COGNITIVE SUPPORT
TECHNOLOGIES: IMPLICATIONS FOR DESIGN AND USER INTERFACE
Presenter(s)
Box 357920
Seattle WA 98195-7920
Phone: 206-685-0289
Fax: 206—543-5771
pabrown@u.washington.edu
Presenter
#2
Mark Harniss, Ph.D.
Center for Technology and
Box 357920
Seattle WA 98195-7920
Phone: 206-685-4181
Fax: 206-543-4779
mharniss@u.washington.edu
Presenter
#3
Phone: 206-685-4181
Fax: 206-543-4779
kjohnson@u.washington.edu
Support
systems for individuals with disabilities Consist of three components:
personal assistance services (PAS), assistive technology, and adaptive
strategies (Litvak & Enders, 2002). All three are
necessary and important and no sin9le component can provide an individual with
adequate support alone. In any given situation or environment, an individual
may rely more heavily on one type of support than another.
In
this presentation, we report on one aspect of support systems, specifically,
the development of novel assistive technology devices to enhance the quality of
life of people with cognitive disabilities. These devices are memory and
problem solving aids that will help an individual perform the tasks of
day-to-day life more independently. They have the potential to enhance
independence by decreasing reliance of individuals with cognitive disabilities
on the family/friend/caregiver we report on two studies that are part of a
series of studies leading to the development of assisted cognition devices. In
the first study, we conducted interviews with individuals with disabilities,
their caregivers and employment training specialists. An open interview format
was used (Patton, 2001). Participants and informants were asked to describe
everyday life experiences and how disability has affected independence in
everyday situations. In addition, to these broad questions, we asked
individuals to describe their use of technology or in the case of caregivers
and employment specialists, the use of technology by the individual with
disabilities. A series of commonly used devices were discussed and the issues
that make a device easy or hard were clarified. The results of these interviews
were transcribed and analyzed using qualitative software. Themes related to
support needs as well as the discrepancies between informants will be
discussed.
In
the second study, we conducted usability tests with individuals with cognitive
disabilities to learn about user interface designs that would be meaningful and
understandable for this population. Individuals with traumatic brain injury and
mental retardation were provided a variety of user interfaces to determine the
appropriateness of different modalities for providing information to the user.
Individuals were provided with several standard interfaces (e.g., existing cell
phones, PDAs) as well as less common interfaces (e.g.,
a cell phone with text to speech, devices with large screens, devices with
simplified selection menus). They were then given specific tasks to accomplish
with each device. As they attempted to navigate the device, they were asked to
talk aloud about what is easy or difficult about the interface. In some cases,
they were asked to follow the directions given by the device (e.g., a device
might request that the subject turn left, walk forward a few steps, then turn
right). Researchers asked follow-up questions and took field notes durin9 the
session. The results of these usability studies were coded and analyzed using
qualitative software. Themes related to interface modality, interface design,
and universal design will be discussed.
Conclusion
(Silverstein, 2000) identified four goals of a disability policy framework.
They include:
1. Equality of opportunity (i.e., individualization, meaningful opportunity,
inclusion and integration)
2. Full Participation (i.e., involvement in decision making,
informed choice, self-determination, self-advocacy)
3. Independent Living (as a legitimate outcome of public policy
resulting from the provision of independent living skills development,
long-term services and support including personal assistant services and
assistive technology devices and services, and cash assistance), and
4. Economic self-sufficiency (as a legitimate outcome of public policy
resulting from the provision of employment related support systems, cash
assistance with work incentives, and tax policies to employers and employees)
(p. 2).
Assistive technologies for cognition have the potential to support these goals
by mediating the experience of disability for individuals with cognitive
disabilities by enhancing systems of support. In particular, these devices may
reduce barriers participation and may provide caregivers with cost-effective,
safe strategies for providing assistance to the individuals they support.
Litvak, S., & Enders, A. (2002). Support systems: The
interface between individuals and environments. In G.
Albrecht & K. Seelman & M. Bury (Eds.),
Handbook of disability studies.
Patton, M. Q. (2001). Qualitative evaluation and research methods (3rd ed.).
Silverstein, R. (2000). Emerging disability policy framework: A guidepost for
analyzing public policy.
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