Eamon Patrick Doherty, Ph.D.
This book describes the history of video games and shows their evolution to the present. We survey a variety of common vintage Atari and Coleco games that can be used as part of a computer recreation plan for the disabled, senior citizens, and anyone else who wants to have fun. We also discuss some developments resulting from some computer games that were operated with electrodes for people with persistent vegetative state, spinal chord injured, and comatose. There are also some fascinating computer simulations used with doctors to help people recover from fear of driving, fear of height, and to distract them from pain experienced from severe burns. We also survey recreational/communication games in the Middle East.
The main author Eamon P. Doherty has a doctorate in computer science from the University of Sunderland in England, but whose earlier education was in America. His thesis investigated bio-electric interfaces for the disabled. Dr. Doherty was on a CNN video with a quadriplegic spinal chord injured man and a brain injured non-verbal man. Dr. Doherty’s work was also featured on a half page in the New York Times on two occasions. The secondary author, Gary Stephenson, also a Sunderland University graduate, is a consultant to the National Health Service in England on health informatics projects and has worked in the USA and through videoconferencing on computer applications for disabled people.
FOREWORD
This book covers a lot of topics. Let us try to summarize some of the main points. Perhaps a loved one or neighbor at home or in a long term care facility asks you to help them set up a computer recreation program for them. First try to start a pre-plan by finding out what they want to do and how much money they wish to spend. Next, find out about the infrastructure they will need such as hardware, software, telephone lines, internet service, electrical sockets, and any other small details. Then try to find out about medical problems that may prohibit certain gaming activities or input devices. Then find out what kind of input devices they can use without harm. They may have to speak to an occupational therapist and / or a primary care physician. Then create a plan of purchasing, training, implementation, and a set of numbers they can call for technical support and or service contracts. Before one implements anything, let the certified recreational therapist review the plan. Once it is reviewed by him or her, it may need to go to an interdisciplinary care team and safety officer. Implementation, training, and volunteering can start once all approvals and permissions have been secured.
Throughout this book we have used examples of movies to illustrate public sentiment because it is something that is very common to all of us around the world. Author James Cooper states in his book “The Responsible Administrator” that the public is diverse with no common belief system or shared values. It is my opinion that the movie is something that is shared from the streets of Somalia to China to the USA. One only has to think of the movie “Black Hawk Down” and remember the Somalia people’s reaction to it and how it angered Americans. President Reagan died in June 2004 and was considered a great man. He often spoke about old movies because regardless of culture or age, it is a common thread we all share. We as authors are taking a cue from “the Great Communicator”, Ronald Wilson Reagan by following his example of using examples of movies to illustrate concepts.
I also use analogies from James Cooper’s book called “The Responsible Administrator” because it is a book that is widely read by American public administrators and people within the health care and law enforcement communities. Its lessons of ethical decision making can be applied everywhere and I am hoping people will want to read it.
