infopeople webinar series: accessibility and technology

Infopeople Webinar Series:

Accessibility and Technology

An Webinar

Jane Vincent, A.M.L.S.

jane@janevincent.com

September 16, 2008

12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m.

Infopeople webinars are supported by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.

Finding Assistive Features Hidden in Mainstream Technologies

Agenda

It’s everyone’s technology: Universal Design (UD)

UD and computers

UD and other technologies

Seeking and finding UD features

It’s not everyone’s technology: UD limitations

Universal Design: It’s Everyone’s Technology

Old model: Specialized technology

Perception of people with disabilities having product needs distinct from non-disabled people

Perception of a need for separate products for use by people with disabilities

Examples of product development

Mainstream products people with disabilities– infrared mice– text messaging

“Specialized” products mainstream– “blind writers”– scanning software

New model: Universal Design (UD)

“Universal design is the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.”

–Ron Mace

Examples of conscious UD

OXO Good Grips

TV remotes

Internet Explorer

UD implications beyond disability

May also encompass language, culture, and other diversity factors

Example: Kenmore oven #665.72133300

Universal Design - Computers

UD computer hardware features

Keyboard nubs– and how to enhance them

Brightness features on monitors

UD control panels - Windows

Accessibility (XP) / Ease of Access (Vista)– StickyKeys– ToggleKeys

Other panels– Mouse: Cursor options– Folder options: Click items…– Regional and Language Options

UD utilities - Windows

Keyboard shortcutsMagnifierOn-screen keyboardSpeech recognition (Vista only)

UD control panels – other systems

Macintosh– VoiceOver screen reader

Linux– suite of built-in utilities

UD in Microsoft Office

Zoom

Insert Object

Universal Design in other technologies

Cell phones

Text messaging replacing TTYs

“Normalization”

OMG! GF, WYB…

Websites

Confluence between accessibility and usability– ALT attributes– color contrast/font specifications– search strategies

Video

Captioning

Audio description

Creative assistive technology use

Accommodation of temporary disability

Darkrooms

Literacy

Universal Design features to watch out for

Flexibility

Can features be adjusted?– font / font size / font and background color– volume– sensitivity– target area

Multi-modality

Visual audioVisual tactileAudio visualTactile speechVisual / audio smell?!!

Simplicity

Intuitive designAppropriate feature presentationAppropriate task automationError prevention / confirmationClear documentation

Versatility

Can product be used for multiple purposes?

Example: learning disability and literacy

Example: resource sharing

Limits of Universal Design

Needs not met by UD

Human ability as a continuum

Individuals at the extreme end may always need custom technology

UD as one of multiple factors

Should not automatically trump other considerations

Example: Copy machine

Availability

Awareness issues

Political issues

Models with UD features may be out of practical reach

Conclusion

UD is always a goal…

…and always a worthwhile one

Useful websites

Center for Universal Design, North Carolina State University: www.design.ncsu.edu/cud/index.htm

Access on Main Street: www.accessonmainstreet.net

More resources on handouts

Thanks!

Jane Vincent, jane@janevincent.com“Accessibility and Technology”

Infopeople Webinar series:– Universal Design: Sept. 16 – Accommodating Boomers: October 7– IT Staff and Assistive Technology:

November 19