ERIC ED375596: Trace Research and Development Center: Report of Progress, 1987-94.

124 Pages·1994·2.7 MB·English

by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
EC 303 436
ED 375 596
Trace Research and Development Center: Report of
TITLE
Progress, 1987-94.
Wisconsin Univ., Madison. Trace Center.
INSTITUTION
National Inst. on Disability and Rehabilitation
SPONS AGENCY
Research (ED/OSERS), Washington, DC.
PUB DATE
94
NOTE
125p.
Trace Center Reprint Service, University of
AVAILABLE FROM
Wisconsin-Madison, S-151 Waisman Center, 1500
Highland Ave., Madison, WI 53705 ($5).
Descriptive (141)
PUB TYPE
Reports
EDRS PRICE MF01/PC05 Plus Postage.
Accessibility (for Disabled); *Assistive Devices (for
DESCRIPTORS
Disabled); *Communication Aids (for Disabled);
*Communication Disorders; Computers; Delivery
Systems; Hearing Impairments; Input Output Devices;
Mental Retardation; Physical Disabilities; *Severe
Disabilities; *Technological Advancement; Training
Methods; Visual Impairments
*Trace Research and Development Center WI
IDENTIFIERS
ABSTRACT
This report documents activities and projects from
1987 to 1994 of the Trace Research and Development Center
(Wisconsin), which addresses the communication needs of nonvocal
severely disabled children and adults. During this period the Center
also served as a national Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center
on the topic of Access to Computers and 'electronic Devices.
Introductory information includes an overview of the Center and a
description of recently released products. The main body of the
document presents 41 individual project reports. These are grouped
into the following focus areas (with sample projects noted in
parentheses): (1) movement impairment (development of improved
headpointing computer access system);
(2) sensory impairment (tactile
perception and business graphics studies); (3) cognitive impairment
(interface training and use by persons with cognitive disabilities);
(4) cross-impairment (computer and operating system accessibility
(5) information and training programs (databases
design guidelines);
on communication, control and computer access development and
downloading); and (6) service delivery programs (communication aids
and systems clinic). Two additional sections describe cooperative and
consultative efforts of the Center and list Trace Center
publications. (DB)
***********************************************************************
*
Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made
from the original document.
***********************************************************************
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Educational Research and Improvement
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFOHMATION
CENTER (ERIC)
This document has been reproduced as
receved from the person or organnaloon
originating a
O Minor changes have been made to improve
reproduction quality
Points of view or opinions stated in this docu.
ment do not necessarily represent official
pacY
OERI position or
Trace Research and
Development Center
Report of Progress
1987-94
Trace Research and Development Center
Waisman Center and Dept. of industrial Engineering
University of Wisconsin-Madison
The activities described in this report have been funded
in part by the National Institute on Disability
and Rehabilitation Research, U.S. Dept. of Education.
3
Trace
enter
Trace Research and Development Center
University of Wisconsin-Madison
S-151 Waisman Center
1500 Highland Avenue
Madison, WI 53705
Phone: [phone]
TT/TDD: [phone]
Fax:
[phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]
Additional copies of this report are available through
the Trace Center Reprint Service.
Alternative formats, including computer
disk copies, are available for individuals
who have difficulty reading or handling
print matter.
Printed on recycled paper
4
From the Director
Dear Friends and Colleagues:
This Report represents the culmination of many long efforts, and also marks the beginning
of a new program of work at the Trace Center.
From 1987 to 1993, the Trace Center served as a Rehabilitation Engineering Research
Center on the topic of "Access to Computers and Electronic Devices." The RERC program
was sponsored by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR),
U.S. Department of Education. What we've been able to achieve in that period of time has
been heartening, though much work remains to be done and new challenges are continually
arising.
The attempts to build accessibility directly into computers as they are manufactured began
tentatively with a meeting at the White House in 1984, but between 1987 and 1994 we saw
the effort spread substantially. Today the federal government includes computer accessibility
requirements in its contracts for data processing equipment. The Rehabilitation Act and the
Americans with Disabilities Act. now specifically require employers and public accommoda-
tions to make ilre they are electronically accessible.
Most encouraging has been the response of the computer industry itself. With the encour-
agement and support of the Trace Center and other groups across the U.S., major computer
brands now include many of the accessibility features were only experimental six years ago.
Those who have not yet built them into their systems "right out the box" have developed add-
on software for current systems, and are addi v access features to the next generation of
systems soon to be released.
This Report of Progress covers the Trace Center activities funded under the RERC pro-
gram, and also projects sponsored by .ether funding sources. We try to maintain a balanced
program at the Center, covcAng not only research and development but information, training
and clinical service programs.
As 1 mentioned, this Report marks the beginning of a new challenge. In 1993 the Trace
Center began a new five-year RERC program, on the topic of "Adaptive Computers and
Information Systems." The computer has expanded from the desktop model we all know to a
variety of information systems now found in libraries, shopping malls, government buildings,
airports and banks as well as in the workplace and home. These dedicated information
systems will be one of our great challenges under the new RERC.
Gregg C. Vanderheiden, PhD
Director
Contents
vii
Projects Covered in This Report
Overview of the Center
1
Recently Released Products
7
Project Reports
Movement Impairment Focus Area
17
Development and Testing of an Instrument for
Studying Efficiency of Standard and Alternative Input Devices
19
Effects of Gain on Pointing Device Performance
21
Evaluation of Two Control-Display Gain Methods for a
23
Head-Controlled Computer Input Device
Development of Improved Headpointing Computer Access System
25
Development of Extensions for Standard Computers
and Operating Systems to Allow Access by Users with Motor Impairments
27
Trace Transparent Access Module (T-TAM) for Apple and IBM Computers
29
Sensory Impairment Focus Area
31
State-of-the-Art Planning Workshop on
Access to Graphics-Based Computers by Blind Users
33
Access to Graphics-Based Operating Systems for Blind Individuals: "Systems 3" Model
35
Tactile Perception and Business Graphics Studies:
Factors in Perception of Simple Shapes
37
Tactile Perception and Business Graphics Studies:
Factors in Perception of Compound Shapes
39
Tactile Perception and Business Graphics Studies:
Impact on Tactile Perception of Combining Tactile Primitives
41
Access to Graphical User Interfaces Through Audio/ Tactile Screen "Snapshots"
43
Effects of Control on Text Presentation
45
Auditory Redundancy for Hearing Impaired Individuals
47
Cognitive Impairment Focus Area
49
Identification and Quantification of Cognitive Tasks in Computer Operation
51
Interface Training and Use by Young Children
53
Interface Training and Use by Persons with Cognitive Disabilities
55
Computer Use by Individuals with Aphasia
57
Cross-Impairment Focus Area
59
Computer and Operating System Accessibility Design Guidelines
61
63
Guidelines for the Design of Consumer Electronic Products
Development of Design Guidelines for Standard
Application Software to Increase Usability by Persons with Disabilities
65
Campus and Library Information Systems Accessibility Manuals
67
Accessibility of TDDs for Hearing Impaired Individuals With Multiple Impairments
69
Development of User-, Professional- and Public-Accessible
Database Interface Techniques
71
Cooperative Electronic Library on Disability:
73
A Model for Database Design, Compilation and Dissemination
General Input Device Emulating Interface (GIDEI) Standard
75
Simple Electrical Transducer (SET) Standard
77
Serial Wheelchair Control Interface Standard
79
Case Studies on Facilitated Communication
81
System for Integrating and Reporting of
Occupational Therapy Functional Assessment (OT FACT)
83
Information and Training Programs
85
Development of an Accessible, Distributable
Assistive Technology Database: Hyper-ABLEDATA and DOS-ABLEDATA
87
User Friendly, Disseminable Database System for
Information and Referral: Trace Cooperative Service Directory
89
Databases on Communication, Control and
Computer Access: Development and Downloading
91
Information Response and Referral
93
Summary Information Materials Program
95
Trace Center Reprint Service
97
Technology Specialization (Tech Spec) Training Program
99
Interdisciplinary Augmentative Communication
and Technology Training Program (InterACT)
101
Trace Center Workshop Series
103
Service Delivery Programs
105
Communication Aids and Systems Clinic
107
Communication Development Program
109
Cooperative and Consultative Efforts
111
Trace Center Publications
113
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Overview of the Center
ogy managers.
was formed in 1971 to address
THE TRACE CENTER
Starting in 1993, the Trace Center has embarked on
the communication needs of non-vocal severely
disabled children and adults. From the beginning the
a new five-year RERC program, focusing on Adaptive
Computers and Information Systems. In some areas,
center worked with electronic technologies, developing
this program represents an extension of the earlier
one of the first microprocessor-based augmentative
program, particularly as the center continues its work
communication devices. Over the past twenty years the
with computer companies to make computers more
center has greatly expanded its funding base, personnel
accessible "right out of the box." In addition, the new
and activities. The center has also expanded its scope,
RERC program will expand into the growing area of
to deal with new technologies.
information systems. With the advent of integrated
Throughout the 1980s, computers became more of a
fact of life for the average person, making the issue of
audio, video and data telecommunications in the work-
accessibility for people with disabilities crucial. If bar-
place, home and community, the issue of accessibility
for users with disabilities becomes critical. The new
riers in the design of computers prevented people with
disabilities from using them, a whole segment of our
RERC will address technologies such as automated
teller machines, public information kiosks, and fax
society would be denied access to education, employ-
ment and independent livingsimply because the com-
machines.
puter was not built with them in mind.
Other Trace Center programs
This Report of Progress covers the period of 1987-
94, including the period from 1987-93 when the Trace
Although the RERC grant is the largest single source
of funding for Trace Center activities, it comprises
Center served as a national Rehabilitation Engineering
Research Center (RERC) on the topic of Access to
around half of the center's total funding base. A variety
Computers and Electronic Devices. The RERC was
of other public and private funding sources ft...id other
funded by the National Institute on Disability and
assistive technology projects at the center. Recent ac-
tivities have included: specific technical assistance to
Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), U.S. Department of
Education, to study the obstacles to computer use, and
computer and software companies in developing acces-
sible systems, cooperative efforts with disability infor-
to develop strategies for providing computer accessibil-
ity"computer curbcuts."
mation providers to create new database technologies
for information and referral, and model training pro-
The Trace Center's involvement with computer ac-
cess dates back to the 1970s. Among its other efforts, grams in assistive technology for students at the Uni-
the center was involved in a 1984 White House meeting
versity of Wisconsin-Madison. These activities funded
on computer access by people with disabilities. This
outside the RERC core funding are also summarized in
meeting led to the formation of a nationwide group of
this report.
industry, consumer, research and government repre-
Trace Center programs
sentatives. The Trace Center coordinated this group in
The Trace Center is located in the Waisman Center,
the task of creating guidelines for computer and operat-
a nationally recognized center for research on develop-
ing system design. The document that resulted has been
used as a basis for other guidelines, including the
Mental disabilities at the University of Wisconsin-
computer accessibility guidelines of the General Ser-
Madison. The Trace Center is also closely connected
with the University's Department of Industrial Engi-
vices Administration for Federal information technol-