Domain: Research

Disability Interactions in Digital Games: Workshop at CHI Play 2019

Location: Spain

We are very keen to have a mixture of academic and non-academic papers at this workshop therefore, we would like to invite additional contributions in the format of a social paper OR a standard 4-page CHI extended abstract. Social papers are maximum one page in length and act as a CV for networking. These can be submitted by anyone interested in the area of accessibility and gaming. We have extended the deadline to the 1st of October.

Sculpture of a giant character on top of a space hopper with wheelchair users interacting with the sculpture via their mobile phone

Digital gaming is a hugely popular activity enjoyed for the diverse experiences and relationships that it offers players. In 2019, gaming is more accessible to an increasingly diverse audience of disabled players through both new gaming technology and in-game options that allow people to tune their experiences. As a significant cultural medium, it is also challenging perceptions of disability in how characters are depicted. To support new disability interactions in gaming development and maximise the potential impact of inclusive digital games, there is the need to both to share best practice from research and industry and to identify the ways in which research can provide the underpinning concepts and evidence that best support an inclusive game development culture.

During this CHI Play 2019 workshop, we will explore opportunities in gaming and disability through the lens of the new Disability Interaction (DIX) manifesto. The aim of this workshop is to better understand the research challenges in making games for and with disabled players.

Submission format and dates

Submissions can be made in the traditional extended abstract format of a 4-page paper as PDF files. We also welcome submissions in alternative formats, for example, design portfolios or videos of accessible gaming experiences. Submissions should be made via email to c.holloway@ucl.ac.uk with the subject line “Disability Interaction in Gaming Submission”. Authors will receive a notification on the outcome of their submission.

Contributions will be peer-reviewed based on relevance to the workshop theme, diversity of research communities, and the potential for impact and novelty. At least one co-author of each accepted paper must attend the workshop and all participants must register for the workshop and for at least one day of the conference.

Workshop Organizers

Dr Cathy Holloway is an Associate Professor at UCLIC researching Disability Interaction and a co-founder and Academic Director of the Global Disability Innovation Hub (GDI Hub).

Dr Kathrin Gerling is an Assistant Professor at KU Leuven; her research broadly falls into HCI with focus on the accessibility of novel gaming technologies and the potential of games to improve wellbeing.

Dr Christopher Power is an Associate Professor at the University of Prince Edward Island; he is an accessibility researcher with a focus on the design and evaluation of accessible player experiences in games. He is also the Vice President of the AbleGamers Charity.

Dr Katta Spiel is a postdoctoral researcher within the e-Media Research Lab at KU Leuven and Universität Wien. Their research agenda is centred around the critical participatory design and evaluation of playful technologies with a focus on marginalised people.

Dr Giulia Barbareschi is a postdoctoral researcher at UCLIC and a research fellow at GDI Hub with a focus on disability & assistive technology. Her research focuses primarily on how to develop better assistive technologies by greater user
involvement.

Prof Anna Cox is a Professor of Human-Computer Interaction. Her research explores the impacts of technology for making us healthy, happy and more productive with a particular focus on work-life balance and wellbeing.

Dr Paul Cairns is a Reader in Human-Computer Interaction at the University of York and Scholar-in-Residence at the AbleGamers Charity. He has a particular research focus on understanding player experiences of digital games and bringing about inclusion and equality through digital games. He also *really* likes statistics.