now available for free, in a bid to make gaming more inclusive.
Grace Koh, of JBL’s parent company, Harman, said: “We recognise the immense potential of gaming to bring people together, and provide immersive experiences for players of all abilities.
“We are creating a platform that enriches the gaming experience for everyone, transcending limitations and building a more inclusive gaming community.
“This is just a first step towards accessibility in first-person shooter games. We are making it open-source, and hoping that brands and developers can adopt it for their games, and even contribute to its improvement.”
Paralympic athlete and visually-impaired gamer, Sophie Soon, who has used the software, said: “I believe gaming is now a real possibility for me.”
And Josh Tseng, a digital accessibility specialist and visually-impaired gamer, added: “It feels really nice to be included in a multiplayer game like this.”
Despite the popularity of first-person shooter games, including award-winning hits such as Call of Duty and Counterstrike, accessibility for the visually-impaired community has been limited.
Ablegamers, a non-profit organisation dedicated to improving accessibility in the video game space, estimates there are 50 million visually-impaired individuals across the world who want to play games which have typically been inaccessible to them.
JBL Quantum Guide Play has been in development for more than a year, working with Ablegamers and others in the community to better improve accessibility.
Available to download for free now as an open-source tool, VI gamers are being asked to share their feedback to help further enhancements of the technology. People with 0% vision are recommended to seek assistance in setting up the program, and while using it for the first time.
