Journal on Technology & Persons with Disabilities Volume 2
http://hdl.handle.net/10211.3/133355
Collection of articles for Center on Disabilities' Journal (Vol.2)2024-03-28T14:33:42ZImproving Write-In Candidate Text Entry for Audio-Only Voting Interfaces
http://hdl.handle.net/10211.3/133385
Improving Write-In Candidate Text Entry for Audio-Only Voting Interfaces
Gillette, Dan; Selker, Ted
For voters who cannot read a graphical ballot, audio-based voting systems currently in use can provide a private and independent path for entering the first and last names of write-in candidates, but the process tends to be slow, difficult to comprehend, and inaccurate. Challenges range from technical and procedural to cognitive and emotional, and have led, at times, to disenfranchisement, according to the Government Accountability Office’s 2013 Statement before the National Council on Disability. Entering candidate names without difficulty is crucial to the fairness — and ultimate legal standing — of our election system. To resolve these issues, we developed and tested three novel audio interfaces that enable navigation and selection of characters through simple techniques that allow users to linearly access an alphabet for the purpose of typing a specific name. A number of factors were found to improve character input speed, input accuracy, and user comfort, including using as few as keys as possible for navigation, using high-quality keys such as those found in commercial QWERTY keyboards, and assuring that there is no lag in feedback to user inputs.
28th Annual International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference Scientific/Research Proceedings, San Diego, 2013.
2014-12-01T00:00:00ZThe Accessibility of Mobile Health Sensors for Blind Users
http://hdl.handle.net/10211.3/133384
The Accessibility of Mobile Health Sensors for Blind Users
Milne, Lauren R.; Bennett, Cynthia L.; Ladner, Richard E.
Mobile health (mHealth) applications are becoming popular and could be useful for people who are blind as they allow the data from mainstream health sensors to be accessed on the smartphone. However, in order for the health sensors to be accessible, the smartphone applications must be accessible. In early 2014, we conducted a survey of the accessibility of nine mHealth applications for the iPhone and found that none of them met our criteria (based on the guidelines provided by Apple and Section 508) for being accessible. We found that the majority of the accessibility problems encountered were relatively simple and believe that it would only take a small amount of effort on the part of developers to fulfill the potential for mHealth applications to make mainstream health sensors fully accessible to blind users of smartphones.
29th Annual International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference Scientific/Research Proceedings, San Diego, 2014
2014-12-01T00:00:00ZTowards Universally Accessible Typography: A Review of Research on Dyslexia
http://hdl.handle.net/10211.3/133383
Towards Universally Accessible Typography: A Review of Research on Dyslexia
Jackson, James E.
Within the last decade, especially the last two years, there has been a great deal of research regarding the effect that typography has on the readability and accessibility of text for individuals with dyslexia This research provides new insights into specific typographic features such as font size, letter spacing, line length, line spacing, font type (i.e., serif versus sans serif and roman versus italic), and specialized fonts for individuals with dyslexia. All of this work provides a framework for better understanding the basis behind the personal observations and preferences of many individuals with dyslexia, and presents opportunities to develop new guidelines for accessible typography. This paper will discuss how this new research fits in with existing theories of dyslexia, its implications for the development of universally accessible typography, and future research directions.
29th Annual International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference Scientific/Research Proceedings, San Diego, 2014.
2014-12-01T00:00:00ZSmart Voting Joystick for Accessible Voting Machines
http://hdl.handle.net/10211.3/133382
Smart Voting Joystick for Accessible Voting Machines
Swierenga, Sarah J.; Pierce, Graham L.; Blosser, Stephen R.; Mathew, Adi; Jackson, James E.
Our research team created an accessible dual-axis, force feedback joystick to enable individuals with limited dexterity to independently vote using electronic voting machines. Usability evaluations were conducted with individuals with moderate to severe dexterity and motor impairments to evaluate the Smart Voting Joystick and determine what modifications might be needed to enhance its usability and accessibility. Results indicated that individuals with moderate impairments could successfully use the device without modification, however slight changes would be beneficial for this group. Individuals with severe impairments had difficulties that need to be addressed, including changes to the shape of the joystick and settings. With these simple changes, it is likely that the Smart Voting Joystick would become a viable input device for individuals with wide range of dexterity impairments.
29th Annual International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference Scientific/Research Proceedings, San Diego, 2013.
2014-12-01T00:00:00Z