James Mueller

Assistive Technology and Universal Design in the Workplace

The terms assistive technology and universal design challenge designers, engineers, and technologists to consider the broadest possible use for the things they create, to make assistive technology as useful to nondisabled persons as to those with disabilities, and to make the products and environments we design as usable as possible for everyone, regardless of age or ability.

Tomorrow´s elders with disabilities: what the wireless industry needs to know

Since the baby boom decades of 1946–1964, decreasing fertility rates and increasing lifespans have led to worldwide growth of the elder population. This growth is already challenging healthcare systems, family structures, and national economies. The growing population of elders is also focusing attention on the changes in mental, physical, and sensory abilities that come to everyone who lives long enough and to those with chronic disabilities due to accident or illness. This new focus is reshaping traditional perceptions of who the world is designed for and the potential of design to meet the challenges of an aging population. As the baby boom generation enters its elder years, it is adding urgency to these challenges. Besides its formidable size, the baby boomer generation promises to be different from previous elder generations in abilities, behaviours, expectations, and available resources. Baby boomers have learned to expect great things from design and technology, especially wireless information and communication technologies, as these technologies have become part of the fabric of everyday life. Baby boomers with and without disabilities will bring more experience with wireless technologies to their elder years, having used them for both business and personal reasons. Will they continue to rely on these technologies in their elder years? Will their experience offset additional mental, physical, and sensory limitations they will develop as they age? Will wireless technologies facilitate independent living, extend careers, and improve leisure options? Or will the increasing complexity of wireless technologies overwhelm tomorrows elders and limit the potential of these technologies to enhance their quality of life? This paper explores the emerging differences between the elders of today and the even-larger population of tomorrows elders, and how disabilities are likely to shape their behaviours as wireless users. Correlations are presented between worldwide trends and findings of consumer research (largely internet-based) among a sizable population of Americans with disabilities. This paper will point out key factors for the wireless industry to consider in serving this large and growing customer population. By understanding and preparing for the emerging elder generation, the wireless industry can position its products and services to be instrumental in meeting the challenges this generation will face as emerging elders. The intent is that wireless technologies will realise the potential to address the most critical issues facing tomorrows elders with disabilities and in turn enhance independence for all.

Use of Social Media During Public Emergencies by People with Disabilities

Introduction: People with disabilities are generally more vulnerable during disasters and public emergencies than the general population. Physical, sensory and cognitive impairments may result in greater difficulty in receiving and understanding emergency alert information, and greater difficulty in taking appropriate action. The use of social media in the United States has grown considerably in recent years. This has generated increasing interest on the part of national, state and local jurisdictions in leveraging these channels to communicate public health and safety information. How and to what extent people with disabilities use social and other communications media during public emergencies can help public safety organizations understand the communication needs of the citizens in their jurisdictions, and plan their social media and other communications strategies accordingly. Methods: This article presents data from a survey on the use of social media and other communications media during public emergencies by people with disabilities conducted from November 1, 2012 through March 30, 2013. Results: The data presented here show four key results. First, levels of use of social media in general are high for people with disabilities, as well as for the general population. Second, use of social media during emergencies is still low for both groups. Third, levels of use of social media are not associated with income levels, but are significantly and strongly associated with age: younger people use social media at higher rates than older people in both groups (p<0.001). Fourth, differences in the use of social media during emergencies across disability types are slight, with the exception of deaf and hard-of-hearing respondents, the former more likely to have used social media to receive (p=0.002), verify (p=0.092) and share (p=0.007) emergency information. Conclusion: These last two results suggest that effective emergency communications strategies need to rely on multiple media types and channels to reach the entire community.

Blind and Deaf Consumer Preferences for Android and iOS Smartphones

Access to and use of mobile wireless technology has become critical to social and economic participation for people with disabilities. As the technology increases in power and sophistication, these customers increasingly rely on mobile devices and software for functions previously available only through dedicated ‘assistive technology’. Successfully serving this large and growing population has become a market imperative as well as a legislative mandate for the wireless industry in the US. Competition for this market is especially keen between the Android and Apple’s iOS operating systems.

Toward Mobile Phone Design for All: Meeting the Needs of Stroke Survivors

Abstract In the July-August 2008 issue of Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation, Greig and colleagues described a small, qualitative study of features of mobile phone handset design, documentation, and use that either enhance or hinder usability for people with aphasia. The authors noted that, despite considerable difficulties, study participants appreciated the social participation that mobile phones support. Findings to date of the Wireless RERC’s Survey of User Needs (SUN) reinforce the importance of wireless technology to people with disabilities. Since 2001, the Wireless RERC has surveyed over 3,000 Americans with diverse cognitive, physical, and sensory disabilities about their needs for mobile wireless technologies. About 84% of respondents own or have access to a cell phone or other mobile wireless device. SUN findings also reveal critical features of wireless devices and services that affect usefulness and usability for this diverse population. In May 2010, the Wireless RERC revised the SUN and again began collecting data. Since then, 333 individuals have responded to the survey, 46 of them stroke survivors. This article compares the survey results with the findings of Greig et al. The analysis supports the feasibility of inclusive and universal design in meeting the needs of wireless customers of all age and abilities.

Accessibility of emergency communications to deaf citizens

Since 2001, the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for Wireless Technologies (Wireless RERC) has taken an active role in promoting accessibility of emergency alerting systems for Americans with disabilities. Among federal government initiatives is a new rule that will take effect in 2010, requiring that emergency alerts be sent using Short Messaging Service (SMS) from all cell phone towers in areas affected by emergencies. This paper shares consumer input on wireless emergency communication via analysis of data gathered through the Survey of User Needs (SUNs) conducted by the Wireless RERC since 2001 and through focus groups conducted with deaf individuals.

App Factory: A Flexible Approach to Rehabilitation Engineering in an Era of Rapid Technology Advancement.

ABSTRACT This article describes a flexible and effective approach to research and development in an era of rapid technological advancement. The approach relies on secondary dispersal of grant funds to commercial developers through a competitive selection process. This “App Factory” model balances the practical reliance on multi-year funding needed to sustain a rehabilitation engineering research center (RERC), with the need for agility and adaptability of development efforts undertaken in a rapidly changing technology environment. This approach also allows us to take advantage of technical expertise needed to accomplish a particular development task, and provides incentives to deliver successful products in a cost-effective manner. In this article, we describe the App Factory structure, process, and results achieved to date; and we discuss the lessons learned and the potential relevance of this approach for other grant-funded research and development efforts. Data presented on the direct costs and number of downloads of the 16 app development projects funded in the App Factory’s first 3 years show that it can be an effective means for supporting focused, short-term assistive technology development projects.

Mobile technology, compensatory aids, and usability evaluations

The article describes two different research projects. The first one explores the challenges of using mobile wireless devices to develop compensatory aids for people with cognitive impairments. The second contribution presents a research effort aimed at developing and evaluating context-aware mobile services.

Regulating hearing aid compatibility of cell phones: results from a national survey

ABSTRACT Accessibility of telecommunication technologies by people who are deaf or hard of hearing has been a critical issue since the invention of the telephone. As both telephone and hearing-aid technologies have evolved, finding compatible solutions has been an ongoing challenge. This paper uses the findings of a longitudinal study to examine the impact of Federal hearing-aid compatibility (HAC) regulations in resolving this problem. The study ran concurrently with the phase-in of Federal Communications Commission regulations requiring that mobile handset manufacturers and wireless service providers make available minimum numbers of cell phones with shielding to reduce electromagnetic interference when cell phones are positioned close to a hearing aid user’s ear. These regulations also require package labeling and printed information to assist buyers in selecting a hearing-aid compatible phone. The survey presented here focused on changes in satisfaction with sound quality and ease of finding a hearing-aid compatible mobile handset. Data analysis suggests that the regulations have had limited success, and problems persist for consumers in locating a hearing aid compatible phone. The FCC has requested input on more stringent hearing-aid compatibility requirements; study findings suggest that these changes are not likely to remedy the problem.

Mobile Wireless Technology for Individuals with Cognitive Impairments: Device Analysis and Customization

A compensatory aid is being developed to support community re-entry for persons with cognitive impairments resulting from acquired brain injuries (ABI). With mobile wireless technology as a design platform, research in computer science and rehabilitation engineering is integrated with industrial design to explore the central concern: the design of a user interface that is understandable and operable by individuals with significant cognitive impairments. Much of what is learned during this project is applicable to enhancing the usability of mobile wireless technologies for users without disabilities.