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Designing an accessible low-cost interactive multi-touch surface

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Abstract

This paper presents an accessible interactive surface specifically designed for cerebral palsy users. The work context is an educational centre for disabled users, although the system presented can be used in other contexts. The main contributions are as follows: the table leaves enough leg room to fit in wheelchairs and has a half-circle radius cut-out in the top which lets users in wheelchairs sit closer to the tabletop. Table height can be easily adjusted to children or adults. The tabletop screen angle can be easily adjusted to adapt to different body postures and allow for user comfort. The tabletop does not compromise user safety as the surface is protected with strong Plexiglas. Furthermore, an assessment of accessibility has been carried out to analyse its appropriateness to fit users with different characteristics.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported in part by 28/2011 (Ajudes grup competitiu UGIVIA) granted by the Govern de les Illes Balears, and TIN12-35427 granted by the Gobierno de España. The authors thank the anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments and all the therapists, carers and users from ASPACE for their support, effort and time.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Computer Graphics, Computer Vision and AI Group, Mathematics and Computer Science Department, University of Balearic Islands, Crta. Valldemossa km 7.5, 07122, Palma, Spain

    Cristina Manresa-Yee & Ramon Mas

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  1. Cristina Manresa-Yee
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  2. Ramon Mas
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Correspondence to Cristina Manresa-Yee.

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Manresa-Yee, C., Mas, R. Designing an accessible low-cost interactive multi-touch surface. Univ Access Inf Soc 15, 419–429 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-014-0396-6

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