Dr. Brad Fain Georgia Tech Research Institute



Download 0.74 Mb.
Page6/8
Date05.05.2018
Size0.74 Mb.
#48141
1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8

Usefulness of Features


Participants were asked to estimate the usefulness of accessibility features associated with the device on a four-point scale. Values represent the mean value on the following scale: 1 = not useful, 2 = slightly useful, 3 = moderately useful, 4 = extremely useful. Features differed by disability type and therefore are presented as such.

Table 25 presents the results of the assessment of the usefulness of PDA accessibility features for users without vision. The most useful accessibility feature for users without vision is compatibility with screen readers. Currently, screen reader technology is not available for mainstream consumer products powered by the Microsoft Pocket PC or the Palm operating systems. Availability of screen reader technologies would greatly increase the accessibility of PDAs for users without vision.

Table 25: Usefulness of PDA Accessibility Features as Reported by Participants without Vision.


Feature

Mean (SD)

Screen reader compatibility

3.9 (0.5)

Keys that are discernible by touch

3.6 (0.8)

Adjustable timeouts

3.2 (1.2)

Speech recognition

3.1 (1.2)

Simplified connector for headsets

2.8 (1.3)

Vibrating alerts

2.8 (1.2)

Simplified connector for power

2.7 (1.3)

More space between keys

2.6 (1.2)

Large keys

2.4 (1.2)

Table 26 presents the results of the assessment of the usefulness of PDA accessibility features for users with low vision. Users with low vision ranked accessibility features associated with increasing the readability of visual displays as very useful. In contrast to users without vision, users with low vision ranked compatibility with screen readers as only moderately useful.

Table 26: Usefulness of PDA Accessibility Features as Reported by Participants with Low Vision.



Feature

Mean (SD)

High contrast displays

3.6 (1.1)

Adjustable contrast

3.5 (1.1)

Large displays

3.5 (1.1)

Ability to adjust screen colors

3.4 (1.1)

Adjustable font sizes

3.4 (1.1)

Large keys

3.4 (1.1)

Adjustable timeouts

3.3 (1.2)

More space between keys

3.3 (1.2)

Screen magnifier compatibility

3.3 (1.3)

Screen reader compatibility

3.3 (1.3)

Vibrating alerts

3.3 (1.2)

Keys that are discernible by touch

3.2 (1.3)

Simplified connector for power

3.2 (1.2)

Simplified connector for headsets

3.0 (1.3)

Speech recognition

3.0 (1.3)

Participants without hearing rated vibrating alerts as extremely useful (average score = 3.6; SD = 0.9). Participants that are hard of hearing reported that vibrating alerts (average score = 3.5; SD = 1.1) and adjustable volume (average score = 3.4; SD = 1.2) are very useful accessibility features for PDAs.

Table 27 presents the results of the assessment of the usefulness of PDA accessibility features for users with upper mobility impairments. Users with upper mobility impairments ranked accessibility features associated with keys (key size and distance between adjacent keys) as being most useful.

Table 27: Usefulness of PDA Accessibility Features as Reported by Participants with Upper Mobility Impairments.


Feature

Mean (SD)

Large keys

3.4 (1.1)

Increased space between adjacent keys

3.3 (1.2)

Ability to request additional time

3.2 (1.3)

Speech recognition

3.2 (1.2)

Keys that may be operated without human contact

3.1 (1.3)

Simplified connector for headsets

3.1 (1.3)

Simplified connector for power

3.1 (1.3)

Concave (curved inward) keys on the keypads

2.8 (1.4)

Rubberized keys

2.8 (1.3)

Participants with lower mobility impairments reported that a cradle that attaches to a mobility aid such as a wheelchair or scooter would be a useful accessibility feature of PDAs (average score = 3.2; SD = 1.3).

Televisions


Televisions were defined to include both standard definition and high definition (HDTV) models. Most all respondents indicated a very high level of experience using a television, and most reported they had very little difficulty accomplishing related tasks. Blind participants were once again the exception, as they indicated great difficulty in using the advanced features of the television such as picture-in-picture features, accessing electronic program guides, and activating features such as closed-captioning and descriptive video services.

Level of Experience


Respondents were asked to indicate their level of experience using a television on a four-point scale. Results are presented in Table 28. Values represent the mean value on the following scale: 1 = no experience, 2 = little experience, 3 = some experience, and 4 = very experienced. All user groups reported high levels of experience with televisions.

Table 28: Level of Experience with Televisions by Disability Type.



Disability Type

Mean (SD)

Blind

3.8 (0.5)

Low vision

3.8 (0.5)

Deaf

3.9 (0.5)

Hard of hearing

3.8 (0.6)

Upper mobility

3.9 (0.5)

Lower mobility

3.9 (0.4)


Difficulty Completing Device Related Activities


Respondents estimated the difficulty they had in personally accomplishing activities in the previous year due to physical or cognitive limitations caused by a disability. Results are presented in Table 29. Values represent the mean value on the following scale: 1 = little or no difficulty, 2 = some difficulty, 3 = great difficulty. Users of all types reported little difficulty in using basic television features and some difficulty in using more advanced features such as activating accessibility features, using picture-in-picture, accessing the program guide, or adjusting picture quality settings. Users without vision could access basic television features as easily as other users. However, blind users had more difficulty accessing advanced functionality as compared to the other user types.

Table 29: Reported difficulty in Completing Television Activities by User Type.
Blind

Low Vision

Deaf

Hard of Hearing

Upper Mobility

Lower Mobility

Turning the television on and off

1.2 (0.5)

1.1 (0.4)

1.1 (0.6)

1.1

(0.4)


1.2

(0.6)


1.2

(0.5)


Changing the channel

1.2 (0.5)

1.2 (0.4)

1.0 (0.2)

1.2

(0.4)


1.2

(0.5)


1.2

(0.5)


Changing the input source (cable, VCR, etc.)

2.3 (0.9)

1.8 (0.8)

1.4 (0.7)

1.9

(0.8)


1.7

(0.8)


1.7

(0.8)


Adjusting the volume

1.1 (0.4)

1.1 (0.4)

1.2 (0.5)

1.2

(0.5)


1.2

(0.5)


1.2

(0.5)


Activating closed captioning

2.7 (1.0)

1.7 (0.9)

1.2 (0.5)

1.7

(0.9)


1.7

(0.8)


1.7

(0.9)


Activating descriptive video services

2.5 (1.0)

2.0 (1.0)

1.6 (1.0)

2.0

(1.1)


1.8

(1.0)


1.9

(1.1)


Using picture-in-picture features

2.9 (0.8)

2.1 (1.1)

2.0 (1.1)

2.2

(1.1)


1.9

(1.0)


2.0

(1.1)


Adjusting picture quality settings

2.9 (0.8)

1.9 (1.0)

1.3 (0.6)

1.7

(1.0)


1.7

(0.9)


1.7

(0.9)


Accessing the electronic program guide

2.9 (0.7)

2.0 (1.0)

1.5 (1.0)

1.9

(1.1)


1.5

(0.8)


1.5

(0.9)

Usefulness of Features


Participants were asked to estimate the usefulness of accessibility features associated with the device on a four-point scale. Values represent the mean value on the following scale: 1 = not useful, 2 = slightly useful, 3 = moderately useful, 4 = extremely useful. Features differed by disability type and therefore are presented as such.

Table 30 presents the results of the assessment of the usefulness of television accessibility features for users without vision. Users without vision rated descriptive video services as the must useful accessibility feature for televisions. Relatively few programs are available with audio description, although it is becoming more popular. Easy access to accessibility features via a dedicated button on the remote control was also ranked as a very useful function. Several television manufacturers now offer television sets with dedicated buttons for closed captioning and control of the secondary audio program (SAP) for audio description services. Users without vision also ranked voiced equivalents for on-screen menus and program guides as useful accessibility features.

Table 30: Usefulness of Television Accessibility Features as Reported by Participants without Vision.


Feature

Mean (SD)

Descriptive video services

4.0 (0.2)

Voiced on-screen menus

3.9 (0.6)

Voiced program guides

3.9 (0.5)

Dedicated buttons on the remote control to control descriptive video services

3.8 (0.7)

Talking remote controls

3.6 (0.8)

Voice activated remote controls

2.9 (1.2)

Large buttons on the remote

2.6 (1.2)

More space between keys on the remote

2.6 (1.2)

Table 31 presents the results of the assessment of the usefulness of television accessibility features for users with low vision. Users with low vision ranked the accessibility features associated with increasing the readability of the on-screen program guide as being very useful. Users also felt that features associated with the usability of the remote control, such as large buttons and more space between adjacent buttons, were also useful.

Table 31: Usefulness of Television Accessibility Features as Reported by Participants with Low Vision.



Feature

Mean (SD)

Ability to adjust program guide background color

3.4 (1.0)

Ability to adjust program guide font size

3.4 (0.9)

Large buttons on the remote

3.3 (0.9)

Ability to adjust program guide font color

3.2 (1.1)

More space between keys on the remote

3.2 (0.9)

Dedicated buttons on the remote control to control descriptive video services

3.1 (1.2)

Descriptive video services

3.0 (1.3)

Voiced on-screen menus

2.9 (1.2)

Voiced program guides

2.9 (1.3)

Talking remote controls

2.8 (1.2)

Voice activated remote controls

2.8 (1.2)

Table 32 presents the results of the assessment of the usefulness of television accessibility features for users without hearing. Users without hearing ranked closed captioning and the presence of a dedicated button on the remote control to control closed captioning as the most important accessibility features for televisions. Users also noted that the ability to adjust the presentation of closed captioned text was also useful.

Table 32: Usefulness of Television Accessibility Features as Reported by Participants without Hearing.



Feature

Mean (SD)

Closed captioning

4.0 (0.0)

Dedicated buttons on the remote control to control closed captioning

3.9 (0.4)

Ability to adjust closed captioning font size

3.8 (0.5)

Ability to adjust closed captioning display rate

3.7 (0.7)

Ability to adjust closed captioning background color

3.6 (0.8)

Ability to adjust closed captioning font color

3.6 (0.8)

Table 33 presents the results of the assessment of the usefulness of television accessibility features for users who are hard of hearing. Accessibility feature priority identified by users that are hard of hearing was identical to that of users without hearing. Users who are hard of hearing judged each accessibility feature as being slightly less useful than users without hearing.

Table 33: Usefulness of Television Accessibility Features as Reported by Participants that are Hard of Hearing.



Feature

Mean (SD)

Closed captioning

3.4 (1.1)

Dedicated buttons on the remote control to control closed captioning

3.3 (1.1)

Ability to adjust closed captioning font size

3.2 (1.1)

Ability to adjust closed captioning display rate

3.1 (1.2)

Ability to adjust closed captioning background color

3.0 (1.2)

Ability to adjust closed captioning font color

2.9 (1.2)

Table 34 presents the results of the assessment of the usefulness of television accessibility features for users with upper mobility impairments. Users with upper mobility impairments judged accessibility features associated with remote controls as being most useful.

Table 34: Usefulness of Television Accessibility Features as Reported by Participants with Upper Mobility Impairments.



Feature

Mean (SD)

Large buttons on the remote

3.4 (0.9)

Increased space between adjacent buttons

3.3 (1.0)

Voice activated remote controls

3.1 (1.2)

Concave (curved inward) buttons

2.8 (1.3)

Talking remote controls

2.8 (1.3)

Participants with lower mobility impairments ranked voice activated remote controls (average score = 2.9; SD = 1.3) and talking remote controls (average score = 2.5; SD = 1.4) as between slightly and moderately useful.


Download 0.74 Mb.

Share with your friends:
1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8



The database is protected by copyright ©ininet.org 2024
send message
    Main page
data presented