BSC.

CS/ IT/BTEC
HUMAN COMPUTER INTERACTION

CAT 2
You have been assigned the task of designing a system for the following groups

i. People with disability

ii. Elderly (>60 years)
iii. Children (5 – 10 years)
Discuss the considerations you will make so as follow HCI universal design principles as you
undertake the assignment. (30 marks)
1

Designing for People with Visual Disabilities

Visual disabilities are ones that impair people’s vision which can result in them not being able to
see well. This affects the way they interact with computers because it could mean they have
trouble reading large amounts of text on a page or may have trouble seeing the small keys on the
keyboard and the small icons on the computers.

One way to design for the visually disabled is to use components that make sounds when using
multimedia interfaces such as video, images, and graphics. Each and every control of the website
should make an identifiable sound also contain meta-data. For example, graphics and images
should have proper associated al-text, which is a piece of text describing the image or graphic.
This is very important because most visually disabled people use screen readers which use this
information to describe the graphic and its function to the user.

It is also important for websites to use standard HTML to construct their webpage or else screen
readers could have trouble navigating through the website. Visually impaired people have trouble
“scanning” through a website so it is important to follow the right structure — H1 for the highest
level of heading, H2 for the second highest level of heading, etc. Headings should be clear and in
the heading tags so screen readers can properly identify them and field should also be labeled. The
right HTML structure allows visually impaired users to skim a website skipping over perhaps
uninteresting sections with the help of screen readers. Poor HTML use could mean the is mean
the screen reader could get stuck at a specific part of the page making it hard for visually impaired
users to skim the page.

It is also good to avoid having too many links scattered between the texts because screen readers
can struggle with links. The links should have text descriptions before the link so the user can
know what the link is for. For example, “read more about the Interaction Design Foundation,
at their website.”

Lastly, products should have an option to zoom into text or change the text size making it easier
for people to read the content and they should also use sufficient color contrast (have noticeable
contrast between text, background and graphics) for color blind people.

Designing for People with Hearing Disabilities

A hearing disability is the partial or complete inability to hear. In order to make products
accessible to people with such a disability, they should offer transcripts of audio files. Many
times, websites or products have videos or speech embedded into their User Experience or User
Interface. Spoken audio clips should have transcripts and videos should be made available in
versions with subtitles. This is an example of a guideline that benefits not only people with a
hearing disability, but also many other users; for example, a user without any disability may
benefit from the subtitled video option when trying to watch the video in a market, bus, train, or
any other noisy environment. Also, a general rule of thumb is to avoid words, including speech
and text, as much as possible and replace them with graphics to represent actions or information.

A new technology that is still in the early stages of production is Sign Language Recognition and
Synthesis. Sign language recognition uses computer vision techniques to convert sign language
videos into written/spoken language. A user with a hearing disability who knows sign language
can wear a glove with sensors on it and use it to communicate; the hand gestures they makes
while communicating in sign language is converted to written/spoken language. Sign language
synthesis (signing avatars), on the other hand, are machines that convert written/spoken text into a
video of the translated content in sign language using graphics for people with hearing disabilities
to understand. However, this technology is not 100% accurate and is still in the testing phase in
order to be built to near-perfection.
Designing for People with Physical/Motor Disabilities
Because people with physical disabilities lack the precision that general tech users do when using
a mouse, products (in this case websites) should be designed for users to have the have the least
precision as possible. For example, buttons with small hit area can be difficult to access for
people with motor disabilities; buttons should have larger hit areas/radius. Also, on any interface,
interactions/actions (such as buttons) should not be bunched up close to each other as the disable
user might make the wrong action by mistake (i.e. click the wrong button).
Lastly, interfaces should avoid long periods of typing and scrolling by providing shortcuts for
users to navigate to different parts of the products or to perform various tasks. For example, there
may be buttons to go to the top of the page, go to the bottom of the page, or suggestions to
complete the search bar.

There are many examples of design choices implemented in products to help people with
physical/motor disabilities. Here are a few good examples below:

 Apple’s Assistive Touch: This is a feature on the iPad and iPhone that lets people
with motor disabilities use the device in another way, by simply tapping on the
screen. For example, the norm to zoom in is pinching the screen, to increase/decrease
volume is pressing the volume buttons on the side, to turn off the phone is hold the
power button.
 Eye Gaze : This technology in which the eyes movements are tracked allows users to
communicate with a device with eye movements. For example, user can move the
mouse by simply moving their eyes.
2
The design of products or environments to be used and experienced by people of different ages
and abilities without adaptation is reflected as the primary concept of the universal design.5 No
doubt the concept of universal design is growing around the world and this idea has expanded
towards the scope of inclusive design, which specifically extends the definition of universal
design by including users who have been excluded by rapidly changing technology, particularly
the elderly and aging populations. This, in the long run, prioritizes the role and value of extreme
user groups in innovation and in new products and service development. The British Standards
Institute6 defines inclusive design as “the design of mainstream products and/or services that are
accessible to, and usable by, as many people as reasonably possible ... without the need for
special adaptation or specialized design.” Different physical and psychological contexts of use
concerning the interactions between products, services, and interfaces are also prioritized by the
practice of universal design.7 The design principles set for universal design described below
were developed by a group of U.S. designers and design educators from five research
organizations in 1997.5

59
Moyen M. Mustaquim / Procedia Computer
Science 67 ( 2015 ) 57 – 66
• Equitable Use: The design does not
neglect, exclude, or stigmatize any
group of users.
• Flexibility in Use: The design should
present a wide range of personal
choices and their abilities.
• Simple, Intuitive Use: The design
should be easy to understand, regardless
of the user’s experience, acquaintance,
language skills, or their present level of
focusing.
• Perceptible Information: The design
communicates necessary information
effectively to the user, regardless of
ambient conditions or the user’s sensory
abilities.
• Tolerance for Error: The design
minimizes hazards and the negative
costs of unintentional or unintended
events.
• Low Physical Effort: The design
should be used proficiently and with
comfort, with the smallest amount of
tiredness.
• Size and Space for Approach and
Use: The design is done in such a way
that the appropriate size and space is
provided for approach, reach,
manipulation, and use, regardless of the
user’s body size, posture, or mobility
59
Moyen M. Mustaquim / Procedia Computer
Science 67 ( 2015 ) 57 – 66
• Equitable Use: The design does not
neglect, exclude, or stigmatize any
group of users.
• Flexibility in Use: The design should
present a wide range of personal
choices and their abilities.
• Simple, Intuitive Use: The design
should be easy to understand, regardless
of the user’s experience, acquaintance,
language skills, or their present level of
focusing.
• Perceptible Information: The design
communicates necessary information
effectively to the user, regardless of
ambient conditions or the user’s sensory
abilities.
• Tolerance for Error: The design
minimizes hazards and the negative
costs of unintentional or unintended
events.
• Low Physical Effort: The design
should be used proficiently and with
comfort, with the smallest amount of
tiredness.
• Size and Space for Approach and
Use: The design is done in such a way
that the appropriate size and space is
provided for approach, reach,
manipulation, and use, regardless of the
user’s body size, posture, or mobility
59
Moyen M. Mustaquim / Procedia Computer
Science 67 ( 2015 ) 57 – 66
• Equitable Use: The design does not
neglect, exclude, or stigmatize any
group of users.
• Flexibility in Use: The design should
present a wide range of personal
choices and their abilities.
• Simple, Intuitive Use: The design
should be easy to understand, regardless
of the user’s experience, acquaintance,
language skills, or their present level of
focusing.
• Perceptible Information: The design
communicates necessary information
effectively to the user, regardless of
ambient conditions or the user’s sensory
abilities.
• Tolerance for Error: The design
minimizes hazards and the negative
costs of unintentional or unintended
events.
• Low Physical Effort: The design
should be used proficiently and with
comfort, with the smallest amount of
tiredness.
• Size and Space for Approach and
Use: The design is done in such a way
that the appropriate size and space is
provided for approach, reach,
manipulation, and use, regardless of the
user’s body size, posture, or mobility
59
Moyen M. Mustaquim / Procedia Computer
Science 67 ( 2015 ) 57 – 66
• Equitable Use: The design does not
neglect, exclude, or stigmatize any
group of users.
• Flexibility in Use: The design should
present a wide range of personal
choices and their abilities.
• Simple, Intuitive Use: The design
should be easy to understand, regardless
of the user’s experience, acquaintance,
language skills, or their present level of
focusing.
• Perceptible Information: The design
communicates necessary information
effectively to the user, regardless of
ambient conditions or the user’s sensory
abilities.
• Tolerance for Error: The design
minimizes hazards and the negative
costs of unintentional or unintended
events.
• Low Physical Effort: The design
should be used proficiently and with
comfort, with the smallest amount of
tiredness.
• Size and Space for Approach and
Use: The design is done in such a way
that the appropriate size and space is
provided for approach, reach,
manipulation, and use, regardless of the
user’s body size, posture, or mobility.
59
Moyen M. Mustaquim / Procedia Computer
Science 67 ( 2015 ) 57 – 66
• Equitable Use: The design does not
neglect, exclude, or stigmatize any
group of users.
• Flexibility in Use: The design should
present a wide range of personal
choices and their abilities.
• Simple, Intuitive Use: The design
should be easy to understand, regardless
of the user’s experience, acquaintance,
language skills, or their present level of
focusing.
• Perceptible Information: The design
communicates necessary information
effectively to the user, regardless of
ambient conditions or the user’s sensory
abilities.
• Tolerance for Error: The design
minimizes hazards and the negative
costs of unintentional or unintended
events.
• Low Physical Effort: The design
should be used proficiently and with
comfort, with the smallest amount of
tiredness.
• Size and Space for Approach and
Use: The design is done in such a way
that the appropriate size and space is
provided for approach, reach,
manipulation, and use, regardless of the
user’s body size, posture, or mobility.
59
Moyen M. Mustaquim / Procedia Computer
Science 67 ( 2015 ) 57 – 66
• Equitable Use: The design does not
neglect, exclude, or stigmatize any
group of users.
• Flexibility in Use: The design should
present a wide range of personal
choices and their abilities.
• Simple, Intuitive Use: The design
should be easy to understand, regardless
of the user’s experience, acquaintance,
language skills, or their present level of
focusing.
• Perceptible Information: The design
communicates necessary information
effectively to the user, regardless of
ambient conditions or the user’s sensory
abilities.
• Tolerance for Error: The design
minimizes hazards and the negative
costs of unintentional or unintended
events.
• Low Physical Effort: The design
should be used proficiently and with
comfort, with the smallest amount of
tiredness.
• Size and Space for Approach and
Use: The design is done in such a way
that the appropriate size and space is
provided for approach, reach,
manipulation, and use, regardless of the
user’s body size, posture, or mobility.