Mobile Technology & Disability

5/19/2011

Presenters

• Matthew MeadRedpoint Technologies

Managing Director & CTO

mmead@redpointtech.com

• Keith FranklinMPS Partners

Director of Cloud and .NET Services

keith.franklin@mpspartners.com

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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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