SuperJam: Participatory Design for Accessible Games

This paper describes the design of a participatory design project being planned with specific goals around a central mission: to build a more inclusive community through gaming. To improve the quality of life of those with paralysis, we are planning a game jam to increase the number of games that are playable for this community. The theme for this game jam, called SuperJam, is alternatively controlled games. We have already designed an alternative controller that is manipulated by electromyography (EMG) sensors, which detect electric impulses from the player's muscles. This specific controller has been utilized in the past by amputees to play simple prosthetic training games, and the same EMG technology operates hands-free wheelchairs by flexing muscles on the face or jaw. The teams at SuperJam will be challenged to create enjoyable games that can be played using this hands-free controller. Additionally, though the SuperJam website, we seek to continue to encourage the community building that this event will foster. Through this site, all games completed at SuperJam will be available for free, and the site will also support a community discussion board in addition to blog-style posts featuring interviews with SuperJam participants, new alternative controllers being developed, and other topics that may interest this newly formed community of people with paralysis and gamers. This website will be the hub for maintaining the community-building work being initiated by this exciting event.