Human Computer Interaction

Chapter 7 - Universal Design

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UNIVERSAL DESIGN

Learning Outcomes

To understand the universal design concept

To understand how the chosen design may affect the user

To describe the components of universal design process

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Introduction

What is Universal Design (UD)?

The process of designing products so that they can be used by as many people as possible in as many situations as possible.

E.g. designing interactive systems that are usable by anyone, with any range of abilities, using any technology platform.

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Introduction

Definitions

“Universal design makes things more accessible, safer, and convenient for everyone. Also called “Design for All” or “Inclusive Design,” it is a philosophy that can be applied to policy, design and other practices to make products, environments and systems function better for a wider range of people. It developed in response to the diversity of human populations, their abilities and their needs.” - The Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access (IDeA Center)

“Universal Design is a framework for the design of places, things, information, communication and policy to be usable by the widest range of people operating in the widest range of situations without special or separate design. Most simply, Universal Design is human-centered design of everything with everyone in mind.” - The Institute for Human Centered Design

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IntroductionUniversal design has two major components:

1. Designing products to be flexible enough and can be directly used

2. Designing products to be compatible with the assistive technologies - those who cannot efficiently access and use the products directly.

example- plug and play device

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Universal Design Principles

Is it possible to design anything so that anyone can use it? If possible, how practical would it be?

Seven UD Principles

1. equitable use

2. flexibility in use

3. simple and intuitive to use

4. perceptible information

5. tolerance for error

6. low physical effort

7. size and space for approach and use

Useful to people with a range of abilities and appealing to all

Allows for a range of ability and preference, through choice of methods of use and adaptivity to the user’s pace, precision and custom

Support user’s expectations and accommodate different language, literacy, academic skills

Presentation should be presented in effectively; represented in different forms/modes

Minimize the impact/damage caused by mistakes/unintended behavior

Comfortable to use, minimizing physical effort and fatique

Placement of system should be within reach & can be used by any user regardless of body size, posture or mobility

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UD -Multi-Sensory Systems

More than one sensory channel in interaction e.g. sounds, text, hypertext, animation, video,

gestures, vision

Used in a range of applications: particularly good for users with special needs, and

virtual reality

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UD using Usable SensesThe 5 senses (sight, sound, touch, taste and

smell) are used by us every day each is important on its own together, they provide a fuller interaction with the natural world

Computers rarely offer such a rich interaction

Can we use all the available senses? ideally, yes practically – no

We can use • sight • sound • touch) but we cannot (yet) use • taste • smell

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Multi-modal vs. Multi-media

Multi-modal systems use more than one sense (or mode ) of interaction

e.g. visual and aural senses: a text processor may speak the words as well as echoing them to the screen

Multi-media systems use a number of different media to communicate information

e.g. a computer-based teaching system: may use video, animation, text and still images: different media all using the visual mode of interaction; may also use sounds, both speech and non-speech: two more media, now using a different mode

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Sound in the Interface Sound is one of the IMPORTANT contributor to

usability

Research shown; With audio as confirmation modes, it reduces errors Allows users to pick up vital clues and information

from sound while concentrating their visual attention on different things

Allows to access in poorly lit or noisy environments Able to convey transient information and does not

take up screen space (useful for mobile applications)

Types of Sound can be divided into two; Speech Non-speech

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Speech Human beings have a great and natural mastery of speech – learnt

by listening to and mimicking the speech around us

Structure of Speech (ENGLISH)

1. phonemes Made up of 40 basic atomic elements of speech Each represents distinct sound (24 consonants & 16 vowel sounds) Prosody – alteration in tone, pitch, pauses, emphasis These resulted in..

2. allophones Represents all different sounds in the language between 120 and 130 of them these are formed into …

3. morphemes smallest unit of language that has meaning Basic building blocks of language (words, whole words, sentences)

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Speech (cont’d)Other terminology:

• syntax – structure of sentences

• semantics – meaning of sentences

*people are more aware and concentrating on extracting the meaning from the sentences, rather than focusing on the complex structure of speech

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Speech RecognitionProblems

1. Complexity of language

2. Different people speak differently: accent, intonation, stress, idiom, volume, etc. Pauses or using continuation noises (“ummm.....” and “errr.....”)

3. Background noises can interfere with input (masking/distorting the information)

Benefits Offers another mode of communication – supplement existing

methods/be the primary method. Eg., if user’s hand occupied, speech might be ideal as input medium

Doesn’t need keyboard, thus useful in mobile situations Alternative means of input for users (with visual, physical,

cognitive impairment)

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Speech Recognition: useful?

Single user or limited vocabulary systems e.g. computer dictation

Open use, limited vocabulary systems can work satisfactorily

e.g. some voice activated telephone systems

general user, wide vocabulary systems …… still a problem

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Non-Speech Sounds

boings, bangs, squeaks, clicks etc.

commonly used for warnings and alarms

Language/culture independent, unlike speech

Have to be learned

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Non-Speech Sounds: useful?

1. To provide transitory information – indications of network/system changes or of errors

2. To provide status information on background processes

3. To provide second representation of actions and objects in the interface.

4. To be used as navigation round a system – esp. for visually impaired

Types of non-speech sounds1. Using sounds that occur naturally in the world (auditory

icons)2. Using abstract generated sounds (earcons)

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Auditory Icons

Use natural sounds to represent different types of object or action

Natural sounds have associated semantics which can be mapped onto similar meanings in the interaction

e.g. throwing something away~ the sound of smashing glass

Problem: not all things have associated meanings

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Example - SonicFinder for the Macintosh

items and actions on the desktop have associated sounds

folders have a papery noise

moving files – dragging sound

copying – a problem … sound of a liquid being poured into a

receptaclerising pitch indicates the progress of the copy

big files have louder sound than smaller ones

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EarconsSynthetic sounds used to convey information

Structured combinations of notes (motives ) represent actions and objects

They vary according to rhythm, pitch, timbre, scale, volume

Two types of Earcons; compound earcons – combine different motives to build up a

specific action. E.g., combining the motives for ‘create’ and ‘file’ Family earcons – represent compound earcons of similar types.

E.g., OS errors and syntax errors would be in the ‘error’ family

It can be hierarchically structured to represent menus

Easily grouped

But, requires learning to associate with specific tasks in the interface

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TouchTouch is the only sense that can be used to send

and receive information

The use of touch in the interface is known as haptic interaction

Types of haptic interaction cutaneous perception

tactile sensation through the skin (e.g. vibration)

kinesthetics movement and position (e.g., resistance, texture, friction or force feedback)

information on shape, texture, resistance, temperature, comparative spatial factors

example technologies electronic braille displays force feedback devices e.g. PHANTOM range from SensAble Technologies

It provides 3-D force feedback allowing users to touch virtual objects by using an optical sensory –mouse

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Handwriting recognitionHandwriting is another communication mechanism

which we are used to in day-to-day life – a natural form of communication

TechnologyHandwriting consists of complex strokes and spacesCaptured by digitizing tablet

Free-flowing strokes (using a pen) transformed to sequence of coordinates

Depending on pressure and movements; Rapid movements – wide spaced dots/ Slow movements – narrowed dots

Information written onto tablets can be displayed, stored, or redisplayed

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Handwriting recognition Problems

Variation between handwritingco-articulation effects (letter formation)

Breakthroughs:stroke not just bitmapspecial ‘alphabet’ – Graffeti on PalmOS

Current state:usable – even without trainingbut many prefer keyboards!

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Gesture Recognition Control of movements by the hand

applications gestural input - e.g. “put that there” sign language

technology Computer vision data glove – special lycra glove position sensing devices

benefits natural form of interaction – pointing Easily interpreted by speech recognition system – using short, simple

verbal statements enhance communication between signing and non-signing users

problems user dependent – variation and co-articulation expensive

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Designing for DiversityGenerally, it is understood that, human

capabilities are different. Users have different needs and limitations.

Normally interface is designed for ‘average’ users, excluding not-so average users.

People are diverse, thus it is important to consider many factors when we want to apply universal design

Factors to consider;1. Disability

2. Age

3. Culture

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Users with disabilities visual impairment

Nowadays, the standard interface is graphical. The use of this reduces the possibilities for them

How to help? Peripherals - screen readers, braille output Sound – speech, earcons, auditory icons Touch – tactile interaction, force feedback devices

hearing impairment Less impact on graphical interface compared to visual

impairment. Computers enhance communication opportunities for them

How to help? Email, instant messaging Gesture recognition Textual captions for multimedia presentations which

contains auditory narrative

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Users with disabilities physical impairment

vary in control and movement abilities. Difficulty in mouse control How to help?

Speech input and output Eyegaze system – tracks eye movements to control cursors Predictive systems (e.g. Reactive keyboard – anticipate the commands to

be typed and executed)

speech impairment How to help?

Synthetic speech, text-based communication, conferencing systems

Dyslexia difficulty with learning to read fluently 

How to help? Severe - speech input & output Non-severe – spelling correction facilities Consistent navigation structure, clear signposting cues Color coding information, graphical information

Autism  impaired social interaction and verbal and non-verbal communication

How to help? Communication – computer-mediated communication, virtual

environments, graphical information, graphical input Education – virtual environments, games for social situations and

appropriate responses

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… plus …age groups

older people e.g. disability aids, memory aids, communication tools to prevent social isolation

children e.g. appropriate input/output devices, involvement in design process

cultural differences influence of nationality, generation, gender, race, sexuality,

class, religion, political persuasion Be extra careful of;

Language – translations, layouts (reading patterns)cultural symbolsGestures – movement of bodiesuse of colors – red (life-India, happiness-China, royalty-

France); green (fertility-Eqypt, youth-China, safety-USA)

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UNIVERSAL DESIGNSummary

UD A process of embedding choice for all type of users in the

things we design. Choice -flexibility, and multiple alternative People -age, ability, sex, economic status, etc. Things - spaces, products, information systems and any other

things that humans manipulate or create. A user-centered process Designers and users use their understanding, perspectives and

experience in a variety of environments The more we learn about people and the choices they may wish

as they interact with the environments, the better we become. Because of this, no one knows it all. We can all learn from each

other about how to better design things for all people