Designing a More Inclusive World

Dr Patrick M. Langdon is Senior Researcher in the Cambridge University Engineering Department Engineering Design Centre, Lead Researcher in Inclusive Design and Consortium Manager of the Inclusive Design 3 project. His Cognitive Science PhD examined the psychological reality of certain artificial intelligence based theories of computer vision. In collaboration with Professor P.J. Clarkson; Director of the EDC, Professor P. Robinson, of the Computer Lab and Professor S. Godsill, of the Signal Processing Group, he has recently investigated the effect of haptic force feedback on motion-impairments. His research concerns cognitive models of interaction in inclusive design, and the use of haptic feedback to assist motion control. He has pursued a number of research directions in the last 10 years. These include: (1) the properties and design of haptic interfaces for use in computer displays for the movement disabled; (2) the representation and formulation of statistical data on disability, for use in inclusive design; (3) integration of software development and empirical methodology for good design research practice; (4) structure of data for capability assessment; (5) comparative studies of clustering methods for design knowledge exploration; (6) cognitive scales for capability assessment; (7) methods for ethnographic and observational studies of aerospace; and (8) developing scales for product-capability interaction assessment in design. He is editor of a number of books in the fields of inclusive design, universal accessibility and assistive technology and has been involved in the organisation of many international workshops in engineering design; has recently published journal and conference papers in ergonomics, HCI and engineering design and given seminars at the IMechE. He is currently working in the areas of modelling learning, movement and cognition for inclusive design and computer assistance for motion impaired interface use. He is External Examiner for the Kings College London and Guy s Hospital Intercollegiate MSc in Assistive Technology.

Designing inclusively is no longer an option for companies. It is a business essential. Global populations are getting older, legislation is increasingly prohibitive of unnecessary exclusion and consumer attitudes are beginning to change. Exclusivity is out, inclusivity is in. Research communities the world over are responding to this change in design emphasis. Conferences such as the Cambridge Workshops on Universal Access and Assistive Technology (CWUAAT) offer a forum for researchers from diverse and varied disciplines to bring their perspectives on inclusive design together. This book has been inspired by the second CWUAAT, held in Cambridge, England in March 2004. It contains chapters from an international group of leading researchers in this field. Contributions focus on the following topics: design issues for universal access and assistive technology; enabling computer access and new technologies; and, assistive technology and rehabilitation robotics. This series of conferences is aimed at a broad range of interests, with a general focus on the development of products and solutions. Numerous case studies are used to raise awareness of the challenges faced in developing truly inclusive products, along with examples of good practice for design for a more inclusive world.

Recent legislation in many countries requires the use of technology to enhance the access to everyday facilities for disadvantaged people. This legislation produces a ready made and hungry market for those trained and researching in relevant inclusive technologies.

I Design Issues for Universal Access and Assistive Technology.- 1. Is Universal Design a Critical Theory?.- 2. Cross-market Product and Service Innovation - the DBA Challenge Example.- 3. Introducing User-Centred Design Methods into Design Education.- 4. Comparing Product Assessment Methods for Inclusive Design.- 5. Virtual Learning Environments: Improving Accessibility Using Profiling.- 6. Assessment, Insight and Awareness in Design for Users with Special Needs.- 7. New Cognitive Capability Scales For Inclusive Product Design.- II Enabling Computer Access and New Technologies.- 8. An AAC-Enabled Internet: From User Requirements to Guidelines.- 9. Gathering Requirements for Mobile Devices Using Focus Groups with Older People.- 10. Devices and Desires: Identifying the Acceptability of AT to Older People.- 11. Beyond Functionality - Product Semantics in Assistive Device Design.- 12. Consensus-based Adaptive User Interface Implementation in Product Promotion.- 13. Transforming Musical Notations for Universal Access.- 14. Evaluation of Multimodal Techniques for Blind People to Track Moving Objects.- 15. Movement Time Prediction for Tasks Assisted by Force-feedback.- 16. Recognising Expression in Speech for Human Computer Interaction.- 17. Emotional Hearing Aid: An Assistive Tool for Children with Asperger's Syndrome.- 18. Fostering Universal Access: Lessons from Telecommunications and Disability.- 19. Assessing the Accessibility of Digital Television Set-Top Boxes.- III Assistive Technology and Rehabilitation Robotics.- 20. Robot Technology in Rehabilitation and Support -State of the Art.- 21. Powered Lower Limb Orthosis for Assisting Standing Up and Sitting Down Movements.- 22. Collaborative Control Aspects for Rehabilitation Robots.- 23. Effects of Repeated Exposureto a Humanoid Robot on Children with Autism.- 24. The Gloucester Smart House for People with Dementia -User-Interface Aspects.- 25. Standards and the Dependability of Electronic Assistive Technology.- 26. If I had a Robot at Home... Peoples' Representation of Domestic Robots.- Index of Contributors.