Using Adaptive Technology
with "Alien Invasion"
Many adaptive technology devices, including Speech
Recognition can be used to play "Alien Invasion".
Single Switch
The Switch
can be the SPACEBAR, Joystick Button, mouse button, or any alternative
access device that will emulate one of these.
You may not want the Spaceship
to fire continuously if the switch is held down, so you can set the
SHOTS and AUTO on minimum. This will
require the player to wait until one missile has fired and either hit
the target or has disapeared off the screen before he can fire another.
With a single switch you
cannot move the spaceship so you need to have a wide spread of firepower.
Start by setting the MULTIPLE on Maximum. You can reduce
the spread of firepower as the player becomes more skilled at targeting.
You will need to switch
off the Bombs since the Spaceship cannot be moved to avoid them. Set
the FIRE on minimum. Initially you will probably want
the Aliens descending quite slowly so set DESCENT on
a low setting. Lastly set the SPEED of the Aliens to
a small level to ensure they do not approach too quickly.
Three Switches
(or an expanded keyboard configured with three zones)
One switch should emulate the SPACEBAR, Joystick Button or
mouse button. The other switches should emulate the left and righr cursor
keys - to move the spaceship.
You will probably not want
the Spaceship to fire continuously if the switch is held down, so set
the SHOTS and AUTO on minimum.
This will require the player to wait until one missile has fired and
either hit the target or has disapeared off the screen before he can
fire another.
If the players is not able
to target a single alien then you will need to set a spread of firepower.
Start by setting the MULTIPLE on a high level. You
can reduce the spread of firepower as the player becomes more skilled
at targeting.
With three switches the
player can move the Spaceship to avoid the Bombs but you may want to
set the bombs on a slow descent tate by adjusting the BOMBS
to a low level. You may also want to set the FIRE on
a low level so not many bombs are dropped. Initially you will probably
want the Aliens descending quite slowly so set DESCENT
on a low setting. Lastly set the SPEED of the Aliens
to a small level to ensure they do not approach too quickly.
