Putting accessibility and inclusivity at the forefront of design creates better outcomes for everyone.
When I joined Hatch Early Learning in 2022, it was easy to fall in love with Ignite. The touch-based interactive game mechanics and audio-driven instructions were so clearly designed with careful research and awareness of how young children learn and respond to the world around them. This engaging approach to learning made Ignite approachable for kids as they developed skills in literacy, math, and more. But there's always more that can be done to create a more inclusive product.
In my first year, we introduced audio controls to help isolate instructions from other sounds like background music and effects to help those that are hard of hearing. Last week, after months of discovery, ideation, development, and testing, we've begun building games that incorporate other key accessibility features, like closed captioning and the ability to play via keyboard controls.
These features don't take away from our original design principles - they compliment them. And they don't just benefit the children playing - they can aid teachers and families as well. And while our first batch of accessible games may be small, but when I look at our upcoming roadmap, I'm excited by the possibilities and the opportunity we have in front of us to build a platform that can help more children than ever before.
Our mission remains clear and unwavering - we want to ignite learning and close achievement gaps. And by integrating accessible design into our product, we create a more inclusive experience and expand the number of children who can benefit from playing Ignite.
#productinnovation #accessibilitymatters #edtech #IgniteByHatch
🚀 Exciting News! 🚀 Ignite's latest release is here, featuring 22 new games! Explore 18 Spanish Guided Practice games for Kindergarten skills with a focus on Math and Science. Plus, 4 English 1st Grade games focusing on Social Studies.
🌐 What's groundbreaking? Our 1st Grade games have new Accessibility features, making Ignite more inclusive. Explore closed captions and keyboard operability for a seamless experience. #IgniteByHatch #EdTech #BilingualLearning
Learn more about Ignite: https://hubs.ly/Q02jSBQt0
Game Developing Graduate at Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology
5moThank you so much for reconizing our teams efforts! It was an honour to receive an award and a pleasure to meet some of you guys over at Sledgehammer Games.