Quadstick Adaptive Controller Overview
The Quadstick is an adaptive controller that allows someone to play video games only using their mouth. It contains four components: a joystick which the user can control with mouth and head movements, a mouthpiece with three holes that the user sips or blows into for the different controls in the game, a lip switch that the user can activate with their lower lip, and a side tube that the user can sip or blow into to switch between gaming profiles. The device can be mounted to a table and positioned in front of the user so that they can play video games using only their mouth and head movements. The Quadstick can be programmed so that virtually any sip or puff combination on the controller can be any control or combination of controls in the game.
Multiple game profiles can be loaded onto the Quadstick and the user can switch between them using the side tube. Each profile can have different controls assigned to each sip and puff to optimize the controls for a specific game. For example, sipping into the center hole could be assigned to the X button on profile one and assigned to the Y button on profile two. The Quadstick can hold over one hundred different configuration profiles, allowing a large number of controls to be programmed into the device. The activation behavior of the button can also be adjusted on the Quadstick to make gameplay easier for users. For example, a button could be set to toggle, which would auto hold down a button in the game when it is activated on the Quadstick. With proper programming of the control configuration, button behavior, and profiles, a user can play virtually any video game using just their mouth. See the video playlist above for an introduction to the Quadstick.
Ordering
There are many options available to order the Quadstick. This guide is meant to help provide recommendations for which options might work best for most users. Please see below for the typical recommendations when ordering the Quadstick and click the drop down for a description of each option. Currently a limited number of Quadsticks are released each week and go for sale on Mondays at 12pm EST until they are sold out.
-
There are three models available on the Quadstick site when ordering, the Quadstick FPS controller, the Original Quadstick controller, and the Singleton controller. In most cases, the Quadstick FPS controller will be preferred option. It has similar functionality to the Original Quadstick, but the joystick is much better and smoother on the FPS model. The Singleton is primarily for users interested in using the device for computer access and not gaming.
-
The Bluetooth option on the Quadstick allows users to connect wirelessly to their computer. However, for users who want to game on a console, this option will not matter, as the Quadstick must be plugged directly into the console and cannot be connected wirelessly over Bluetooth. Therefore, this option is really only beneficial for those who would also like to use the Quadstick for computer access in addition to gaming.
-
The resistance of the joystick on the Quadstick is determined by the spring type. The heavy spring will cause the joystick to have greater resistance, while the light spring will require less force to move. Some users might prefer the heavy spring for gameplay, but this might be too restrictive or fatiguing for many users. Therefore, it is usually safer to go with the light spring unless the user has been able to have adequate time trialing with both options to see which spring type they prefer.
-
There are two main options that the user can choose from when selecting a mouthpiece. The first is choosing between a narrow or wide mouthpiece. The wide mouthpiece has the sip-and-puff holes spaced further apart compared to the narrow, making it easier for a user to isolate a single sip-and-puff on the Quadstick. However, this comes at the price of gameplay speed since there is further distance to travel between activating controls. While the wide holed mouthpiece will be easier initially for the user, long-term it will limit their gameplay speed. Most users adapt fairly quickly using the narrow mouthpiece, so the ease of play is only temporarily better with the wide mouthpiece. Therefore, starting with the narrow mouthpiece is the better option in most cases.
The second option for the mouthpiece is choosing between the 3-hole and 4-hole mouthpiece. For the number of sip-and-puff holes on the mouthpiece, the 4-hole option is superior to the 3-hole mouthpiece. The 4-hole option integrates the side-tube, which is used for switching profiles, into the main mouthpiece component. The side tube typically is a separate component when using the 3-hole mouthpiece. The traditional side tube snaps off easily and sometimes gets bumped out of reach of the user. These problems are avoided with the 4-hole mouthpiece since the side tube is no longer on a separate tube but directly part of the mouthpiece controller.
You can also 3D print your own mouthpieces, rather than purchasing them through the Quadstick site. This link provides the files for 3D printing mouthpieces and this link provides the list of additional parts that are needed to connect the mouthpiece to the Quadstick. The holes for the mouthpiece do need to be manually threaded using a 10-32 tap drill size to connect the tubing. This can be a cheaper option for mouthpieces for those that have 3D printing capabilities.
-
Choosing inputs for I/O configuration will allow more switches to be plugged into the back of the Quadstick if the user would like to use accessibility switches in addition to using the sip-and-puff on the Quadstick. For most users, this option will not matter as they will only be using the mouthpiece and not use additional switches for controls.
-
The Quadstick does not come with a mount when ordering it, so a mount must be ordered separately from the Quadstick site. There are three different mounting options that are available with the Quadstick, the Flexible Mounting Arm, Magic Arm, and Articulate Mounting Arm. The Flexible Mounting Arm and Magic Arm are the most reliable options. However, the Flexible Mounting Arm is typically easier for caregivers to adjust compared to the other options since it can just be bent into place. It is less durable than the Magic Arm, but it has more than enough durability for gaming. It is also much cheaper. Therefore, due to ease of adjustment and price it is typically the recommended option.
Getting Started
This is meant to guide new users through how to get started with the Quadstick and the different resources available for learning to use and program the Quadstick. The Quadstick is one of the more complex adaptive controllers, so there is a greater learning curve. However, when set up correctly, it can allow a user to play nearly any game using just their mouth. There are three important steps to setting up the Quadstick:
1) Mounting the Quadstick appropriately in front of the user
2) Creating a game profile for the Quadstick and adjusting settings to meet the user’s needs
3) Setting up the Quadstick on the game console
MOUNTING THE QUADSTICK
The mount for the Quadstick needs to be ordered separately from the Quadstick site. The mounts work best when attached to the side of a table. If the user is playing in bed, an over-the-bed table might be the best option for attaching the mount. If the user is playing in a chair, mounting to the side of a desk or over-the-bed table works well. The Quadstick should be mounted so the user can access the mouthpiece, side tube, and lip switch easily. The lip switch can be slid back and forth to be adjusted closer or further from the user.
CREATING GAME PROFILES & ADJUSTING SETTINGS
Out of the box, the Quadstick comes with generic factory profiles loaded on for different games. These may not work for the user to play the games they want, as many times the profiles need to be adjusted based on the game and an individual’s needs. While it is easier to just use the factory profiles, this will not provide the best overall experience for the user, so the profiles should be adjusted based on the game and user’s preferences. The Quadstick profiles and settings can be adjusted using the Quadstick Manager Program and Google Sheets. The Quadstick Manager Program allows adjustment of many settings including the joystick sensitivity, sip and puff sensitivity, and game profiles.
One of the more common settings that may need to be adjusted on the Quadstick is the joystick sensitivity, as many users find it too sensitive out of the box when starting to play. A good starting place for the joystick sensitivity is 25 or 30 depending on the user’s preference. The sip-and-puff sensitivity is another setting that will need adjustment for users on vents who might not have as strong of respiratory strength. There are many Quadstick Factory Profiles available within the Quadstick Manager Program that other users have made over the years for specific games. Many of these are a great starting place for creating a new game profile. The individual controls within each profile are adjusted on a Google Spreadsheet and then can be loaded onto the Quadstick via the Quadstick Manager Program. The two best resources for learning to program the Quadstick are the Quadstick User Manual and instructional videos. The video playlist above provides a good overview of how to get started with programming using the Quadstick Manager Program.
CONNECTING TO A GAME CONSOLE
The Quadstick is able to work with most game consoles. However, it will not be plug-and-play for all consoles and additional set up and programming may be required. Additional components may also need to be purchased. See the Controller Connect Tool for directions on how to set up the Quadstick on different consoles.
For an overview of more advanced set up options on the Quadstick, please follow the link below to the Advanced Quadstick page.