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Infopeople Webinar Series: Accessibility and Technology

Infopeople Webinar Series: Accessibility and Technology. Finding Assistive Features Hidden in Mainstream Technologies. An Webinar. Jane Vincent, A.M.L.S. jane@janevincent.com September 16, 2008 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m.

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Infopeople Webinar Series: Accessibility and Technology

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  1. InfopeopleWebinar Series:Accessibility and Technology

  2. Finding Assistive Features Hidden in Mainstream Technologies 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.

  3. 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

  4. Universal Design: It’s Everyone’s Technology

  5. 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

  6. Examples of product development • Mainstream products  people with disabilities • infrared mice • text messaging • “Specialized” products  mainstream • “blind writers” • scanning software

  7. 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

  8. Examples of conscious UD • OXO Good Grips • TV remotes • Internet Explorer

  9. UD implications beyond disability • May also encompass language, culture, and other diversity factors • Example: Kenmore oven #665.72133300

  10. Universal Design - Computers

  11. UD computer hardware features • Keyboard nubs • and how to enhance them • Brightness features on monitors

  12. 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

  13. UD utilities - Windows • Keyboard shortcuts • Magnifier • On-screen keyboard • Speech recognition (Vista only)

  14. UD control panels – other systems • Macintosh • VoiceOver screen reader • Linux • suite of built-in utilities

  15. UD in Microsoft Office • Zoom • Insert Object

  16. Universal Design in other technologies

  17. Cell phones • Text messaging replacing TTYs • “Normalization” • OMG! GF, WYB…

  18. Websites • Confluence between accessibility and usability • ALT attributes • color contrast/font specifications • search strategies

  19. Video • Captioning • Audio description

  20. Creative assistive technology use • Accommodation of temporary disability • Darkrooms • Literacy

  21. Universal Design features to watch out for

  22. Flexibility • Can features be adjusted? • font / font size / font and background color • volume • sensitivity • target area

  23. Multi-modality • Visual  audio • Visual  tactile • Audio  visual • Tactile  speech • Visual / audio  smell?!!

  24. Simplicity • Intuitive design • Appropriate feature presentation • Appropriate task automation • Error prevention / confirmation • Clear documentation

  25. Versatility • Can product be used for multiple purposes? • Example: learning disability and literacy • Example: resource sharing

  26. Limits of Universal Design

  27. Needs not met by UD • Human ability as a continuum • Individuals at the extreme end may always need custom technology

  28. UD as one of multiple factors • Should not automatically trump other considerations • Example: Copy machine

  29. Availability • Awareness issues • Political issues • Models with UD features may be out of practical reach

  30. Conclusion • UD is always a goal… • …and always a worthwhile one

  31. 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

  32. 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

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