| Computer Accessibility | People with disabilities | Disabilities affecting computer accessibility | Computer Accessibility Strategies | Design for All and Universal Access |
Design for All and Universal Access
The term Design for All (or Universal Design - the terms are used interchangeably) is rooted in engineering disciplines, such as, for example, civil engineering and architecture. In the context of HCI, the term is defined as (Stephanidis et al. 1998): "the conscious and systematic effort to proactively apply principles, methods and tools, in order to develop IT&T products and services which are accessible and usable by all citizens, thus avoiding the need for a posteriori adaptations or specialised design".
Design for All promotes a design perspective that eliminates the need for "special features" and fosters individualisation and end-user acceptability. Design for all, in contrast to the common practice of designing a single solution for an illusionary "typical" or "average" user, suggests the development of products integrating numerous alternative solutions that allow them to adapt in order to suit the broatest possible end user population.
Universal Access (Stephanidis et al. 1998) is prerequisite for achieving Design for All and implies the global requirement for computer accessibility by individuals with different abilities, requirements and preferences, in a variety of disabilities, but with every aspect of diversity that may affect computer accessibility, such as:
- the target user population profile (including people with disabilities) and their individual and cultural differences;
- the scope and nature of tasks performed
- the technological platforms and associated devices (including assistive technology) through which information is accessed.
References
Stephanidis, C., Salvendy, G., Akoumianakis, D., Bevan, N., Brewer, J., Emiliani, P. L., Galetsas, A., Haataja, S., Iakovidis, I., Jacko, J., Jenkins, P., Karshmer, A., Korn, P., Marcus, A., Murphy, H., Stary, C., Vanderheiden, G., Weber, G., Ziegler, J., 1998. Towards an Information Society for All: An International R&D Agenda. International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction, vol. 10(2), pp 107-134.
