Sonokids is expanding its suite of Ballyland innovative apps to include a 3D printed learning tool to help blind or visually impaired children explore digital gaming through touch. Using the apps is said to encourage independence and inclusion, fostering the development of digital literacy skills using computers and mobile devices, that are essential for education, social life and future employment.
Morgan Tyrrell, a visually impaired 11-year-old from Tamworth has been using the Sonokids apps for many years. The games have played an important role in her development and helped her achieve a sense of independence by offering an educational, technology-led experience that she is able to navigate with minimal external guidance. By using the apps, she discovered a keen interest in game development and loves providing useful insights and new ideas as she goes..
According to Phia Damsma who developed the apps, Sonokids always involves the intended end-users during the development of new apps.
“Young children to adults who are blind or have low vision can be involved with testing, and based on their feedback, or observing how they interact with the app-under-development, we may make changes and improvements,” she told F2L. “Morgan has been particularly involved with testing CosmoBally on Sonoplanet from the start.”
The suite of Ballyland software and apps ares suitable for children who are blind or have low vision from around 3 years of age. “Thanks to a Mable Community Grant we are able to give away copies of the 3D printed tactile learning tool of CosmoBally, the astronaut who features in the digital app ‘CosmoBally on Sonoplanet’,” Damsma said.
“The learning tool is suitable for anyone from four years of age. However, it is not a toy and is specifically designed with the aim of enabling children, or grown-ups who are blind or have low vision, to explore through touch what this character looks like. This will support and enhance their engagement with the learning process through the digital app.”
The CosmoBally on Sonoplanet game app is suitable also for children from around 4 years of age.
The two apps that feature CosmoBally, the character created for the ready-made 3D printed tactile learning tool, are free and available for iPad and Android tablets. The Ballyland educational game apps for children in the Apple AppStore range from $4.99 to $5.99.
The Sonokids website www.sonokids.org provides more detailed specifications and requirements for the different Ballyland applications and learning tools.
More information about that latest app can be found on www.sonoplanet.com