RadaR
RadaR is a fun and educational game through which children with little or no vision can acquire the skills necessary to work with assistive technology, such as screen reader software, in order to learn how to access the Internet. The program also educates children with regard to staying safe on the Web.
Theodore (7) plays RadaR during a RadaR workshop by Phia Damsma at Vision Australia's Enfield Centre.
RadaR combines storytelling and musical characteristics with interactive educational games and learning challenges. A dolphin, a bat and a mole are the main characters in the audiostory which is at the heart of RadaR, played by real voices. Their adventure takes the children playing RadaR on a voyage of discovery through a virtual world and online communication.
After completion of RadaR, unbeknown to the player, he or she has created a personal website, for keeps, thanks to MaX 4.0, Sonokids fully accessible website creation tool and content management system, compliant with the W3C guidelines for web accessibility.
RadaR is recommended for ages 6-18.
To request a free RadaR account please send an e-mail to radar@sonokids.com.
Please include age, assistive technology used and requested playername. Note that the playername will become part of the website address of the website that a player unknowingly builds in the background of RadaR so it is wise to choose a clear and short playername.
Teachers and parents can improve or train their skills by playing the Teachers' Edition of RadaR.
Support
Famous actors and tv-personalities both in the Netherlands (where the first version of RadaR was produced), in Scotland and in Australia have contibuted their voice to the audioplay.
Famous Australian comedian and TV personality Dave Hughes recorded the voice of Max the bat for RadaR.
Other roles are played by blind, partly sighted and fully sighted children.
RadaR includes two original songs performed by well-known artists.
The development and production of RadaR would not have been possible without the support of
Dutch funding body "Digital Pioneers";
BBC Scotland;
The Royal Blind School in Edinburgh, Scotland;
Queensland Government's Technology Survival Skills Program, Australia.