CHALLENGES AND OBSERVATIONS
IN NONVISUAL APPROACHES TO CONSUMER ELECTRONIC DEVICES
Presenter(s)
Anne
Taylor
National
Federation of the Blind (NFB)
Day Phone: (410) 659-9314 ext. 2413
Fax: (410) 685-5653
Email: ataylorcnfb.org
Presenter
#2
Mike
Tindell
National
Federation of the Blind (NFB)
Day Phone: (410) 659-9314 ext. 2234
Fax: (410) 685-5653
Email:
mtindellcnfb.org
Introduction
In the past, using non-visual alternative techniques to independently operate
consumer electronic devices was a minor concern for blind individuals. With the
introduction of advanced electronic technology into the consumer electronics
arena, these alternative techniques are rapidly becoming ineffective. Because
of the implementation of electronic controls on current consumer electronic
devices-devices that are necessary to maintain the common American standard of
living-accessibility is increasingly becoming a concern for all blind individuals.
We
use the words “accessible” and “usable” to signify that through additional
modifications to the controls supplied by the manufacturer or a technique of
additional steps learned in addition to the technique for operation suggested
by the manufacturer, a blind person can successfully use and take advantage of
the functionality of a consumer electronic device. It is the finding of the
National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute that the loss of options
for accessible consumer appliances grows stronger every day. For example, a
recent trip to a major appliance store revealed an increase in the
implementation of flat and inaccessible electronic controls in currently
produced dishwashers. Until now, dishwashers were among the more accessible home
appliances.
Observations
and Challenges to Electronic Controls
During the 2005 Annual Convention of the National Federation of the Blind
(NFB), we held our first Accessible Home Showcase. Observations by more than
500 blind and visually impaired individuals possessing a wide range of
cognitive ability, fine motor skills, and tactual perception revealed that
certain control types and configurations presented challenges to
accessibility-and some that proved insurmountable. Specific control features that
were inaccessible or very difficult to use include featureless touch panels,
dynamic menus, rotating control settings, and reset mechanisms. Here are some
of the observations made by our visitors as they examined the array of home
appliances.
Featureless
touch panel controls lack any tactile control surfaces which can orient the
non-visual user to the location of controls, On large
expanses, such as those found on slide-in ranges, alternatives such as key
guards are impractical. For increased usability, all surfaces should contain at
least a contrasting texture to indicate a specific control, and it is necessary
to have a reasonable distance separating these specific regions of controls,
creating identifiable control locations.
Dynamic
menus are especially common on microwave ovens. In some instances a menu prompt
is the single means the manufacturer has provided for accessing important
features such as the power level. For accessibility and usability, all dynamic
menu prompts should be directly accessible by a control on the front panel.
Furthermore, all selections must provide confirmation via a clearly
identifiable audible signal. In the case of error conditions, an error should
be identifiable by a contrasting audible signal.
Rotating
menus and control settings are problematic. This type of control is commonly
found in air conditioners and laundry equipment. It is a mechanism in which a
control knob or button visually moves the viewer through a list of items on a
screen, and repeats the list endlessly unless the user can see that the choices
are being repeated, and chooses an appropriate item from the list. In order to
orient the non-visual user, a solution to this control is that all menus, lists
of options, and choices are signaled by a unique tone. Furthermore, each click
of the rotary control needs to be accompanied by an audible signal.
Finally,
devices lacking a reset mechanism which will restore the unit back to a default
setting create problems of access. Devices which cannot be reset are much less
useful than those which have an easy way to return to a known set of values or
default settings. A user who becomes disoriented in menus cannot retrace the
steps, or begin again unless a reset feature is available. It is recommended
that an easy to use and clearly identifiable reset control be made available,
and that this control is documented in user instructions.
Findings
Kitchen appliances include but are not limited to ranges, ovens, and microwave
units, common machines essential to modern life! Obviously one must be able to
prepare sustenance in order to maintain a high standard of nutrition and
health. In the past, Microwaves were very accessible and usable for blind
individuals. Common non-visual alternative techniques were to add Braille or
identifiable marks on control buttons. However, with the implementation of flat
touch-panel controls and elaborate dynamic menus, these devices are becoming
increasingly difficult to use; alternative techniques are insufficient.
In
the case of ranges and ovens, flat control surfaces, dynamic menus, along with
few tactile features create controls which exclude blind individuals from the
possibility of operating these devices independently.
Access
to laundry room equipment in public buildings and coin laundries is another
category for concern. The inaccessible nature of this equipment is especially
significant since those who must use it are the least likely to have options to
arrange for alternative equipment or to install non-visual modifications. The
same inaccessible features are found in home laundry equipment.
The
majority of front-loading washers and dryers with menu options are
unpredictable. There is no effective way for a blind individual to follow a
sequence of steps to operate these devices.
Approaches
The barriers that these inaccessible features present in major consumer
appliance categories, even for the most motivated and computer-savvy blind
individuals, are everywhere in the marketplace. It is no longer the case that a
blind person might confidently shop in the normal stores found in his or her
community, purchase, take home, and use a consumer electronic device.
The
National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute has developed a plan to
address this issue. We will provide information on those appliances that are
deemed usable through various means of non-visual access, and this information
will be available to all interested persons free of charge on our website. This
information will be collected by speaking with blind individuals throughout the
This
data collection will assist in guiding the National Federation of the Blind
Jernigan Institute in our Accessible Home initiative. This initiative will
focus on providing user feedback to leading manufacturers in the consumer
electronics arena. Feedback will focus on ways in which consumer electronics
devices can be made more accessible and usable for blind persons. Additionally,
one of the goals for this initiative is to find mechanisms suitable for those
who are deaf-blind.
The
National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute believes that it is
essential that blind people are able to continue to lead full and productive lives,
not excluding their home environment. The inability to function independently
in one’s home environment impacts all other aspects of life including
education, employment, well-being, and safety. We will continue to monitor,
assess, and work on solving these problems.
References
Chong, Curtis, “Commercial Technology for the Blind.” Braille Monitor [no volume
number listed] (June 1996): 298-302. http://www.nfb.org/bm/bm96/brlm9606.htm#3
_______ “The Current State of Technology for the Blind and the Challenge
for the Twenty-first Century.” Braille Monitor, Vol. 43, No.
1 (January 2000): 24-30. http:/!www.nfb.orc/bm/bm00/bm0001 /bm000l 04.htm
Hodges,
Brad. “Talking Turkey about Household Appliances and Consumer
Electronics: Crisis for the Blind at the Big Box Store.” Braille
Monitor, Vol. 47, No. 11 (December 2004): 834-840. www.nfb.org/bm/bm04/bm0412/bm041205.htm
______ “Crisis at the Big Box Store, Part 2.” Braille Monitor, Vol. 48, No. 2 (February 2005): 92-100. http:/Iwww.
nfb.orq/bm/bmO5/bm0502/bmO5O2tc.htm
______
“Consumer Electronics: Crisis at the Big Box Store, Part 3.” Braille Monitor,
Vol. 48, No. 6 (June 2005): 396-407.
www. nfb,org/bm/bmO5/bm0506/bm050608.htm
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