Ian Hosking

Making the case for inclusive design

This paper describes the University of Cambridge, Engineering Design Centres (EDC) case for inclusive design, based on 10 years of research, promotion and knowledge transfer. In summary, inclusive design applies an understanding of customer diversity to inform decisions throughout the development process, in order to better satisfy the needs of more people. Products that are more inclusive can reach a wider market, improve customer satisfaction and drive business success. The rapidly ageing population increases the importance of this approach. The case presented here has helped to convince BT, Nestlé and others to adopt an inclusive approach.

A comparison of methods currently used in inclusive design

Inclusive design has unique challenges because it aims to improve usability for a wide range of users. This typically includes people with lower levels of ability, as well as mainstream users. This paper examines the effectiveness of two methods that are used in inclusive design: user trials and exclusion calculations (an inclusive design inspection method). A study examined three autoinjectors using both methods (n=30 for the user trials). The usability issues identified by each method are compared and the effectiveness of the methods is discussed. The study found that each method identified different kinds of issues, all of which are important for inclusive design. We therefore conclude that a combination of methods should be used in inclusive design rather than relying on a single method. Recommendations are also given for how the individual methods can be used more effectively in this context.

Empathic engineering: helping deliver dignity through design

Abstract Dignity is a key value within healthcare. Technology is also recognized as being a fundamental part of healthcare delivery, but also a potential cause of dehumanization of the patient. Therefore, understanding how medical devices can be designed to help deliver dignity is important. This paper explores the role of empathy tools as a way of engendering empathy in engineers and designers to enable them to design for dignity. A framework is proposed that makes the link between empathy tools and outcomes of feelings of dignity. It represents a broad systems view that provides a structure for reviewing the evidence for the efficacy of empathy tools and also how dignity can be systematically understood for particular medical devices.

User involvement in the early development of assistive technology devices

Objective. The importance of user involvement in design, development and diffusion of all devices is widely accepted; however, the methods of achieving true user contribution to a design or development process are challenging. The challenges are increased when the target consumers for the device have disabilities that can make traditional methods of gaining user involvement at best difficult, and at worst impossible. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of a number of user involvement techniques employed on projects carried out by the authors. Main Content. Devices for Dignity (D4D), is one of two pilot Healthcare Technology Cooperatives (HTCs) set up in January 2008. The principle for HTCs is to bring together health professionals, industry, academia and end users to create ‘technology pull’ and technology transfer into the National Health Service and as such, user involvement is a core element of D4Ds approach [1]. When embarking on a new project, D4D considers the most effective user involvement method and tailors the information gathering to the user population. Four delivery methods that have been used are discussed in this paper: Focus Groups; Online Surveys; Qualitative Interviews [2]; and Design Workshops [3, 4]. The approach taken to differentiate these common delivery methods to the needs of the HTC and to ensure that the methods used were appropriate for the intended participants will be discussed. The effectiveness of the methods in extracting appropriate data will also be evaluated. Results. The authors have successfully used the four delivery methodologies highlighted to: provide evidence for unmet needs; develop specifications for new devices; progress from specification to early design ideas; and evaluate early designs. Conclusion. User involvement in device design, development and diffusion is important; however, it requires careful consideration and differentiation of the appropriate methodology when working with potential consumers who have disabilities. The authors are formulating a strategy to ensure effective and timely user involvement in projects as this is key to ‘technology pull’ and technology transfer within a healthcare technology co-operative.

A Population Perspective on Mobile Phone Related Tasks

For design to be truly inclusive, it needs to take into account the range of users’ capabilities. To do this appropriately, good data on those capabilities is needed. This paper reports on results from a postcode sampled survey of 362 people. The survey examined a wide range of user capabilities and characteristics, but the paper focuses on just a few of the survey measures. These measures examine some of the component activities involved in using mobile telephones: selection of a menu item via two different interaction patterns, use of differing sized pushbutton controls and insertion of two different types of electrical connector. These results can help to inform more inclusive design of mobile phones by examining how people’s capability to perform these activities varies across different activities and by age and gender.

Inclusive wireless technology for emergency communications in the UK

We begin with a short review of the limitations of UK practice and government policy on wireless emergency communications. We focus on the limitations of current practice with reference to brief case studies from two recent emergencies: The Carlisle storms and flooding of January 2005, and the terrorist bombings of Londons public transport on 7 July 2005. The public, including elderly and vulnerable people, were at risk as a result of two types of communications difficulties during these events, and many only received communications from rescuers on the ground. The currently available technologies for emergency communication in the UK are then analysed with respect to three dimensions: 1) whether and to what degree the technology is suitable for broadcast or point-to-point communications; 2) whether the technology is based on wireless or fixed wired networks; 3) the timeline requirement of the emergency, from initial alert, through emergency response communication requirements, to information and communication provision for those immediately involved and finally to the general public. In the process, the relationship between communications networks and communications devices is considered, and both are examined for their impact on effectiveness and accessibility under emergency conditions. This is followed by a discussion of their individual potential for providing inclusive fixed and wireless emergency communications, and suggestions are made for further investigation.

Developing inclusive design expertise within a client/consultancy relationship.

TheAlloy have been working together with British Telecom (BT), as their product design consultants, for over ten years. During that time BT have undergone a key transformation which has had a profound impact on their design focus. This transformation has seen BT actively embrace inclusive design as a core driver for their business objectives. As part of that journey, TheAlloy have in turn developed core competencies which have not only supported BTs transition, but impacted the consultancys ability to offer these services to other clients. This paper reflects on the development of that relationship and those competencies through a series of project case studies.

Improvements in interface design through implicit modeling

Touchscreen devices are often limited by the complexity of their user interface design. In the past, iterative design processes using representative user groups to test prototypes were the standard method for increasing the inclusivity of a given design, but cognitive modeling has potential to be an alternative to rigorous user testing. However, these modeling approaches currently have many limitations, some of which are based on the assumptions made in translating a User Interface (UI) into a definition file that cognitive modeling frameworks can process. This paper discusses these issues and postulates potential approaches to improvements to the translation procedure.

Joining up the DOTs: authentic teaching and learning in Design and Technology education

This paper reports on an innovative approach for teaching creativity in Design and Technology education based on the notions of authentic learning. Working with secondary schools in England and Ireland, the research team has been developing an intervention known as ‘Designing Our Tomorrow’ (DOT) which introduced students to the important principles of Inclusive Design (also known as Universal Design). Through interview and survey data, the team gained insights into students’ responses to the DOT intervention and they found that students’ creativity and empathy were enhanced following their engagement with the intervention materials.

vis-UI-lise: Developing a Tool for Assessing User Interface Visibility

Visibility in user interfaces (UI) is a critical element of making a product usable. However, the visibility of modern user interfaces can be compromised in a number of distinct ways. Firstly, some user interface controls have no visible attributes at all, from a visibility perspective they are effectively ‘missing’. Secondly, if an element is present then it can be ‘missed’, thirdly, if it is seen it may be ‘misunderstood’ by the user. Previous work has seen the development of a model to represent this. This model is used to inform the development of an evaluation tool called vis-UI-lise that can be used to assess the visibility of user interfaces. It presents UI visibility as a series of 5 hurdles between the user and the interface that have to be overcome for a successful interaction. The output from this highlights to designers what the key issues are to help drive further development to improve usability.