News: Yorkshire firm aims to up its game

If you enjoy playing video games you’ll already be familiar with the satisfaction to be had from a slick move which defeats your enemy, wins you a race or scores a spectacular goal.

But imagine if that same controller or game pad had the power to change the environment around you – lighting, sound, image and video.

A small firm Yorkshire-based firm already has and, as a result, people with severe learning or physical disabilities have been able to enjoy control over their environment or the pleasure of playing music - simply by applying pressure on the buttons on a games console controller.

Frode playing the Xbox Controller

The familiar wireless Xbox controller is incorporated into Apollo Creative’s Ensemble technology which also employs other sensors, switches and pressure pads to trigger sounds or images linked to a theme of the user’s choosing.

“It could be outer space or the rainforest; a musical performance or interactive storytelling session; it really does depend on the images or sounds available as a resource,” said Apollo’s creative director Mark Hildred. “One of the advantages of the Ensemble software is that it’s adaptable and easy to change.”

Often young people with physical disabilities can be put-off by the specialist equipment which can appear to be too childish or emphasise their differences. However, the games controller comes with an inbuilt 'cool' factor, plus the fact that it’s often already familiar.

“We’ve seen youngsters master simple tunes with the controller – and derive a great deal of pleasure from it,” said Mr Hildred.

“I recently encountered a young man who had a very severe physical disability and only really had control over his head movement. With careful positioning of the controller he was able to play the joystick using his chin. In fact he was the best player we met that day, easily out performing the more able bodied performers.”

The Ensemble package has already helped the company reach the final of the ICT Special Educational Needs Solutions category at the British Educational Training & Technology (Bett) Awards in London at the end of the month (Jan 30 – Feb 1), and Mr Hildred has confirmed 2013 could see Apollo widening its appeal in the broader education sector.

“We primarily supply Ensemble equipment to the special needs market, but have a number of situations where it's used in mainstream settings including a pilot project to introduce nursery children to music,” said Mr Hildred.

“We’re hoping the Bett Show and awards in London gives us a platform to promote the concept. The audience will be representing education providers from around the globe so it’s a massive opportunity for us – and we need to make sure we grab it with both hands.

“If you’re serious about learning a musical instrument, then there’s no substitute for the real thing - but let’s say your objective is just to pique the interest of a class of children or to teach them the rudiments of music.

“Wouldn’t it be great if you could hand them something they’re probably already familiar with and associate with fun?”

News: Apollo Creative in line for national award

A Yorkshire company which designs and manufactures technology which allows children with disabilities to express themselves through movement has been named as a national finalist at a prestigious industry awards ceremony to be held next month.

Apollo Ensemble allows children with physical or learning difficulties to transform their body movements into sound, light, images and video and can be used for music-making, in sensory environments or for interactive story-telling.

Invented by Apollo Creative, based on Manse Lane in Knaresborough, the equipment has been shortlisted as a finalist in the ICT Special Educational Needs Solutions category of the British Educational Training & Technology Awards (Bett).

“The beauty of Apollo Ensemble is that it can be adapted for any user, no matter how limited their range of movement. It can be configured so that even the twitch of a finger can have significant audio or visual results,” explained creative director Mark Hildred.

“For schools working with children with a wide range of disabilities this is a real benefit. The system is portable too, so it can be taken wherever it’s needed.”

Apollo Creative has worked with establishments such as The Dales School at Morton-on-Swale, North Yorkshire, and KidsOut, a national charity which helps disadvantaged children.

Mr Hildred hopes the Bett Award nomination will help take Apollo Ensemble out to an even wider audience.

“Ensemble is really versatile – it can be integrated into classroom learning for group use or geared to an individual, which is why schools find it so useful,” he said. “We’re delighted the selection panel has recognised its advantage and have our fingers crossed for the final judging.”

The Bett Awards ceremony takes place on Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at the Grange Tower Bridge Hotel in London.

The Bett Awards are considered to be the most prestigious in the education sector, and are committed to celebrating a distinctive and diverse digital education resources market that meets the needs of the education system.

Event director with organisers i2i Events Group, Debbie French, said: “It is the quality of these products and services that helps to maintain the UK’s position as the leader in the use of technology in education.

“The specific nature of each individual child’s learning requirements means judging the products and services entered into the Bett Awards is possibly the most challenging of any award programme. This year we have been astounded by the levels of innovation in the judged products.”

Director of the British Educational Suppliers Association and chairman of the judging panel, Caroline Wright, added: “Despite schools now realising they do have strong available budgets, teachers are becoming more shrewd in assessing the aptness of products for their specific needs.

“Products therefore need to be of the highest standard to ensure that, aside from the initial purchase price, the total cost of ownership is low. This is what the judges have identified; products that offer the highest quality and are fit for purpose.

“These Bett Award finalists are certainly companies that schools can safely consider to be amongst the best available.”