Dr. Brad Fain Georgia Tech Research Institute



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Cell Phones


Respondents also indicated a fairly high level of experience with using cell phones. People who were deaf had a lower level of experience overall with this device, and seem to have a good deal of trouble using cell phones. People who were blind reported having great difficulty with many aspects of using this device, including determining signal strength, sending and receiving text messages, storing phone numbers, and accessing caller ID (functions and information that are normally only provided on the display).

Level of Experience


Respondents were asked to indicate their level of experience using cell phones on a four-point scale. Results are presented in Table 12. Values represent the mean value on the following scale: 1 = no experience, 2 = little experience, 3 = some experience, and 4 = very experienced. Most users were experienced with using cellular phones. Users with hearing impairments, particularly deaf users, were less experienced than others.

Table 12: Level of Experience with Cellular Phones by Disability Type.



Disability Type

Mean (SD)

Blind

3.4 (0.9)

Low vision

3.2 (0.9)

Deaf

1.9 (1.0)

Hard of hearing

3.0 (0.9)

Upper mobility

3.4 (0.8)

Lower mobility

3.5 (0.8)


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 13. Values represent the mean value on the following scale: 1 = little or no difficulty, 2 = some difficulty, 3 = great difficulty. Users without vision had great difficulty using the advanced functionality of cellular phones. Users without vision rated storing a phone number, recalling a stored phone number, receiving caller-id information, determining battery status, determining signal strength, detecting when the phone is in roam mode, and using text messaging as extremely difficult primarily because of the inaccessibility of the visual display. Low vision users reported the most difficulty in using text messaging features. Users with hearing impairments reported difficulty in receiving a phone call and accessing voice mail. Users with mobility impairments generally found cellular phones to be accessible but reported some difficulty in using text messaging.

Table 13: Reported difficulty in Completing Cellular Phone Activities by User Type.
Blind

Low Vision

Deaf

Hard of Hearing

Upper Mobility

Lower Mobility

Locating the cell phone

1.2

(0.5)


1.4

(0.6)


1.3

(0.6)


1.5

(0.8)


1.5

(0.7)


1.4

(0.7)


Turning the phone on and off

1.1

(0.4)


1.5

(0.6)


1.3

(0.6)


1.5

(0.8)


1.6

(0.8)


1.5

(0.7)


Locking the phone

1.9

(1.0)


1.8

(0.9)


1.3

(0.6)


1.7

(0.9)


1.8

(0.9)


1.6

(0.8)


Unlocking the phone

2.0

(1.1)


1.9

(0.9)


1.3

(0.6)


1.7

(1.0)


1.8

(0.9)


1.7

(0.8)


Dialing numbers on the keypad

1.3

(0.7)


1.6

(0.7)


1.2

(0.5)


1.5

(0.8)


1.8

(0.8)


1.7

(0.8)


Storing a phone number

2.7

(0.7)


1.9

(0.9)


1.4

(0.8)


1.7

(0.9)


1.8

(0.9)


1.7

(0.8)


Recalling a stored phone number

2.5

(0.8)


1.8

(0.9)


1.4

(0.8)


1.7

(0.9)


1.7

(0.8)


1.6

(0.8)


Receiving a phone call

1.2

(0.5)


1.5

(0.7)


2.5

(0.8)


2.0

(0.9)


1.7

(0.9)


1.5

(0.8)


Receiving caller-id information

2.8

(0.6)


1.9

(1.0)


2.1

(1.1)


1.8

(0.9)


1.7

(0.9)


1.6

(0.8)


Accessing voice mail

1.5

(0.8)


1.9

(1.0)


3.0

(0.3)


2.2

(0.8)


1.8

(0.9)


1.7

(0.8)


Attaching a headset

1.6

(1.1)


1.9

(1.1)


2.0

(1.1)


1.9

(1.0)


1.9

(0.9)


1.8

(0.9)


Determining battery status

2.6

(0.8)


1.7

(0.9)


1.3

(0.6)


1.6

(0.9)


1.4

(0.8)


1.4

(0.7)


Determining signal strength

2.8

(0.8)


1.8

(0.9)


1.4

(0.9)


1.7

(1.0)


1.5

(0.8)


1.4

(0.7)


Detecting when the phone is in roam mode

2.8

(0.7)


2.0

(1.0)


1.4

(0.7)


1.8

(0.9)


1.5

(0.8)


1.5

(0.8)


Receiving a text message

2.9

(0.7)


2.3

(1.0)


1.5

(0.9)


2.0

(1.1)


1.9

(1.0)


1.9

(1.0)


Sending a text message

3.0

(0.5)


2.4

(1.0)


1.8

(0.9)


2.1

(1.0)


2.2

(1.0)


2.1

(1.1)


Charging the phone

1.2

(0.6)


1.3

(0.6)


1.1

(0.2)


1.4

(0.8)


1.5

(0.8)


1.4

(0.7)



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 14 presents the results of the assessment of the usefulness of cellular phone accessibility features for users without vision. Users rated accessibility features associated with non-visual presentation of visual information as being extremely useful. The highest rated accessibility feature was talking battery level indicators, as users without vision often do not know if they need to recharge their phone until minutes before the battery is exhausted. Participants also reported that voiced menu options would be extremely useful. Users without vision are not able to use the advanced functionality of their cellular phones because of the inaccessibility of the display menus. The raised area (nib) on the ‘5’ key used in conjunction with a standard telephone keypad layout is also a very useful feature. Users without vision are very familiar with the standard telephone keypad layout and can easily orient themselves to the keypad by locating the central ‘5’ key.



Table 14: Usefulness of Cellular Phone Accessibility Features as Reported by Participants without Vision.

Feature

Mean (SD)

Raised area (nib) on the '5' key

3.8 (0.6)

Talking battery level indicators

3.8 (0.6)

Talking signal strength indicators

3.8 (0.6)

Voiced menu options (equivalent of a screen reader for the phone)

3.8 (0.6)

Keypress feedback (beeps indicating a key has been pressed)

3.7 (0.8)

Keys on the keypad that are discernible by touch

3.7 (0.8)

Talking Caller-ID

3.7 (0.8)

Adjustable volume

3.6 (0.8)

One-touch dialing

3.3 (1.0)

Customized ring tones (assigning a ring tone to a specific caller)

3.2 (1.1)

Vibrating ringer

3.1 (1.1)

Voice dialing

3.1 (1.1)

More space between keys on the keypad

2.9 (1.2)

Braille keypads

2.7 (1.3)

Larger keys on the keypad

2.7 (1.3)

Simplified connector for headsets

2.6 (1.3)

Simplified connector for power

2.6 (1.3)

Table 15 presents the results of the assessment of the usefulness of cellular phone accessibility features for users with low vision. In contrast to users without vision, users with low vision do not prefer to make use of visual information presented in other formats. Instead of replacing display menus with voiced menus, users with low vision prefer to rely on their remaining visual capability. Therefore, high contrast displays and larger display screens are perceived as being very useful.

Table 15: Usefulness of Cellular Phone Accessibility Features as Reported by Participants with Low Vision.



Feature

Mean (SD)

High contrast displays

3.6 (0.8)

Adjustable volume

3.5 (0.8)

Large display screens

3.4 (0.9)

Large fonts on the display

3.4 (0.9)

Larger keys on the keypad

3.4 (1.0)

More space between keys on the keypad

3.3 (1.0)

One-touch dialing

3.3 (1.0)

Vibrating ringer

3.3 (1.0)

Keypress feedback (beeps indicating a key has been pressed)

3.2 (1.1)

Talking battery level indicators

3.2 (1.2)

Voice dialing

3.2 (1.1)

Simplified connector for headsets

3.1 (1.3)

Simplified connector for power

3.1 (1.1)

Talking Caller-ID

3.1 (1.1)

Customized ring tones (assigning a ring tone to a specific caller)

3.0 (1.1)

Keys on the keypad that are discernible by touch

3.0 (1.2)

Screen magnifiers (devices placed over the screen to magnify the display)

3.0 (1.1)

Talking signal strength indicators

3.0 (1.2)

Voiced menu options (equivalent of a screen reader for the phone)

2.9 (1.2)

Raised area (nib) on the '5' key

2.8 (1.3)

Braille keypads

2.3 (1.4)

Users without hearing ranked vibrating alerts (average score = 3.7; SD = 0.9) and TTY compatibility (average score = 3.6; SD = 1.0) as extremely useful accessibility features for cellular phones.

Table 16 presents the results of the assessment of the usefulness of cellular phone accessibility features for users that are hard of hearing. Users that are hard of hearing ranked adjustable volume as the most useful accessibility feature for cellular phones. Often, the range of volume adjustment available on standard cellular phones is not sufficient for users with diminished hearing capacity. Vibrating alerts were also rated very useful because it is difficult for some users with hearing impairments to detect when a call is being received.

Table 16: Usefulness of Cellular Phone Accessibility Features as Reported by Participants that are Hard of Hearing.


Feature

Mean (SD)

Adjustable volume

3.7 (0.8)

Vibrating alerts

3.4 (1.1)

Hearing aid compatibility (phones designed to work with hearing aids)

3.3 (1.2)

Amplified headsets

3.2 (1.2)

Loopsets for hearing aids

3.1 (1.4)

TTY compatibility

2.8 (1.4)

Table 17 presents the results of the assessment of the usefulness of cellular phone accessibility features for users with upper mobility impairments. Users with upper mobility impairments ranked accessibility features associated with hands-free operation as being most useful. Users also reported that accessibility features of the keypad, such as larger keys, increased distances between adjacent keys, and keypress feedback are very useful. Speed dialing features were also ranked as very useful.

Users with lower mobility impairments ranked speaker phones (average score = 3.2; SD =1.2) and cradles that attach to mobility aides such as wheelchairs or scooters (average score 3.2; SD = 1.2) as being moderately useful.



Table 17: Usefulness of Cellular Phone Accessibility Features as Reported by Participants with Upper Mobility Impairments.

Feature

Mean (SD)

Speakerphone

3.6 (0.9)

Voice dialing

3.6 (0.9)

One-touch dialing

3.5 (1.0)

Increased space between adjacent keys

3.4 (1.1)

Larger keys on the keypads

3.4 (1.0)

Keypress feedback (beeps indicating a key has been pressed)

3.3 (1.2)

Simplified connector for power

3.3 (1.2)

Simplified connector for headsets

3.2 (1.2)

Keys that may be operated without human contact

3.1 (1.3)

Rubberized keys

2.9 (1.3)

Concave (curved inward) keys on the keypads

2.7 (1.3)

Raised area (nib) on the '5' key

2.7 (1.4)




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