Accessibility / Handicapped Kate Dehbashi CS575 - Spring 2010 Dr. K.V. Bapa Rao

Agenda What does “Computer Accessibility” mean? Types of Impairment Computer Accessibility History First Accessibility Products ADA Accessibility Guidelines Assistive Technology Solutions Stephen Hawking Web Accessibility

Computer Accessibility Accessible to all people regardless of disability or severity of impairment Assistive technology Combination of hardware and software Enables the use of a computer by a person with impairment

Types of impairment Cognitive Developmental, learning disabilities Memory, perception, problem-solving, and conceptualizing Ranges from ADHD to severe retardation 20% of the U.S. population affected by mental disorders Visual Low-vision, complete or partial blindness, color blind 3.4% of the U.S. population Hearing Hard hearing, deafness Often non-speaking 8.2% of the U.S. population Physical Paralysis Not able to use conventional input devices

Computer Accessibility History 1971 Trace Center was founded Part of the College of Engineering, University of Wisconsin Address the communication needs of people who are nonspeaking or have severe disabilities 1980’s Personal computers moved in to peoples’ houses The Trace Center became a leader in making computers accessible to people with all types of disabilities 1984 “computer design guidelines” was developed by Trace 1980s & 1990s, the Trace Center worked directly with the computer companies to integrate disability access features into their products

First Accessibility Products 1980’s First “Access Pack” StickyKeys, SlowKeys, ShowSounds DOS ver. 1, 2, 3 Optional Late 80’s Dragon Speech recognition ZoomText screen magnifier JAWS Screen-reading package

ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) Law that was enacted by US Congress in 1990 Prohibits discrimination based on disability Title IV addresses telecommunication Requires that all telecommunication companies in the U.S. take steps to ensure functionally equivalent services for consumers with disabilities

Accessibility Guidelines How to make products accessible? Direct Accessibility Simple, low-cost Beneficial to normal people Example: “StickyKey" feature Accessibility via Standard Options or Accessories (from the manufacturer) Used when direct accessibility is not possible Not offered for all products Extra-cost or free on request Example: raised letter or Braille overlay on keyboard

Accessibility Guidelines (Cont.) Facilitation of Custom Modifications For people with combination or severe disability Custom modifications of the product Standard product manufacturers should facilitate this as much as they can Leave room for special attachments Documenting places to patch into software or hardware Publishing information to safe modification to the product Honoring warranties after modification where the modification did not result in the problem Example: General Motors offers up to $1,000 reimbursement of adaptive equipment costs on eligible vehicles

Accessibility Guidelines (Cont.) Compatibility with Third Party Assistive Devices Often difficult or impossible to connect the assistive devices to standard products Special interfaces or accessories from third party assistive device manufacturers Cooperation between mass manufacturers and assistive device manufacturers Example: "SerialKeys" for alternative input devices

Assistive Technology Solutions Cognitive very few assistive devices for people Visual Screen magnifier Screen reader Speech synthesizer Refreshable Braille Display Hearing System sounds substitution with visual notifications Speech to text IBM SiSi Project Physical Alternate input devices: switch, joystick, trackball Speech recognition software Famous example: Stephen Hawking

Assistive Technology solutions visual impairment Screen Readers speaks everything on the screen including graphics and text Speech Synthesizers Speaks the input Refreshable Braille Displays The user reads the Braille letters, after a line is read, refreshes the display to read the next line

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Assistive Technology solutions hearing impairment IBM SiSi Say it, Sign it Speech recognition module Speech-to-sign language Animated signing Avatars in the corner of the display

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Assistive Technology solutions physical impairment Stephen Hawking Professor at Cambridge university International icon for science and intelligence One of the world’s most recognizable disabled people Has been suffering from ALS for three decades Published a lot of papers and books

Stephen Hawkins Utilizing Assistive Technology 1970’s Dictating letters to a secretary Gave seminars through an interpreter 1985 Could only communicate using his eyebrow Equalizer software Uses menus of word 1990’s He receives a copy of “EZ keys” software Program is based on word prediction Converts text to speech Speeds up communication A laptop and voice synthesizer was installed on his wheelchair He is able to speak in seminars, write papers and books “The only trouble is that it gives me an American accent !”

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Web Accessibility Enabling access to Web content for all users W3C Guidelines Provide equivalent alternatives to auditory and visual content Name links meaningfully helps blind users using text-to-speech software and/or text-to-Braille hardware Don't rely on color alone Make links underlined as well as colorful Help color-blind people recognize the links Ensure user control of time-sensitive content changes Ensure that moving, blinking, scrolling, or auto-updating objects or pages may be paused or stopped For complete list of guidelines use

Questions?

References Wikipedia.org