Accessible NXT

Accessible NXT is a switch-accessible app that lets you control your Lego Mindstorms NXT robot. Children can use touch to interact with the robot GUI or use an external switch connected through a Bluetooth switch interface such as TabAccess. The app is designed to engage children with motor disabilities in robot educational activities.

To use this app, set up your robot using the following steps:

* Bluetooth - Using the robot’s GUI, navigate to settings and turn on Bluetooth

* Motors - Connect robot wheel motors to outputs B and C

* Activate app – Select NXT name from Bluetooth list

Basic commands for commanding the robot include:

* Arrows - Use arrows to provide move commands to the robot

* Robot Power – Use this option to change the speed of a robot movement

* Robot Move Time – Use this option to change the duration of a robot move

* Swap forward/reverse - Under the settings menu, this option swaps between forward and backward directions

* Swap left/right- Under the settings menu, this option swaps between left and right turns

There are various settings that can be used to change the accessibility defaults. Most of the default accessibility parameters can be assessed through the settings option located at the top left of app. The following settings are provided to change the accessibility defaults.

* Switch Scan Delay - Use this setting on the main GUI to control speed of scanning commands

* Scanning On - To activate/deactivate scanning, select this option. Scanning enables automatic scanning through the robot arrow commands. When an arrow command is highlighted, pressing a switch activates that command.

* Switch Accessible - To activate/deactivate switch-access, select this option. When scanning is off but switch-access is on, the app uses the following inputs: Key 1 = Left, Key 3 = Right, Space = Select

This app currently works for the Lego Mindstorms NXT robot. An accessible version for Lego Mindstorms EV3 robot is coming soon.