Stock Steven E, Davies Daniel K, Davies Katelyn R, Wehmeyer Michael L
AbleLink Technologies Inc., Colorado Springs, CO 80903, USA.
J Intellect Dev Disabil. 2006 Mar;31(1):39-46. doi: 10.1080/13668250500488645.
Palmtop computers provide a promising mobile platform to address barriers to computer-based supports for people with intellectual disabilities. This study evaluated a specially designed interface to make navigation and features of palmtop computers more accessible to users with intellectual disabilities.
The specialised cognitively accessible interface was compared with a standard Windows CE interface. Participants completed a structured set of navigation/computer use tasks using both the experimental and control conditions. Measurements included the amount of assistance needed and errors made in completing the navigation/computer use tasks.
Participants (N = 32) made significantly fewer errors (p<.001) and required significantly fewer prompts (p<.001) while using the specialised software interface compared to the mainstream Windows interface.
The research demonstrates the feasibility of using special software design methods, such as linear program flows, error minimisation and the incorporation of repetition and consistency, to improve access to palmtop computers for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Issues related to designing cognitively accessible interfaces are discussed.
掌上电脑为解决智障人士使用基于计算机的支持系统所面临的障碍提供了一个很有前景的移动平台。本研究评估了一种专门设计的界面，以使智障用户更易于操作掌上电脑的导航和功能。
将这种专门设计的认知易操作界面与标准的Windows CE界面进行比较。参与者在实验条件和对照条件下都完成了一组结构化的导航/计算机使用任务。测量内容包括完成导航/计算机使用任务所需的协助量和所犯错误。
与主流Windows界面相比，参与者（N = 32）在使用专门软件界面时所犯错误显著更少（p<.001），所需提示也显著更少（p<.001）。
该研究证明了使用特殊软件设计方法（如线性程序流程、错误最小化以及纳入重复和一致性）来改善智障人士使用掌上电脑的可行性。文中还讨论了与设计认知易操作界面相关的问题。
