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Evaluating interface layout for visually impaired and mobility-impaired users through simulation

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Abstract

The authors have developed a simulator to help with the design and evaluation of assistive interfaces. The simulator can predict possible interaction patterns when undertaking a task using a variety of input devices and estimate the time to complete the task in the presence of different disabilities. This paper presents a study to evaluate the simulator by considering a representative application of searching icons, which was being used by able-bodied, visually impaired and mobility-impaired people. The simulator predicted task completion times for all three groups with statistically significant accuracy. The simulator also predicted the effects of different interface designs on task completion time accurately. The simulator is used to develop inclusive digital TV interfaces. A case study is presented to investigate accessibility requirements of a representative digital TV interface.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the Gates Cambridge Trust and EU GUIDE project for funding this work. We would also like to thank Dr. Pat Langdon of Engineering Design Centre, University of Cambridge, for his help in designing the studies. We are also grateful to our participants for their time and effort in taking part in our studies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Computer Laboratory, University of Cambridge, 15 JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0FD, UK

    Pradipta Biswas & Peter Robinson

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  1. Pradipta Biswas
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  2. Peter Robinson
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Correspondence to Pradipta Biswas.

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Biswas, P., Robinson, P. Evaluating interface layout for visually impaired and mobility-impaired users through simulation. Univ Access Inf Soc 12, 55–72 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-011-0265-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-011-0265-5

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