Skip to main content

Designing Messenger Visual, an Instant Messaging Service for Individuals with Cognitive Disability

  • Conference paper
Ambient Assisted Living (IWAAL 2011)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNISA,volume 6693))

Included in the following conference series:

Abstract

Considering the importance of Internet-based communications in our society, the lack of Instant Messaging (IM) services adapted to individuals with cognitive disabilities who have difficulties using written language creates a situation of exclusion that has a negative impact on their daily lives. To alleviate this situation we present Messenger Visual, an IM service that uses pictograms as the main communication system. Along the paper we introduce the main design aspects of an IM service to support pictogram-based communications, as well as the design and evaluation aspects of an IM client that takes into account both the pictogram-based communication and the user interface accessibility requirements of individuals with cognitive disabilities.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. World Health Organization. World report on disability, http://www.who.int/disabilities/world_report/concept_note_2010.pdf

  2. Atkinson, R., Castro, D.: Digital Quality of Life: Understanding the Personal and Social Benefits from the Information Technology Revolution. In: Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (October 2008)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Glinert, E., York, B.: Computers and People with Disabilities. ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing 1(2) (October 2008)

    Google Scholar 

  4. LoPrestri, E., Bodine, C., Lewis, C.: Assistive Technology for Cognition: Understanding the Needs of Persons with Disabilities. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Magazine 27(2), 29–39 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Gregor, P., Dickinson, A.: Cognitive difficulties and access to information systems: an interaction design perspective. Journal of Universal Access to Information Society 5, 393–400 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Todis, B., Sohlberg, M., Hood, D., Fickas, S.: Making electronic mail accessible: Perspectives of people with acquired cognitive impairments, caregivers and professionals. Brain Injury Journal 19(6), 389–401 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Poulson, D., Nicolle, C.: Making the Internet accessible for people with cognitive and communication impairments. Universal Access Information Society 3(1), 48–56 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Jennings, R., Nahum, E., Olshefski, D., Saha, D., Shae, Z., Waters, C.: A Study of Internet Instant Messaging and Chat Protocols. IEEE Network, 16–21 (July/August 2006)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Saint-Andre, P.: Streaming XML with Jabber/XMPP. IEEE Internet Computing, 82–89 (September/October 2005)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Glennen, S., DeCoste, D.: Handbook of Augmentative and Alternative Communication. Singular Publishing Group, San Diego (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  11. IETF. Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol: Core (RFC3920), http://tools.ietf.org/pdf/rfc3920.pdf (last accessed on January 7, 2011)

  12. Sears, R., van Ingen, C., Gray, J.: To BLOB or Not To BLOB: Large Object Storage in a Database or a Filesystem? Technical Report (June 2006)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Tuset, P., Barberán, P., Janer, L., Delgado, S., Buscà, E., Vilà, N.: Messenger Visual: A pictogram-based IM service to improve communications among disabled people. In: NordiCHI 2010: 6th Nordic Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, pp. 797–800 (October 2010)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Mayer-Johnson: Boardmaker Software Family, http://www.mayer-johnson.com/products/boardmaker-software/

  15. Aragonese Portal of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ARASAAC), http://www.catedu.es/arasaac/

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Tuset, P., López, J.M., Barberán, P., Janer, L., Cervelló-Pastor, C. (2011). Designing Messenger Visual, an Instant Messaging Service for Individuals with Cognitive Disability. In: Bravo, J., Hervás, R., Villarreal, V. (eds) Ambient Assisted Living. IWAAL 2011. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 6693. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-21303-8_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-21303-8_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-21302-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-21303-8

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics