EDU 776/LIS 724 Week 6 Designing for Accessibility

 


Image Source: Audioeye

When I think about how assistive technology can help people, Stephen Hawking comes to mind.  Even though he had physical limitations due to ALS, he was able to communicate, to do research, to write, and to continue his life through assistive technology.  Through muscle and eye movements, Hawking was able to operate the computer that was attached to his wheelchair.  

While Hawking's computer and wheelchair were very advanced and, most likely, very costly, as a general rule assistive technology does not have to be expensive to in order to be of service to someone.
It is very impressive how computers now have built-in accessibility features.  I have a MacBook Air that I purchased in 2015.  Even though my laptop is nearly nine years old, updates that allowed current accessibility tools to be added.  Apple has made it easy to access these tools.  Below is a chart outlining the accessibility features that are found on the MacBook Air.




                        Image source: Creator

Activating the accessibility features is quite straightforward.  A user just goes to "system settings" and selects "accessibility".  On some MacBooks, "system settings" may be "system preferences".  Once in the "accessibility" section, a user can pick what features they need.  Also, "accessibility" can be added to the tool, which will make it easier to locate.  A user can also go back to "accessibility" and turn off the features.



                                Image source: Creator


The screenshot above shows the "accessibility" features including "voice control".  A user can set what language they will be using along with what type of microphone they will use.  A user can use a set of commands, which are found under "commands".  Some of the commands include "ask Siri" and "open file".  The user can also add vocabulary under the "vocabulary" section.   The MacBook Air offers a great deal in assistive technology for about $1,000 for the cheapest model.


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Comments

  1. ElenaOctober 6, 2023 at 7:52 AM

    Hi Robin, as someone who is not familiar with these features, your post was very informative and easy to understand. I think it is amazing how Apple keeps these accessibility features up-to-date no matter the age of the appliance. Your chart looks great and I appreciate the screenshot to show how to turn on the features.

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  2. sarabelvinOctober 6, 2023 at 7:05 PM

    Robin, technology is amazing. Assistive tools are so useful that it makes it easier for those with disabilities to use it. It places an equal ground to all who use technology. I have not used the accessibility features in the classroom, but now that I have looked into it more, it would be useful for the students I work with.

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  3. Judi TOctober 8, 2023 at 9:08 AM

    Hi Robin,
    I appreciate the chart you made for the MacBook Air. I got mine at the end of my student teaching semester, so it's about 6 years old. (I love that Macs hang on for so long!) But one of the things I never bothered to explore on this device was the accessibility functions. I didn't even know that you could add the accessibility status to the menu - that was definitely new! When exploring, was there a feature that really stood out from the rest?
    Reading some the posts this week (including yours) has given me inspiration to create content (wall posters, maybe Schoology posts) for students so that they know where these functions are on their devices.

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  4. Jenna GuarinoOctober 8, 2023 at 10:58 PM

    Hi Robin! I loved that you made a connection to Stephen Hawking. That is an excellent example that shows how successful and impactful assistive technology can be. I use a PC for work, but I also have a Macbook that I use for my own personal use. Although it is old, it still works great and has access to all of the features that you explained in your blog post. It is great that you included the cost, as well! Although that can be unattainable for some, I think schools that utilize technology should provide students with these accessibility options!

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