First: Industry Panel

Thoughts, feedback?

Doing again in future offerings?

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user-centered design process

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COMP 3020: Human-Computer Interaction I

Universal DesignFall 2017

James Young, with acknowledgements to Anthony Tang, Andrea Bunt, Pourang Irani, Julie Kientz, Saul Greenberg, Ehud Sharlin, Jake Wobbrock, Dave Hendry, Andy Ko, Jennifer Turns, & Mark Zachry

Today

Universal design

What is it?

Why is it important?

Considerations for interactive technologies

Resources and examples

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“It is estimated that at least 10% of the population of every country has a disability that will affect interaction with computers.”

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-Dix, Finlay, Abowd, Beale

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Canadian Statistics

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Age Group % of Canadians with a disability

15-24 4.4

25-44 6.5

45-64 16.1

65+ 33.2

Canadian Statistics

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Type of Disability % of Canadians

Pain 9.7

Flexibility, Mobility, Dexterity 7.6, 7.2, 3.5

Mental/psychological 3.9

Hearing 3.2

Seeing 2.7

Memory 2.3

Learning 2.3

AbilitiesNo such thing as the “average user”

Nothing more than a statistical notion

Each one of us has permanent and/or temporary disabilities

Temporary disabilities can arise due to nature of our environment or our health

What forms of “temporary” disabilities are there?

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Temporary DisabilitiesDriving a car

Limited attentional bandwidth

Sick, injuredTemporarily impaired cognitive capabilitiesTemporary loss of motor capabilities

Sleep deprivation when caring for an infantAffects memory

Underwater divingImpaired sight, hearing, mobility

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Aging PopulationIn 2001, 12% of Canadians were 65 years or over.

By 2026, it is estimated that this number will grow to 25%.

Aging adults prefer to be autonomous as long as possible

Don’t want to be institutionalized, reliant on others

Aging has impact on cognitive, physical capabilities

1 in 4 adults over age 80 has some form of dementia

Motor skills, senses decline

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Age-Related ChangesDecreased visual acuity

Problems with low levels of illumination

Reduced ability to distinguish colors, especially in short wave lengths (blue, green)

Decreased contrast sensitivity

Glare becomes more problematic

Visual search is harder, takes longer

Pattern recognition more difficult

Tracking and processing moving targets harder

Reduced spatial abilities

Increased difficulty with motor movements

Decline in auditory function

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Designing for Disabilities

Why design for users with disabilities?

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Designing for Disabilities

Why design for users with disabilities?

It’s the ethical thing to do

Because it’s the law in some countries

Business opportunities

Because of the “curb cut phenomenon”

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Accessibility Standards

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W3C Web Accessibility InitiativeGuidelines and technical specifications for universal web design, for example:

Supporting screen reading

Use of styles which can be customized by accessibility plugins

Tools for designers / developpersAccessibility “Check lists”

Evaluation tools (for automated checks)

http://www.w3.org/WAI/

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Legal Obligations

Access to physical spaces for people with disabilities has long been an important legal and ethical requirement

This is now becoming increasingly the case for information spaces.

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Legal Obligations

Legislation such as the UK’s Disability Discrimination Act and Section 508 in the US now requires software to be accessible.

If you want to sell software in these markets, it will have to be accessible

Laws are developing and/or in-place Canada as well

The United Nations and the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) have declarations and guidelines on ensuring that everyone can get access to information that is delivered through software technologies

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Enacted Dec, 2013

Mandate to create legal standards and requirements for accessibility in Manitoba

Accessibility Standard for Customer Service

Effective Nov 1, 2015, everyone must comply by Nov 1, 2018 (public sector by Nov 1, 2017)

http://www.accessibilitymb.ca/customer-service-standard.html

Accessibility Standard for Customer ServiceTo fulfill the Accessibility Standard in Customer Service, organizations must:• address physical barriers that prevent customers from

receiving service• meet the communication needs of clients• allow service animals• allow assistive devices, such as wheelchairs, walkers and

oxygen tanks• let customers know the accessibility policies and procedures• let customers know when accessible services are not available• invite customers to provide feedback• train staff on accessible customer service, including

reasonable accommodations under The Human Rights Code (Manitoba).

It’s the Law!

Accessibility Standard for Information and Communications

Work in progress – it’s coming!

It will be the law, so you will be responsible for knowing about it

Curb-Cut PhenomenaDesigning to accommodate users with disabilities can benefit everyone

Dubbed the “curb cut phenomenon”

Sidewalk curbs must be “cut” to allow wheelchair access

But benefits more than just wheelchair users

Easier to roll luggage, use strollers, carts, etc.

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Curb-Cut Effect

Many technologies designed for those with disabilities have had this positive effect

Examples?

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Curb Cut: “Classic” ExamplesCassette tape

Developed as an alternative to reel-to-reel tape so visually impaired individuals could use books on tape more easilyEngineers didn’t think average user would buy it because of inferior audio quality

Remote control for TVOriginally designed for those with mobility impairments

Closed captioningDesigned for deafData mining, gyms, language learners, even children reading

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Curb Cut: Classic Examples

Voice-actuated telephoneHands-free dialing originally for paralyzed

"Personal Digital Assistant”developed in support of enabling persons who are deaf to send and receive messages

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Other Forms of Accessibility?

The concept of Universal Design is about ensuring that technology is inclusive of all users

Beyond physical and cognitive disabilities, what other factors might make technology accessible for some, but not others?

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Economic and Cultural Exclusions

Economic:

People are excluded if they cannot afford some essential technology.

Cultural:

Assumptions embedded in technology that exclude certain cultures.

E.g., using a metaphor based on American football would exclude those who do not understand the game.

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Economic Exclusions: Moses’ BridgesNY City Planner, Robert MosesMade bridges small on purpose: busses could not go underDestinations (e.g., nice beaches) became socially segregated

Photo: Historic American

Economic Exclusions: Moses’ Bridges

Clearance: 7’, 7”. Too small for bus. http://www.hopesandfears.com/hopes/now/politics/216905-the-lingering-effects-of-nyc-racist-city-planning

Social Exclusion

Can occur if technology is unavailable at an appropriate time and place

Or if people are not members of a particular social group and cannot understand particular social mores or messages.

E.g., new high tech assistant, only on Facebook

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Physical ExclusionInappropriate positioning of equipment

Input and output devices making excessive demands on user abilities.

Examples: an ATM may be positioned too high for a person in a wheelchair to reach

a mouse may be too big for a child’s hand

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Conceptual Exclusions

People may be excluded because they cannot understand complicated instructions or obscure commands or they cannot form a clear mental model of the system.

E.g., Command line interface for statistics (e.g., the program R). Statistics knowledge not the barrier

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