Smash-a-ball improves blind kids' memory and spatial awareness
The machine you see above is called Smash-a-ball, and to put it simply: it's like Whack-a-mole designed to help blind kids develop certain skills. Smash-a-ball was developed by Nadia Guevara and Pedro Bori, a couple of educational psychologists, who've teamed up with a number of engineers to create toys for children with visual impairment. In order to play, users will have to rely on audio cues from the box's speaker coupled with tactile stimuli given off by the accompanying backpack or armband to pinpoint which combination of buttons to hit. The duo believes Smash-a-ball can help kids gain self-esteem and give them a way to interact and socialize with friends and family. It can also help visually impaired children improve their memory and reaction rates, as well as gain body and spatial awareness.
The team is currently hoping to raise £100,000 ($148,000) from Kickstarter to go into production. You'll have to pledge at least £180 ($267) to get a set of your own, but you can also donate £50 ($74) and hope four more people do the same. For every five £50 pledges, the team will give a set to a kid who needs it.
