Engineers and technicians can now make more informed decisions when designing accessible Information Communication Technology (ICT) systems with the release of a new guide produced by the Royal National Institute for the Blind.
The launch of ‘Guidelines for the design of accessible ICT systems,’ which aims to encourage designers to make more accessible ICT systems for the disabled and elderly, focuses on the everyday situations and environments where accessibility should be a major consideration.
The comprehensive guidelines cover a wide range of technologies – household, transport, biometrics and information displays – and also provide details about the types of disabilities that designers need to consider, including impairments such as visual, hearing, physical, cognitive and language.
Enjoyment of life through better design
Dr John Gill, Chief Scientist at the RNIB, produced the guidelines. He said that the greater enjoyment of life for people with disabilities and older people lay in the hands of our engineers and technicians. He added: "They are the people who design and make ICT systems and we urge them to look at the recommendations contained in Guidelines and to give some thought on how greater improvements can be made. The need to do so grows apace as, added to the several millions of Britons with disabilities, we have to help the increasing number of older people".
Dr Gill said that people with disabilities had very varied needs and aspirations. When designing systems for use by the general public it was important for engineers and technicians to have an understanding of the implications of different impairments. For instance, eight per cent of the male population had difficulties in distinguishing red and green, and many foreign visitors may prefer information in their own language.
"The number of people with impairments will increase as life expectancy increases", said Dr Gill. "Among older people it is common to have a combination of impairments which can result in problems in using information and communication technology systems".
Information contained in the guidelines can be found at www.tiresias.org/guidelines.
You’ve read it. Now review it.
Date Published: April 08, 2008
More by this source
|
Print
|
Send to a friend
|
Rate & Comment
|
Keep up to date
If you found this item fun or informative, please let others know. Simply send to a friend or recommend it to even more people - on any of the following sites:
Latest Science News | reddit | digg.com | del.icio.us | rollyo | stumbleupon
More on disability...
Disability
It is unlawful under the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 for an employer to treat a disabled person less favourably because of a reason relating to their disability, when applying for or during employment, without a justifiable reason.
Student Support
Most people run into difficulties at some point in their life, financial or otherwise. For many students there will be times during their course when they need additional help and support. Perhaps they suffer from Dyslexia or need help caring for a child? Whatever the reason, there are a number of helping hands available.
Diversity
By law employers must not discriminate on the grounds of race, sex, marriage, disability, sexual orientation or religion or belief (the law will be extended to cover age discrimination by October 2006). All stages of the recruitment process must treat all races and both sexes equally.
