[GlobalPreferences] [PGA and Cloud for All] How Windows 8 does accessibility options

[Colin Clark]

Hi all,

I think this is an interesting example of something that superficially resembles our approach to personalization but is in fact quite the opposite.

The emphasis in this wizard is on labels and what a user can't do, rather than what they need. It's the classic medical model of disability, which suggests that disability is an inherent personal limitation of only certain people. The implicit question in this wizard seems to be "What's wrong with you?"

For PGA, we've spent a lot of time collecting different needs based on types and categories of disabilities, but I hope that we can also spend time thinking about how to flip this around and empower users by instead asking them "what works best for you?" and "how can we help?" We want our tools to be broadly useful to everyone, regardless of whether they identify as having a disability and without asking them to disclose sensitive personal information.

Colin

---
Colin Clark
http://fluidproject.org

On 2013-03-19, at 9:52 AM, Jonathan Hung <jhung at ocadu.ca> wrote:

> I have posted images of the steps used in the accessibility wizard to the Cloud for All space on the Fluid Wiki. You can find it here:
> http://wiki.fluidproject.org/display/fluid/Competitive+Analysis+-+Windows+8+Ease+of+Access+Center
> 
> - Jon.
> 
> On Mon, Mar 18, 2013 at 9:36 PM, Jonathan Hung <jhung at ocadu.ca> wrote:
> Hi everyone,
> 
> I came across the accessibility control panel in Windows 8 and Microsoft has done something interesting which has some relevance to Cloud for All and Preferences for Global Access projects. 
> 
> Attached to this email are 4 images which depict various states of the Windows 8 Ease of Access Center - the tool which users run to configure their accessibility options. Through this tool the user can enable various tools like the screen magnifier, on-screen keyboard, and contrast themes. 
> 
> The attached file Windows8-AccessibilityOptions.png shows the initial screen for the Windows 8 Ease of Access Center. The user can choose from options like "Use the computer without a display" or "Make the mouse easier to use". What is interesting is that after an interval of no activity, the system will begin scanning and narrating the options within the "Quick access to common tools" group, thus allowing non-sighted users through the door.
> 
> Choosing one of the options on this main page will take the user to a new screen where they can adjust settings related to that accessibility need. For example in the attached image Windows8-AccessibilityOptions-2.png, selecting the "Make the computer easier to see" option will display a rather dense window of options including enabling a high contrast theme, turning on narration, and enabling the screen magnifier.
> 
> There is also a wizard which activates when the user selects "Get recommendations to make your computer easier to use". The user is then guided through a 5 step process where the user selects check boxes next to statements that are applicable to their context. For example in the attached image Windows8-Accessibility-Wizard.png, the user checks or leaves unchecked the following statements:
> 
> 	• "Images and text on TV are difficult to see."
> 	• "Lighting conditions make it difficult to see images on my monitor."
> 	• "I am blind."
> 	• "I have another type of vision impairment."
> Based on the answers given to the wizard, Windows 8 would then give a single window of all recommended settings. The user then has the opportunity to enable or disable any settings before applying. For example in the attached image Windows8-Accessibility-Wizard-Recommendations.png the wizard has suggested the narrator, magnifier, sticky keys, and a few other options.
> 
> I'm not holding Windows 8 Ease of Access Center up as the best example, but they do address a few key issues relevant to our projects such as getting users through the door (with the delayed narration), and simplifying configuration through a wizard.
> 
> If people want more details about the accessibility tool in Windows 8, I can upload more images to the Fluid Project wiki and give further descriptions. Just let me know.
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> - Jon.
> 
> -- 
> JONATHAN HUNG
> 
> INCLUSIVE DESIGNER, IDRC
>  
> T: 416 977 6000 x3951
> F: 416 977 9844
> E: jhung at ocadu.ca
>  
> OCAD UNIVERSITY
> Inclusive Design Research Centre
> 205 Richmond Street W, Toronto, ON, M5V 1V3
>  
> www.ocadu.ca
> www.idrc.ocad.ca
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> JONATHAN HUNG
> 
> INCLUSIVE DESIGNER, IDRC
>  
> T: 416 977 6000 x3951
> F: 416 977 9844
> E: jhung at ocadu.ca
>  
> OCAD UNIVERSITY
> Inclusive Design Research Centre
> 205 Richmond Street W, Toronto, ON, M5V 1V3
>  
> www.ocadu.ca
> www.idrc.ocad.ca
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