Microsoft has announced the Xbox Adaptive Controller, an Xbox controller designed for people with disabilities. The device was leaked earlier this week. It has two large programmable buttons and 19 jacks that can be connected to a range of joysticks, buttons, and switches to make it easier for a wider range of people to play games on Xbox One and Windows 10 PCs.
“I can customize how I interface with the Xbox Adaptive Controller to whatever I want,” says Solomon Romney, a Microsoft Store learning specialist who was born without fingers on his left hand. “If I want to play a game entirely with my feet, I can. I can make the controls fit my body, my desires, and I can change them anytime I want. You plug in whatever you want and go. It takes virtually no time to set it up and use it. It could not be simpler.”
The focus is on connectivity and customizability, with players able to build a setup that works for their capabilities and needs. It won’t be an all-in-one solution for many games, but through the use of peripherals and the Xbox's system-level button remapping, the possibilities could be endless.
The Xbox Adaptive Controller will cost $99.99 and goes on sale later this year. For more on the device's design and development, head on over to Polygon.
coder999999999 on May 17th, 2018 at 13:40 UTC »
Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella's who is an amazing engineer has a severely disabled son so this is a cause close to his heart. In his book he talks about it and his desire to make advanced technologies accessible to everyone.
He's help put in place a number of assistive technologies to not only help people with disabilities but everyone.
Another example is their Microsoft Teams meeting software and what it can do for people who are deaf, have certain disorders, or speak different languages, here's the demo.
Chuck_Bednarik on May 17th, 2018 at 13:14 UTC »
This is hands down one of the coolest things Microsoft has ever done.
Arkslippy on May 17th, 2018 at 13:13 UTC »
My son's friend who's 11, has a disability that effects how he handles his controller. He can play fps and racing games by holding the controller with his forearm, this would be his thing for sure. He can't use the ps4 controller at all, I find it fiddly to me with larger hands, but those feelings are amplified for him. Kudos to ms for developing this.