Games to Test Reaction Time for Visually Impared

Individuals of any age or background can suffer from vision impairments. For some the goal of testing is to determine an individual's visual processing speed and related hand-eye coordination to respond to stimuli. Using games as a testing platform aids the individual by reducing the stress of being tested while allowing the observer to witness reactions that are most similar to daily experiences.

Visual Impairments

• The types of visual impairments and degree of impairment can vary greatly as are the means to test reaction time with a specific impairment. One eye may be dominant or the eyes may not be in alignment or respond to stimuli at the same time or in the same way. Other individuals may have problems with depth perception or being able to see things clearly when there is minimum contract of lightness and darkness between colors.

Classic Games

• A number of classic childhood games can be used or adapted to test or observe the reaction time of visually impaired individuals. The game Jacks is a very simple game that requires bouncing a small ball and then grabbing a specific number of jacks in a sequential order. The game pieces are small but could be made the same color as table or large cloth to further test visual abilities. Another game that could be used is Dominoes. The original game is based on adding the dots on the tiles; however, asking the individual to identify even and odd groups of dots may be more appropriate for testing visual impairment.

Video Games

• For many years researchers have been discovering the benefits of video game play for cognitive, visual and spatial thinking and hand-eye coordination. This is one of the reasons why computer based video games provide an ideal platform to test reaction times of those who are visually impaired. Children may be less intimidated with video game testing than older adults, but overall computerized games may make adults more comfortable than having to face an individual in a testing process where they may be afraid of failure. The computer can be fitted with eye-tracking technology while recording manual reaction times more accurately than that of any human observer. Screen elements can be adjusted for size, color, contract and brightness as needed to accommodate any visual impairments of the individual being tested and factor such adjustments into the final assessment.

Online Games

• A number of simple online games can be used for informal testing with family members and children that provide scores to reaction times. Of the many games at Cognitive Labs, a site devoted to improving cognitive activity, the games best suited to testing reaction time of the visually impaired include: Two Minute React, Super Tetris and Mission Mars. Cognitive Labs also provides a free visual speed test that only requires email registration to receive results. Such a test is not intended to replace professional evaluation, but can be used to track progress and be used as a tool to help increase visual acuity and reaction time.