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OPENING UP NEWS WORLDS FOR SPECIAL NEEDS PUPILS

02/02/2004

"Landesign bring with them an impressive track record of producing highly interactive installations which have already proved to be extremely appealing to special needs children."

Landesign, who will work closely with technical and media partners, Production Science and Simple Productions, will use the NESTA Learning award to research, design and create sensory-based 'inter-re-active' software for immersive digial environments. Within these spaces digitally responsive media can be activated and interacted with either, or as a combination of, basic physical gestures and minimal aural expressions, or simple physical presence. The aim is to give children with special needs an intuitive and fluid means of self-discovery. They currently have very little opportunity to have the sort of experience.

The origins of the project date back to a visit to the Millennium Dome in 2000 by Chadsgrove School, a specialist in special needs education. The pupils were taken to the 'Playzone' which housed many highly interactive sensory/media installations - including 'Kaleidoscope' - which had a big impact on the children. As a result the school approached Landesign to investigate the possibility of obtaining the exhibit following the closure of the Dome. After lengthy negotiations, support by BBC 'Today' journalist, Sanchia Berg and benefactor, Dr Peter Jost, Kaleidoscope was installed at Chadsgrove School in 2001. This led to Landesign deciding to further explore the use of this type of technology to engage special needs children.

Landesign was formed in 1992 with a particular interest in how the origination of space, interpretation of messages, people and/or objects may be drawn together through the appropriate use of communication media. Working collaboratively with other partners, they have won numerous awards for their innovative installations at venues across the UK.

Throughout the project Landesign will collaborate with skilled educationalists who will explore new methods of creative stimulus and therapy for children requiring special needs teaching.

The prototype will be trialed and evaluated with the support and participation of Chadsgrove and several other schools for children with special needs.

Sarah Macnee, Acting Learning Director, said: "We are very excited about being involved with Landesign in this pioneering project. They bring with them an impressive track record of producing highly interactive installations which have already proved to be extremely appealing to special needs children. The initiative should provide the opportunity to unlock the creative potential of this target group."