Daniel
Flaquinti - 100393621
For
this week’s blog I will describe how I would make an interface that would be
useable by only using sound. This could be used for someone who has vision
problems and cannot see the visual part of an interface. An interface to meet
this requirement would be quite challenging to design as a lot to today’s
interfaces rely strongly on the visual aspect. For example, all the menus and
buttons for the iPhone require the person to be able to see and read the touch
screen.
One
piece that would help make the interface more accessible is the use of audio
signals and indications. Sounds could be used to indicate to the user what
kinds of different things are happening when using a device, such as a
computer. For occurrences such as an error or system message, the computer
could play a distinct tone that the user could easily recognize. To know what
the message is saying, a synthesize voice could read the message to the user.
Another
challenge for the visually impaired user to overcome would be navigation with a
mouse. To overcome this problem I would also rely on the use of sound. I would
utilize some kind of speaker array that would allow the user to visualize where
the mouse and different icons are on the screen. Small speakers could be placed
around the computer or even under the LCD screen. For speakers that are placed
under the screen, they would be organized in a grid type fashion. The speaker
that would be behind the mouse cursor would play a very distinct and
non-intrusive note. The user could listen for this sound and can use it to
learn where the mouse cursor is on the screen. Multiple speakers can work in
conjunction with fading to allow an accurate depiction of the mouse location
with the sound. Other on screen items, such as icons and buttons, could also
emit their own distinct sounds. This is so the user would know where they are
as well. To click on one of the icons, the player would simply have to move the
mouse to align the sound of the courser to the desired icon.
 |
| Speakers could be placed behind the screen. |
As
mentioned earlier, the sounds these cursors and icons emit will be designed to
be recognizable but not annoying. This would be critical for the design as the
user would listening to the sound constantly when they are using the interface
and they would also need to recognize them in an instant.
This
kind of method would theoretically work as it will use the user’s ability to
triangulate sound. Since humans have two ears, they can use the difference of
the time the sound reaches each ear to locate the source of the sound. Through
the speaker array, the user would find out the location of the different onscreen
items by only using sound.
[Picture of monitor]. (n.d.). Retrieved February 05, 2013, from http://gz-yitong.com/bigpic/20100305093838.jpg
