The Sensory Room
The Sensory Room is fully equiped with many different 'sensations' - all of which can be used together. So imagine combinations of lights, sounds and touch, all synchronised and controllable.
Among the light effects are bubble tubes. light cascades, oil projections, a pin spot projector, glitter balls and a CD/DVD projector linked to the PC controller.
The bubble tubes (pictured left) and the light cascade (pictured below) have a wide variety of colours. Similarly, the various projectors can display many different images, including a full-wall screen to display films from DVDs.
'Touch' sensations are generated by a wind machine, a vibration bed and a water bed. The first two are linked to the computer controllers, and so the effects are synchronised with the sound system.
While all the various items can be used independently, they are also all linked to the main computer system, and so can be used in any combinations. Again, there are several different controllers available. One takes the form of a large cube with different coloured faces - a sensor in the ceiling identifies the top colour and sets up a particular combination of sound, light and touch. Another controller is sound-activated - it will react to a particular sound or to the absence of that sound.
These mean that the room can be used in many different ways. Some Next Steppers use it as a 'chill out' room, with quiet and soothing effects. Sometimes it is used as a mini cinema; in this mode it can also be used interactively with computer games. At other times it is used to help the development of skills - the sound-activated controller is used to help the development of the Next Stepper in realising that sound can control the environment - an essential communication skill in itself.