Ideas for developing a Scrabble-like game for blind users

By Wordsmith, 29 January, 2019

Forum
iOS and iPadOS Gaming

Hi all,

I am in the process of developing a game similar to Words With Friends or Scrabble so
that blind users can play this game with their sighted friends online. The app will be built for iOS and is for a final year
computing project so it is intended to be free to play.

I'm looking for any and all ideas of how I can allow this for blind users. My idea is that everything will be the same
as the current market apps but there will be an overlay that provides additional features which try to provide blind users
with the kind of information that sighted users look at when they view a Scrabble board.

Is this the right way to go about this or should I be looking into other ways?

If it is the right way, is there any ideas for the kinds of features that should be included?
For example, an idea would be if the user has created a word from their 7 letters, they can ask the overlay for coordinates
of where that word can go and then the user can scroll to those coordinates and decide if they really do want to place the word there
by looking around the area and seeing what letters are nearby.

This is just one idea but there may be a better way.
To summarise, the question is: "What is the fastest way I can provide a blind user with the most amount of information from an in-game Scrabble board?"

Many thanks for any ideas you have,
Wordsmith

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Comments

By Pat Pound* on Tuesday, January 29, 2019 - 16:04

I think you were headed in the right direction. Is near is it can be 2 foot sighted people play the better it will be easier for you to play against sighted people. Use the voice over hints feature to give additional information, I like the idea about the coronet. You might take a look at Blindfold Crossword as I think in this game they have employed ways to make the process more fluid and enjoyable from an accessibility point of you. Best of luck, I would be willing to test. I think you were headed in the right direction. Is near as it can be 2 foot sighted people play the better it will be easier for you to play against side of people. Use the voiceover hints feature to give additional information, I like the idea about the cornets. You might take a look at Blindfold Crossword as I think in this game they have employed ways to make the process more fluid and enjoyable from an accessibility point of you. Best of luck, I would be willing to test.

By Wordsmith on Tuesday, January 29, 2019 - 16:22

I'll research Blindfold Crossword and check out the features.
Will give you a shout for testing as soon as I have an initial version.

By Sabrina on Tuesday, January 29, 2019 - 16:39

That idea rocks! I had a game before called spellstack and loved it and I have alöways wanted to play a game like words with friends because all of my friends do but if there is an accessible game I will be able to beat my friends in that.

By Unregistered User (not verified) on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 - 21:00

This is great.
I had a game called hanging with friends and spells Stack. Please let me know when there is a version so I could test.

By Unregistered User (not verified) on Monday, April 22, 2019 - 02:31

Has there been any new replies to this topic about this new word game? Hopefully this game could come out soon.

By John Lucas on Sunday, February 12, 2023 - 13:24

I work with Visually Impaired People and would dearly love to play Scrabble with them - can you give an update on progress with this exciting sounding project please I know large numbers of VIPS would would play!