|
 |
 |
| ||||
|
Base Standards for Universally Designed Consumer Electronics InterfacesAbstract | Business Opportunity | Current Technology | Technology Requirements | References AbstractInterfaces for consumer electronics consist of buttons, dials, switches, keypads, and display screens. Manufacturers are increasingly using electronic components in product design. These include flat touchpad surfaces for buttons and keypads. These interfaces are a hindrance in terms of accessibility, as they provide no indication of button boundaries or function. Newly developed screens provide a digital display of information for the user which is often difficult or impossible for a visually impaired user to read. These developments in consumer electronics access and display technology have resulted in the inability of many users with visual impairments to operate the devices. Enhancing the input and output mechanisms within consumer electronic interfaces will enable visually impaired users to fully employ the capabilities of devices for work, education, recreation, and social inclusion. [ Top of Page ] Business OpportunityThe consumer electronics industry in the United States is growing larger every year as more manufacturers incorporate complex electronic components into product design. Mechanical devices of years passed now feature electronic controls that use microprocessors and broadband network technologies. These advancements have the potential to revolutionize the stigma associated with "accessible products" by allowing product design to stylishly and smoothly incorporate inclusive design principles, ultimately making products that are accessible and attractive to everyone. Recent figures illustrate the tremendous size of the consumer electronics industry based on various market segmentations. The Consumer Electronics Association reported that in 2001 over $102 billion was spent on electronics including video, audio, mobile electronics, home information products, blank media, accessories and batteries, and electronic gaming (Dealerscope, 2002). In 2002, retail sales for small electronics including blenders, toasters, coffeemakers, food processors, bread machines, and irons were over $1.8 billion (Quail, 2003). Large appliances including refrigerators and ovens or burners were found in approximately 96% of the 119 million homes in the United States in 2001. In addition, 56% of all housing units reportedly had dishwashers, 76% had washing machines, and 55% had central air conditioning units (U.S. Census Bureau, 2001). Clearly, the vast majority of Americans make use of consumer electronics in their homes. The overwhelming trend in all segments of the consumer electronics industry is toward the assimilation of computer intelligence into everyday-use products. As these products integrate multifaceted electronics into their design, care must be taken to ensure their usability by people with various functional limitations including the increasing number of aging Americans. As stated by Professor Ian Bruce, (2003) Director-General of the Royal National Institute of the Blind:
Consumer electronics have historically been designed for persons who have full use of their vision. As our society moves further into the realm of computer inclusion and the percentage of the population who are elderly continues to increase, designers must make accommodations for various levels of functional ability. These accommodations must be made for the existing population of individuals with visual impairments and for those who become susceptible to visual impairments as they age. The Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) (1997) reports that there were 7.7 million people in the U.S. who had difficulty seeing the words and letters in ordinary newsprint even with correction. Also according to the SIPP, approximately 1.8 million people were unable to see the words and letters in ordinary newsprint even with correction, which is considered a severe visual impairment (McNeil, 2001). People who have difficulty seeing ordinary newsprint may find themselves challenged or absolutely stymied by the small print and poor color contrast found on many consumer electronic device buttons and displays. The visually impaired population is projected to grow rapidly as the baby boomer generation approaches age 65 and over, putting them at significantly higher risk for eye diseases. Lighthouse International estimates that by 2010 there will be 8.3 million people 65 years of age and over who have some form of visual impairment and 4.3 million people in the same age group who will have a severe visual impairment (Lighthouse International, 1995). As previously noted, nearly all American homes are equipped with appliances and electronic entertainment devices. Consumer electronic companies that incorporate knowledge of these trends into their design strategies will be in a position to benefit from inclusive design as consumers take into account their current abilities and potential future limitations. [ Top of Page ] Current TechnologyIn order to effectively use an electronic device, users must have forms of input and output that accommodate their functional abilities and limitations. There are significant differences between the technologies required by a user who is totally blind and a user who has some vision remaining. Products that are usable by a person who is totally blind can be designed such that they are also appealing to those with full use of their vision. Historically, manufacturers of consumer electronics have not taken the needs of users with visual impairments into consideration when designing their products. For example, interactive touch screen liquid crystal displays (LCD) have been added to many appliances as a method of input. Although these systems may be relatively easy for a sighted consumer to utilize, they will inhibit a user with a visual impairment from being able to operate the device. This lack of consideration has resulted in users with visual impairments finding alternate methods of operation for their inaccessible appliances and devices, or purchasing accessible versions of an otherwise inaccessible device. Ultimately, devices should feature universal or trans-generational design such that all components are usable by persons with varying levels of function. High contrast or large print labels, magnifiers, and enhanced lighting are employed by persons who have some residual vision. However, a person who is totally blind requires auditory and tactile cues for information input and retrieval. This can be accomplished with add-on nibs (raised dots found on certain keys), raised button boundaries, buttons recognizable by shape, Braille labels, or memorization of a device's auditory cues. However, modifications to consumer electronics do not necessarily provide the user with all of the functionality that the device is intended to offer. Many consumer electronics are available in accessible versions of their counterpart mainstream products. For example, there are talking microwaves available on the market that offer distinctively shaped input buttons and verbal feedback output. Often, these devices are extremely costly, are not widely available, and come with a limited number of options. Whereas people with full use of their vision are able to select from hundreds of designs, models, and features when choosing an electronic device, visually impaired users may have one or two usable options, which may or may not provide all of the functionality that a similar mainstream product would offer. Recent trends and advancements in mainstream consumer electronics products include a broad range of new and improved functions and features to enhance convenience and ease of use. Multi-purpose products are being designed to eliminate the need for a range of devices. For example, recent introductions to the consumer electronics market include ovens that can bake, broil, grill without preheating, and function as microwaves. Coffee makers are being introduced with built in bean grinders. The use of microprocessors allows for controlled storage of recipes (preset cooking times and heat settings) and two-stage cooking (the oven will automatically change heat settings at predetermined times during the cook cycle). Small appliances such as microwaves, bread makers, and coffee makers have incorporated bar code scanning into their design, eliminating the need to manually select settings. These systems allow users to program the appliance by scanning a barcode into a scanner built into the device. Although this feature removes the need for the user to push buttons and read displays, it does require a network connection. These products are still relatively high priced. Networking of appliances also offers opportunities for the inclusion of many other high-tech features. Information such as news and weather can be provided for a user by way of an appliance rather than a television or radio, and can be updated continuously. Also, signals can be exchanged between appliances in separate rooms of the home (for example, the user's alarm clock will say "coffee brewing" and "coffee done" when it is ready for consumption). The advent of this high-tech gadgetry brings the responsibility to ensure their usability by all consumers, regardless of their level of functioning. Accessible input options include tactile labels, buttons identifiable by shape, logical button placement (grouping by function), raised button boundaries, and speech recognition. Accessible output options include speech output, non-verbal auditory cues, Braille, high contrast displays, and large print displays. Combinations of these accessibility options, such as speech output along with a conventional high contrast display would enable a user with a visual impairment to fully comprehend and make use of a device's output. A single nib placed on the number five of a keypad, with boundaries separating all buttons may be enough of an accommodation to allow a user with a visual impairment to enjoy the full functionality of a consumer electronic device. In order to maximize the usability of all functions and features of consumer electronics, manufacturers must adhere to inclusive design principles. [ Top of Page ] Technology RequirementsConsumers, manufacturers, clinicians, researchers and other stakeholders have identified requirements for universally designed consumer electronics that will significantly improve the ability to access these devices. These specifications include the following:
[ Top of Page ] References
[ Top of Page ] |
|
||
|
| |
