Researchers at the University of Nevada, Reno in the US have developed a new video game accessibility scheme designed to help blind children to become more physically active.

Motion-sensing-based tennis and bowling games have been devised as part of the VI Fit project - led by the human-computer interaction research team in the university's computer science and engineering department. Adaptations of Nintendo Wii Sports games have been modified as part of the scheme to enable young people with sight impairments to play without the need for "visual feedback".

To play the VI Fit games, users will need a Wii remote controller and a PC with Bluetooth or USB capabilities. Both the tennis and bowling games will provide players with audio and vibroactile responses. Research team leader Eelke Folmer said: "Lack of vision forms a significant barrier to participation in physical activity and consequently children with visual impairments have much higher obesity rates and obesity-related illnesses such as diabetes.

"VI Tennis was evaluated at Camp Abilities in New York with 13 children who were blind. We found our game to engage children into levels of active energy expenditure that were high enough to be considered healthy."