The roles visually impaired users in the development of assistive technologies

The roles visually impaired usersin the development of assistive technologies Tersia //Gowases . Roman Bednarik . MarkkuTukiainen

Visual impairementrefers to a range of visualabilities and limitations Field of view … Color Sighted Blind … Contrast Acuity

ACM SIGCHI Conference on Human Factorsin Computing Systems 9410 Total publications (1981-2012) 2468 Full text search 33 VI publications (0.35% CHI articles) 6% VI worldwide (WHO, 2010)

We identified 46 study cases from the 33 papers that reported involving VI participants A B A Single study paper Multi study paper

System development research process Construct conceptual framework • State meaningful research questions • Review literature for new ideas and approaches Design & develop system architecture • Define system functionalities and constraints • Design unique architecture • Define measureable requirements Build system (prototype) • Produce high or low fidelity system prototype • Demonstrate the feasibility of the design & theory Observe & evaluate system • Evaluate the usability and performance Nunamaker et al (1990)

The roles of research participants Allison Druin (2002)

Role of VI participants at the different phases of system development

Role: User • VI users contribute to the development of process by using the technology • User feedback is collected indirectly (observations, videotape, think aloud) as they interact with the technology • Laboratory observations

Role: Tester • VI • VI participants test the developed system. • Measureable data (usability, performance measures) is collected as participant interacts with the system • Participant feedback is indirect (observation or data logs). • Findings can be used to validate or adapt system • Laboratory studies, field studies, remote studies

Role: Informant • Informants are similar to testers, however they provide information on their subjective opinions and experiences, in addition to measurable data. • Informants are used in different phases of the development “based on when researchers believe [they] can inform the design process” [Druin, 2002] • Surveys (interviews and questionnaires).

Role: Co-designer • VI As co-designers visually impaired participants actively take part in the iterative design of the system. • Continuous feedback as VI are members of small design teams which also included sighted users • Example [O17]: 1 blind audio designer, 1 blind haptic designer and 1 sighted audio designer during the design of their assistive haptic feedback application.

National Federation for the Blind Jernigan Institute • Research and training center developed and directed by the blind themselves • 2004 Challenge: “In collaboration with the NFB--to build interface technologies that will empower blind people to drive a car independently. ”

Virgina Tech solution to blind driver challenge http://www.ted.com/talks/dennis_hong_making_a_car_for_blind_drivers.html

Google’s self driving car http://youtu.be/cdgQpa1pUUE

Implications of sightless driving • Estimated $2 Trillion Industry • Drunk drivers • Car pools • Working in transit • Texting and being on the phone while driving • Fewer accidents (I hope) … • Self driving cars are now legal in Nevada and California (2012)

Involve participants at all phases of development process

References • Druin, A. The role of children in the design of new technology Behaviour & Information Technology (2002), 21, 1-25. • Nunamaker, J. F.; Chen, M. & Purdin, T. D. M. Systems development in information systems research Journal of Management Information Systems. M. E. Sharpe, Inc., 1990, 7, 89-106. • Google selfdrivingcar. http://youtu.be/cdgQpa1pUUE • Airpixcar for blinddriverhttp://www.ted.com/talks/dennis_hong_making_a_car_for_blind_drivers.html • Blinddriverchallengehttp://www.blinddriverchallenge.org/about-the-blind-driver-challenge

The roles visually impaired users in the development of assistive technologies