“Gaming for Everyone”: Microsoft designs accessibility controller for Xbox One

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Playing the latest game on an Xbox is an easy, straightforward process for most–at least when using the controller. There’s the triggers, bumpers, face buttons, a directional pad, sticks and the iconic green guide button in the center. The question is, if you’re a gamer like Mike Luckett, how do you continue to play the latest games when the controller does not accommodate the needs of a person who has lost all finger control? After a motorcycle accident, Luckett severed his C6 spinal cord, and despite being able to move his hands, he lost the ability to control his fingers. After telling CNET he “nearly decided to quit gaming,” Luckett won’t have to.

Microsoft has developed an accessible controller for those who can’t use the traditional one, appropriately naming it the Xbox Adaptive Controller. The new controller, for $99.99, allows users of all abilities to plug switches, buttons, pressure-sensitive tubes and other attachments as desired. “We’re coming up on 2 billion people playing video games on this planet,” said Phil Spencer, the head of Microsoft’s Xbox team. “As an industry, when you start to hit that kind of impact act in terms of the broad base of people that interact with your art form, I do think we have a social responsibility.”

Image: Microsoft

For specific details on how this innovative controller works, CNET observed Luckett and said that “the key feature of the Xbox Adaptive Controller is that it has ports in its back that represent each button on a standard controller. So if Luckett needs the right-trigger button to be placed just near his elbow, for example, he can put one there and then plug it into the back of the adaptive controller. Now all he has to do is tap the button, and it registers as if he’d pulled the trigger on a standard controller.”

The Xbox Adaptive Controller will be available sometime this year. A detailed development timeline and more information about the controller can be found by clicking here.

Are you developing a technology that improves the lives of those with accessibility needs? Did you know your R&D experiments could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

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Issues Facing Multinationals After Apple’s Tax Headlines

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Apple in Ireland

This week Apple has taken a blow from the European Commission as the EU demands Apple pay their withstanding taxes to Ireland to the tune of about 14.5 billion US dollars. While Apple would be the one with a large bill, the focus lies heavily on the Irish government for what the EU defines as selective treatment or creating a special benefit for an individual or company. However, Ireland refuses to claim the taxes. Why?

By accepting the $14.5 billion Ireland will put at risk its reputation for being a cheap and stable market in which to perform business. As of 2014, Ireland had $350 billion or 311 billion euros of foreign direct investment which was 165% of GDP. Despite what is sure to be a costly fight with the European Commission, Ireland can not afford to lose these large investors. This, in effect, will damage Ireland’s relationship with the many multinationals functioning there such as Facebook and Google who have their European headquarters in the country.

Apple & the Big Brother

Apple CEO, Tim Cook, has issued a clear letter addressing Europe’s Apple community stating that the opinion issued by the European Commission has no factual basis as Apple pays the taxes it owes. The company continued to say that as nearly all of Apple’s R&D (research and development) is performed in California the vast majority of their profits are taxed within the US. This year Apple is lined up to spend about $10 billion on R&D increasing their research spending by about 30% from 2015. The letter concluded by drawing attention to proactive rather than retroactive lawmaking and by committing to further investment in Ireland and the European market.

Why has the US government supported Apple in this fight? For some time there has been conversation regarding the repatriation of profits being made abroad. While bringing the era of parking money offshore to an end would be beneficial for the US, allowing Apple to pay the sum would potentially add to the federal deficit. Additionally, Washington has stated its concern regarding the European Commission encroaching on US Government Jurisdiction. However it seems that not only the US is getting involved.

Bigger Fish to Fry

This is only the beginning of much more to come – governments worldwide have been struggling with how to tax the intangible multinationals and now the conversation has been opened. The question is; will these multinationals be forced to pay for their previous agreements or will rulings move from the current period forward?

If you would like to discuss the R&D Tax Incentive further, please do not hesitate to contact one of Swanson Reed’s offices today.