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Making technology accessible by everyone, Part 2

By Linda Musthaler
Network World Technology Executive Newsletter, 09/30/02

Last week we talked about the need for and benefits of accessible technology. Accessibility means making products and services available to, and useable by, everyone - including people with disabilities as well as those without.

In researching this series of articles on accessibility, I talked with Michael Takemura of Hewlett-Packard's Accessibility Program Office. Coming from the Compaq side of the house in the new HP, Takemura has spent years educating engineers that they must design accessibility into new products such as desktop, notebook and handheld computers. " It's far cheaper to design these features into a product than to retrofit a product after it's produced, " Takemura says. " Plus, the accessible design improves usability for everyone, not just people with disabilities. "

He cites one example of a design win during his days at Compaq. " Our previous notebook computer design required two hands to simultaneously release the latches. This posed a significant challenge for someone with limited use of his arms or hands. Our engineers redesigned the product to a single-handed release. Everyone can appreciate this feature - even the person sitting in a middle seat on an airplane who is trying to discretely open his computer. "

Designing products for accessibility requires a different point of view. For instance, Takemura asked Compaq engineers to don special eyewear that limited their ability to clearly see features such as keys, switches, plugs and ports. With this new viewpoint, the engineers could understand how their designs could either inhibit or promote the usefulness of the computer to all users, and specifically to persons with limited or no vision.

Over the years, many new features have been added to computing and printing hardware to make the devices more accessible. Here are some of the more common features in various devices:

PCs

*Overall compatibility with assistive technology (such as a screen reader) - use of industry standard ports for alternative input and output devices.

*Keyboard navigation and shortcuts - one key to perform a task, rather than a combination of keys.

*Mechanical controls that are tactilely discernible and that support the force requirements for limited dexterity users.

*Concave buttons to support limited dexterity accessibility.

*Adjustable keyboard repeat rates.

*Minimal reach and dexterity required for media to be inserted or removed.

*Alternative forms of user identification for biometric identification.

Monitors

*Color and contrast settings and higher contrast icons for the visually impaired.

*Spacing of mechanical controls for users with limited dexterity.

Printers and imaging devices

*Floor-standing models have operable controls, buttons and switches that meet height and reach requirements of wheelchair users.

*Control buttons are well spaced and tactilely discernible.

*Colored buttons are associated with text.

*LCD displays have large fonts and backlit screens to support low vision accessibility.

*Some model printers have front input and output paper trays for easy access.

*Mechanical controls meet the force limit requirements.

IBM offers a good planning checklist for those companies that want to provide accessible hardware to their employees. Find this checklist at www-3.ibm.com/able/accesshardware.html

Hardware, of course, is only half the story. Software has made great strides in accessibility as well. Microsoft has taken a leadership role in this area in making its recent operating systems, as well as application software, very accessible. For example, here are a few of the features in Windows XP Professional:

*Use Keyboard Shortcuts - Select commands and buttons from menus and toolbars using just keyboard shortcuts.

*Improved Accessibility Utilities - Magnifier, Narrator, On-screen Keyboard, and Utility Manager provide accessibility support to individuals who need to temporarily use a machine other than their own, or to log on and set up their machine for the first time.

*Adjust Timing Options - Select timing options including setting the rate of blinking and flashing objects, or turning them off altogether.

*Improved Assistive Technology Support - Improved underlying support for accessibility in Windows XP Professional means assistive technologies will more easily understand the operating system and, therefore, function better.

For accessibility features built into other Microsoft products, visit www.microsoft.com/enable/products/microsoft.htm

A good resource from Microsoft Press is the book " Accessible Technology in Today's Business: Case Studies for Success, " ISBN 0-7356-1501-2.

Next week we'll look at assistive technologies - " add-ons " that help people with disabilities to use computers more effectively.

Linda Musthaler is vice president of Currid & Company. You can write to her at mailto:Linda.Musthaler@currid.com"> Linda Musthaler is vice president of Currid & Company. You can write to her at Linda.Musthaler@currid.com