The project aims to create the first online video games service for youths with Cerebral Palsy (CP), which will be the hosting platform of games (exergames and non-exergames) focused on improving motor skills and visual-motor coordination for youths with CP. These games will leverage the latest advances in games development, development of games authoring tools, machine learning, development of interactive games distribution platforms and input devices, in order to improve accessibility. The platform will be constructed with social networking in mind, which will allow parents, caregivers and patients to socialize in a common environment, to share experiences and advice, in an effort to provide the best care for CP patients. Caregivers would also be able to share best practices and lessons learned among themselves, which will help them provide a better service across Europe and beyond.
GABLE was born out of the idea that there is little or no help for youths with CP to play games specifically suited for their disability, while motivating them to play more and helping to rehabilitate their motor and motor-visual skills, and at the same time, introducing them to multiplayer/online gaming that would improve their social skills, and by extension, their social inclusion among their peers. Looking at the research done into these problems, we have seen that only baby steps have been made in an attempt to solve them. Several isolated demonstrations, in a research environment, have shown that there is great potential in exergames to be used as rehabilitation tools while others have shown that multiplayer can bring about social interaction leading to an improvement of social skills for disabled patients.