Oxford Saïd alumni come together to set up company that creates video games for the blind and visually impaired

Three Oxford Saïd alumni and a school teacher have come together to set up Audazzle, a company which creates video games for the blind and visually impaired, using the effects of 3D sound.

Selwyn Lloyd, an Oxford Saïd alumnus and his wife Marie were inspired to set up the company when their young daughter Daisy became blind.

‘Over a 10 year period we watched Daisy struggle in school and at play,’ said Selwyn, ‘her peers did not know how to include her in their world and their games, we didn’t know the impact, and we felt powerless. The final straw was when we bought a family games console for our three other kids and saw Daisy really wanting to join in the fun.’

With the potential to have a social impact and the possibility to make technology breakthroughs with commercial applications of game technology, Selwyn approached class mates, Barbara Verardo and Anarika Didigova, whilst on the Executive MBA programme at Oxford Saïd, to help get Audazzle started.

Selwyn said: ‘I finished the first game “Jumpin Saucers” just in time for Christmas and when I gave it to Daisy to play, she was thrilled and happy. The game is based on the classic space invaders and uses the effects of 3D sound. Creating the game involved placing a collection of sound within the game objects of a virtual three-dimensional space. When the audio is then played through headphones, it can then create the illusion of sound coming not only from the left or right, but also from in front, behind, above and below the listener.’

‘We are really excited about the way the company is rapidly developing; we are just in the process of piloting and showcasing our games in three schools. We are also looking forward to having a stand and giving a talk at Insomnia this December, an event which many gamers tell me is Glastonbury for serious gamers.’

Originally posted on http://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/