Mobile Technology & Disability
5/19/2011
Presenters
• Matthew MeadRedpoint Technologies
Managing Director & CTO
• Keith FranklinMPS Partners
Director of Cloud and .NET Services
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About Redpoint and MPS Partners
• Strategic solution-based companies from SPR Companies
• Redpoint Focus on custom application development Heavy emphasis on agile approach Incorporate rich user interface from desktop to mobile
• MPS Focus on enterprise application development and
Integration with the Microsoft platforms Windows Azure to Windows Phone experiences Enterprise Business Intelligence and Data solutions
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Eating our own dogfood…
Agenda
•Background
•What is mobile computing?
•Computer assistive technology
•Mobile assistive technology
•Discussion
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People with disabilities
• Bureau of Labor Statistics regarding the disability workforce from March 2011
• 21% of workforce in the US has a disability
• 16% of people with disabilities that are able to work and actively seeking to work are unemployed Near double that of the people without a disability (9.8%)
•We believe that technology can be a major factor to help level the playing field
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Global mobile
• 6.92B people in the world (US Census Bureau)
• 60-71% are mobile subscribers
• Feature phones outnumber smartphones 4:1
•Mobile device most common web access device by 2013
•Mobile phones outnumber toilet seats
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Goals for this presentation/discussion
• Developers get a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities for users with disabilities
•Mobile device hardware/software to reconsider their audience and UX to better include people with disabilities
• Consultants bring more educated perspective to software development
• Let's raise the bar around software quality!
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Agenda
•Background
•What is mobile computing?
•Computer assistive technology
•Mobile assistive technology
•Discussion
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History of mobile
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Gen1 Gen2 Gen3 Gen4
the brick! digital network Inet, 3G All IP cellular small battery email, SMS, netbook
Mobile in the US
Four players for mobile devices:
•Microsoft Windows Phone 7 and Windows 7
•Apple iOS
•Google Android
•BlackBerry RIM
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What is a mobile device?
• Phone Feature phone Smart phones
• Traditional computer Highly portal laptops (e.g. netbooks) that are highly mobile
• Slate and tablet devices Windows slate devices Tablet devices
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Usage patterns – Phone
• Used typically while people are on the go
•Might use while walking
• Used in short bursts
• Use your fingers as input devices using natural gestures
• Used for single and focused tasks make call, check calendar, view text
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Usage patterns – Highly portable laptop
• Used while seated, more traditional computing
• Location varies
• Large screen and sophisticated UI that allow multiple paths/approaches to do work
•Multi-tasking hardware/software with programs running simultaneously
•Mouse as pointer device
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Usage patterns – Slate/tablet
• Heavy use of touch interface, less reliance on input devices (e.g. mouse/stylus)
• Use your fingers as input devices using natural gestures
• Use "on the couch" for long period
• Use on-the-go destinations, maybe not over a traditional computer if available
• Changes in UI design such as lack of concept of right click and hover over
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Agenda
•Background
•What is mobile computing?
•Computer assistive technology
•Mobile assistive technology
•Discussion
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What is computer assistive technology?
• To assist the person with a disability to perform work on an equal basis as those without a disability
•Over 4000 products on market for people with disabilities
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Assistive Technology – Blindness/Low Vision
• Refreshable braille and synthesized speech output
• Screen readers (e.g. JAWS, Window-Eyes)
• Large key software/hardware keyboard
• Screen magnification for TV/LCD (3rd party & OS)
• Speech recognition software (Via Voice, Dragon Naturally Speaking)
• Computer tethered magnifier
• Document reader
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Assistive Technology – Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing
• Visual vs. audible alerts on computer
• Telephones with amplification
• Email and instant messaging
• Video/IP phones for signing
• Personal amplifiers
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Assistive Technology – Physical/Learning Disabilities
• Oversize monitors
• One-handed or other keyboards
• Head pointers and pop-up (software-based) keyboards
• Alternative mouse (trackball, trackpad, etc.)
• Predictive software (dyslexia, learning disabilities)
• Macros and hot key functions to eliminate typing
• Screen review software/voice synthesizer
• Augmentative and Alternate Communication Speak what you type, save key phrases, word
completion, voice synthesizer20
Agenda
•Background
•What is mobile computing?
•Computer assistive technology
•Mobile assistive technology
•Discussion
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Assistive Technology – Blindness/Low Vision
• Screen reader (read and navigate phone) Mobile Speak and Mobile Magnifier
• Bluetooth wireless braille
• Voice control
• Zoom (within apps and mobile OS)
• High contrast options for low vision
• Minimal hardware buttons
• Audible and vibrating alerts
• Customize ringtones for different contacts
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Assistive Technology – Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing
• SMS/email integration with smartphone
• TTY compatible mobile phones
• Hearing aid compatibility phones
• Visual and vibrating alerts
• Mobile video apps for signing (e.g. Microsoft Skype)
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Assistive Technology – Physical/Learning Disabilities
• Wireless and wired headset or speakerphone (RC200)
• Automation software - things controlled by your phone - your new universal remote
• Augmentative and alternate communication
• Natural user experiences Voice control & motion control
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Agenda
•Background
•What is mobile computing
•Computer assistive technology
•Mobile assistive technology
•Discussion
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Discussion
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