Skip to main content
Log in

Characterising user capabilities to support inclusive design evaluation

  • Long Paper
  • Published:
Universal Access in the Information Society Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Designers require knowledge and data about users to effectively evaluate product accessibility during the early stages of design. This paper addresses this problem by setting out the sensory, cognitive and motor dimensions of user capability that are important for product interaction. The relationship between user capability and product demand is used as the underlying conceptual model for product design evaluations and for estimating the number of people potentially excluded from using a given product.

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

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Langdon, P.M., Adams, R., Clarkson, P.J.: Universal access to assistive technology through ‘client-centred’ cognitive assessment, in Lecture Notes in Computer Science, Universal access, theoretical perspectives, practice and experience, v2615/2003, pp. 153–164. Springer, Heidelberg (2002)

  2. Baddeley, A.D.: The episodic buffer: a new component of working memory? Trends Cogn. Sci. 4, 417–423 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Bridger, R.S.: Introduction to ergonomics, 2nd edn. Taylor & Francis, London (2003)

  4. Brinck, T.: Return on goodwill: return on investment for accessibility. In: Bias, R.G., Mayhew, D.J. (eds.) Cost-Justifying Usability: An Update for the Internet Age, 2nd edn. Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, San Francisco (2005)

  5. Byrne, M.D.: Cognitive Architecture. In: Jacko, J.A., Sears, A. (eds) The Human–Computer Interaction Handbook: Fundamentals, Evolving Technologies and Emerging Applications, pp. 97–117. LEA, New Jersey (2003)

  6. Cañas, J.J., Antolí, A., Quesada J.F.: The role of working memory on measuring mental models of physical systems. Psicologica 22, 25–42 (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Card, S.K., Moran, T.P., Newell, A.: The Psychology of Human–Computer Interaction. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Inc, Mahwah (1983)

  8. Cardoso, C.: Design for Inclusivity: Assessing the Accessibility of Everyday Products. PhD thesis, University of Cambridge (2005)

  9. Carlsson, G., Iwarsson, S., Sthål, A.: The personal component of accessibility at group level: exploring the complexity of functional capacity. Scand. J. Occupational Therapy 9, 100–108 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Clarkson, J., Keates, S.: User capabilities and product demands. In: Include 2003—Inclusive design for society and business, London (2003)

  11. Colenbrander, A.: Aspects of vision loss–visual functions and functional vision. Visual Impairment Res. 5, 115–136 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. DeBonis, D.A., Donohue, C.L.: Survey of Audiology: Fundamentals for Audiologists and Health Professionals. Pearson/Allyn and Bacon, Boston (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Dong, H.: Barriers to Inclusive Design in the UK. PhD thesis, University of Cambridge (2004)

  14. Fleishman, E.A., Quaintance, M.K.: Taxonomies of human performance—the description of human tasks. Academic, New York (1984)

  15. Fletcher, D.C., American Academy of Ophthalmology.: Low vision rehabilitation: caring for the whole person. Ophthalmology monographs, vol 12. American Academy of Ophthalmology, San Francisco [Great Britain] (1999)

  16. Goodman, J., Langdon, P.M., Clarkson, P.J.: Providing strategic user information for designers: methods and initial findings. In: Clarkson, J., Langdon, P., Robinson, P. (eds.) Designing Accessible Technology, pp. 41–51. Springer, Heidelberg (2006)

  17. Grundy, E., Ahlburg, D., Ali, M., Breeze, E, Sloggett, A: Disability in Great Britain: Results from the 1996/97 disability follow-up to the family resources survey. UK Department of Social Security (1999)

  18. Gyi, D.E, Sims, R.E, Porter, J.M, Marshall, R., Case, K.: Representing older and disabled people in virtual user trials: data collection methods. Appl. Ergon. 35, 443–451 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Hartson, H.R., Andre, T.S, Williges, R.C.: Criteria for evaluating usability evaluation methods. Int. J. Hum. Comput. Interact. 13, 373–410 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Jacko, J.A., Dixon, M.A., Jr RHR, Scott, I.U., Pappas, C.J.: Visual profiles: a critical component of universal access. In: Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems: the CHI is the Limit, Pittsburgh (1999)

  21. Jacko, J.A., Vitense, H.S.: A review and reappraisal of information technologies within a conceptual framework for individuals with disabilities. Universal Access Inf. Soc. 1, 56–79 (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  22. John, B.E., Kieras, D.E.: The GOMS Family of Analysis Techniques: Tools for Design and Evaluation, Human–Computer Interaction Institute Technical Report CMU-HCII-94-106. School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University (1994)

  23. Kanis, H: Operation of controls on consumer products by physically impaired users. Hum. Factors 35, 305–328 (1993)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Karwowski, W.: Achieving compatibility in human–computer interface design and evaluation. In: Jacko, J.A., Sears, A. (eds.) The Human–Computer Interaction Handbook: Fundamentals, Evolving Technologies, and Emerging Applications, LEA, NJ (2002)

  25. Keates, S., Clarkson, J.: Countering design exclusion—an introduction to inclusive design. Springer, Heidelberg (2003)

  26. Keates, S., Clarkson, J.: Supporting the adoption of inclusive design practices. In: Include 2003—inclusive design for society and business, London (2003)

  27. Kondraske, G.V: Workplace design: an elemental resource approach to task analysis and human performance measurements. In: Choice For All. ICAART’88. RESNA International Conference of the Association for the Advancement of Rehabilitation Technology, Montreal (1988)

  28. Kondraske, G.V.: Measurement tools and processes in rehabilitation engineering. In: Bronzino, J.D. (ed.) The Biomedical Engineering Handbook, 2nd edn, vol 2. CRC Press, Boca Raton pp. 145.1–145.16 (2000)

  29. Kondraske, G.V: A working model for human system-task interfaces. In Bronzino JD (ed.) The Biomedical Engineering Handbook, 2nd edn, vol 2, pp. 147.1–147.18. CRC Press, Boca Raton (2000)

  30. Kwahk, J., Han, S.H.: A methodology for evaluating the usability of audiovisual consumer electronic products. Appl. Ergon. 33, 419–431 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Langdon, P., Keates, S., Clarkson, P.: New cognitive capability scales for inclusive product design. In: Keates, S., Clarkson, J., Langdon, P., Robinson, P. (eds.) Designing a More Inclusive World. Springer, London (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  32. Martin, J., Elliott, D.: Creating an overall measure of severity of disability for the office of population censuses and surveys disability survey. J. Roy. Stat. Soc. Ser. A (Stat. Soc.) 155, 121–140 (1992)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Meister, D.: Behavioural Analysis and Measurement Methods. Wiley, New York (1985)

    Google Scholar 

  34. Monk, A.: Cyclic interaction: a unitary approach to intention, action and the environment. Cognition 68, 95–110 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Moore, B.C.J.: Cochlear Hearing Loss. Whurr, London (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  36. Moore, B.C.J.: An Introduction to the Psychology of Hearing, 5th edn. Academic, San Diego (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  37. Napier, J.R.: The prehensile movements of the human hand. J. Bone Joint Surg. 38B, 902–913 (1956)

    Google Scholar 

  38. Norman, D.A.: Some observations on mental models. In: Gentner, D., Stevens, A.L. (eds.) Mental Models. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Mahwah, pp. 7–14 (1983)

  39. Norman, D.A.: The Design of Everyday Things. Basic Books (Perseus), New York (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  40. Norton, T.T., Corliss, D.A., Bailey, J.E.: The psychophysical measurement of visual function. Butterworth Heinemann, London (2002)

  41. Persad, U., Langdon, P.M., Clarkson, P.J.: Exploring user capabilities and health: A population perspective. In: Contemporary Ergonomics 2006, Cambridge (2006)

  42. Petrie, H.: Accessibility and usability requirements for ICTs for disabled and elderly people: a functional classification approach. In: Nicolle, C., Abascal, J. (eds.) Inclusive Design Guidelines for HCI, Taylor & Francis, San Francisco (2001)

  43. Pirkl, J.J, Babic, A.L.: Guidelines and Strategies for Designing Transgenerational Products: A Resource Manual for Industrial Design Professionals. Syracuse University Series in Gerontology Education. Copley Publishing Group, Acton (1988)

  44. Porter, J.M., Case, K., Marshall, R., Gyi, D., Oliver, RSn.: ‘Beyond Jack and Jill’: designing for individuals using HADRIAN. Int. J. Indus. Ergon. 33, 249–264 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Poulson, D., Ashby, M., Richardson, S. (eds) (1996) USERfit A practical handbook on user-centred design for assistive technology. Handbook produced within the European Commission TIDE programme USER project, HUSAT Research Institute, Loughborough

  46. Proctor, R.W., Vu, K-P.L.: Human information processing: an overview for human–computer interaction. In: Jacko, J.A, Sears, A. (eds.) The Human–Computer Interaction Handbook: Fundamentals, Evolving Technologies and Emerging Applications, pp. 35–51. LEA, New Jersey (2003)

  47. Robertson, SI.: Problem Solving. Psychology Press, Hove (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  48. Russell, S.J, Norvig, P.: Artificial intelligence: a modern approach, 2nd, International edn, Prentice Hall series in artificial intelligence. Prentice Hall/Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River/London (2003)

  49. Schieber, F.: Aging and the senses. In: Birren, J.E, Sloan R., Cohen, G. (eds.) Handbook of Mental Health and Aging, pp. 251–306. Academic, New York (1992)

    Google Scholar 

  50. Schiffman, H.R.: Sensation and Perception: An Integrated Approach, 5th edn. Wiley, New York (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  51. Sears, A., Young, M.: Physical disabilities and computing technologies: an analysis of impairments. In: Jacko, J.A., Sears, A. (eds.) The Human–Computer Interaction Handbook: Fundamentals, Evolving Technologies and Emerging Applications, pp. 482–503. LEA, New Jersey (2003)

  52. Sesto, M., Vanderheiden, G., Radwin, R.G.: Functional characterization of disability and interface use. In: RESNA 2004 Conference (2004)

  53. Story, M.F., Muller, J.L., Mace, R.L.: The Universal Design File—Designing for People of All Ages and Abilities. The Center for Universal Design (1998)

  54. Vanderheiden, G.C., Vanderheiden, K.: Guidelines for the Design of Consumer Products to Increase Their Accessibility to People with Disabilities—Working Draft 1.7. Trace R & D Center (1992)

  55. VanDerVeer, G.C., Melguizo, MdCP.: Mental models. In: Jacko, J.A., Sears, A. (eds.) The Human–Computer Interaction Handbook: Fundamentals, Evolving Technologies and Emerging Applications, pp. 52–80. LEA, New Jersey (2003)

  56. VanDerVegte, W.F.: Consideration and modelling of use processes in computer-aided conceptual design: a state of the art review. Trans. SDPS J. Integr. Des. Process Sci. 6, 25–59 (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  57. VisionConection (2006) Causes of Vision Impairment. viewed 4th December 2006 (http://www.visionconnection.org/Content/Research/EpidemiologyandStatistics/Statistics/CausesofVisionImpairment/default.htm)

  58. Warburton, N.: Everyday inclusive design. In: Clarkson, J., Coleman, R., Keates, S., Lebbon, C. (eds.) Inclusive Design–Design for the Whole Population, pp. 250–269. Springer, London (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  59. WHO.: International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. World Health Organization (2001)

  60. Wickens, C.D., Hollands, J.G.: Engineering Psychology and Human Performance, 3rd edn. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River (1999)

  61. Zachary, W., Campbell, G.E., Laughery, K.R., Glenn, F., Cannon-Bowers, J.A.: The application of human modeling technology to the design, evaluation and operation of complex systems. In: Salas, E., (ed.) Advances in Human Performance and Cognitive Engineering Research, vol 1, pp. 199–247. Elsevier, Amsterdam (2001)

  62. Langdon, P.M, Lewis, T., Clarkson, P.J.: The Effects of Prior Experience on the Use of Consumer Products, Universal Access in the Information Society, Special Issue on Designing Accessible Technology, (Ibid), Springer, London (2007)

  63. Juran, J.M., Gryna, F.M.: Juran’s Quality Control Handbook. Mcgraw-Hill, New York. ISBN 0-07-033176-6 (1951)

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work has been funded by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Umesh Persad.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Persad, U., Langdon, P. & Clarkson, J. Characterising user capabilities to support inclusive design evaluation. Univ Access Inf Soc 6, 119–135 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-007-0083-y

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-007-0083-y

Keywords

Navigation