» Fun

Stem Stumper: Adapted for Visually Impaired

Tyler — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 23:31:21 +0000

So, everyone knows that there are many games that one can download for the iPhone via the App Store. And yes, it is true that many of them are not free. However, some of them are quality games that can entertain someone for hours. And honestly, putting hours of work and thousands of lines of code to create a new application or game, I would probably expect to charge $1 or two. And with my capability of programming, perhaps I understand the efforts more than some. Nonetheless, it should be respected and understood the work that goes into these. That really low price tag isn’t much, trust me.

Anyway, there is a new game amidst the App Store entitled Stem Stumper. And this one is even adapted to be able to be played by the visually impaired. Here is what Ars Technica has to say on Stem Stumper:

The premise is simple: you guide an anthropomorphic plant creature around a series of obstacles—ranging from angry tree stumps to clouds of weed killer—in search of bags of fertilizer. You drag your finger along to create a path and various clues will alert you when you stumble across something important. If you’re playing in the standard mode you’ll be able to see as well as hear when you get close to something. And when you play in sonar mode, the visuals melt away completely, forcing you to focus on the sound.

But what about the basic instructions? How would someone that is in fact visually impaired even know what they are supposed to do? Well, the answer is simple. Should they be able to download and open the game, Stem Stumper supports VoiceOver. It can remove the written instructions and tell the user what to do. Sound effects and changes in the music will guide you to your goal.

Stem Stumper is available via the App Store for $2, and is quite entertaining. I am not quite sure if it is available for the iPod Touch or iPad, but it is supported on the iPhone with iOS 4 or higher.

Source: Ars Technica

Best Summary of the iPhone 4 issues ever

Tony — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 20:58:18 +0000

There’s not much that really needs to be said here, just watch the video:

Why We Need Net Neutrality

Tony — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 00:22:50 +0000

A future when this is reality must be avoided at all costs.

Awesome bendable bike!

Tony — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 23:44:56 +0000

Found this over at Engadget today. It’s a bike that is able to bend so that you can lock it around a lamp pole or something. Very neat idea! However, my only questions about it are can’t someone just unbend it and steal it? If that’s the case, he needs to make a lock for it as well. I also wonder how stable the bike is and what kind of weight it can support. It’s like, the material can’t be too solid, can it?

iPhone 4 just came out, but DOES IT BLEND?!

Tony — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 21:32:43 +0000

As I’m sure many of you know, Apple’s iPhone 4 came out last week. It’s been reviewed to death, discussed so much, and has a pretty significant buzz around it. So, the awesome guys at Blendtec decided to capitalize on all the buzz by putting it in their famous blender as part of their wildly popular Will It Blend series on YouTube. The results are found below:

Check and Mate!

Patrick — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 17:53:11 +0000

Some people have a lot of time on their hands. Case in point, this complete monster sized chess set is made with 100,000 lego pieces. I love playing chess and I find those commemorative chess sets to really be a collector’s item, so I’m really tickled to see that someone actually took the time to make this.

Father’s Day Cuff Links

Patrick — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 16:47:35 +0000

But these are not any ordinary cufflinks. These cufflinks have been made with recycled typewriter keys. So, you can get a set with your dad’s initials. I think this is a great idea. It’s funny, unique and actually makes use of some old technology that would otherwise be sitting in a landfill.

My own Lego home

Patrick — Fri, 28 May 2010 15:07:32 +0000

If you’re reading the title, no, I haven’t found a home made of Legos, but I did hear about a company via inhabitat.com that uses a similar concept for modular homes. PAF architecture has been working with the concept of snapping parts that can offer eco-friendly housing and a chance to break away from the “cookie cutter” style of housing we’ve seen in recent years. How feasible it is at this point and how expensive it is I don’t know, but I just find that particular concept interesting.

Star Wars memorabilia = GEEK

Patrick — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 16:01:18 +0000

I was born in 1977 so I obviously missed Star Wars’ initial theatrical release. I was old enough to remember seeing the second movie in theaters, and I have been a fan of the series since then. I dragged my family to the theater to see Return of the Jedi 6 times. As a kid, some of my favorite toys were the Star Wars toys. While my parents weren’t poor, we didn’t exactly have a lot of disposable income, so some of the bigger toys remained fantasies in my head. MSNBC just did a story today on some of the most memorable Star Wars merchandise not only from the original trilogy but also from the prequels. Some of the memorable merchandise is not necessarily for the better either. This one, for instance, had me shaking my head. Now, some fans would love to have put Jar-Jar Binks’ head on a plate as a war trophy. I didn’t have a grudge against him, but he was definitely not one of my favorite characters. But to make a loolipop in the shape of a tongue then encase it in a set of Jar-Jar lips that pop open just creeps me out. Think about this. A kid would look like he or she is kissing Jar-Jar in some overly affectionate passion. And this was marketed to kids. All I have to say is, “What were people smoking?”

Has anyone ever watched ninja warrior?

Patrick — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 14:24:49 +0000

I’m, at this moment, torn between blogging and watching a fascinating new TV I just discovered by accident, Ninja Warrior. I’ve always been fascinated by the ninja in Japanese culture, so what I’m watching right now is an American Galdiators style competition from Japan. an extreme obstacle course designed around the famous and infamous abilities of the ninja. It’s absolutely riveting. It’s hard to describe this first stage of the obstacle course, and I guess this thing is so challenging that there is not always a final winner. If you’re interested, it’s on G4, which is a video game channel. If you get with your cable of satellite TV, check it out. I plan to watch more.