Wireless RERC - Publications / Reports

Wireless RERC Summit Proceedings: Envisioning Inclusive FUTURES

mz22 — Fri, 20 May 2016 14:45:25 +0000

Publication Type:

The Envisioning Inclusive FUTURES Summit Proceedings have been published by the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for Wireless Technologies (Wireless RERC) on our website. The Summit focused on 1) key social, economic, political and technological forces at play in the migration from legacy, analog technologies to mobile, digital technologies, and 2) the consequential futures for people with disabilities. The Proceedings concluded that a variety of technological solutions exist whether discussing the present or the future, and more are under development, to facilitate the ability of people with disabilities to engage in life activities. Transformative ideas and common visionary themes addressed wireless technologies and systems that could stimulate inclusive solutions such as robotics, wearables, the Internet of Things, next-generation emergency communications and alerts, and assistive intelligence for auditory and visual navigation. Looking to an inclusive future, not only were research and policy agenda items identified, but also challenges and recommendations on how to reach a future of inclusiveness. Following are a few findings:

Usability is critical – technology needs to be “out of the box” ready. The design process should be enhanced so that devices be intuitively usable, or conversely, be easily personalizable.
Education, outreach and awareness efforts should be dynamic and integral to both ongoing and adaptive/changing environments. This is in reference to not only technology, but to the changing circumstances of people with disabilities.
Products and services should be universally designed and also take into account cultural sensitivity.

The visionary theme from the opening to the concluding dialog emphasized: A transformative future is an inclusive future. This became the key take-away for reinforcing the Wireless RERC’s commitment to ensure an accessible mobile wireless future for people with disabilities.

Related Files:

Attachment	Size
Wireless RERC SoT - Envisioning Inclusive Futures Summit Preceedings.pdf	1.81 MB

WEA - Optimizing Ability of Message Receipt by People with Disabilities

mz22 — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 15:17:20 +0000

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA)

Optimizing Ability of Message Receipt by People with Disabilities: Prototype Findings Report/Vibration Scale Final Report

February 9, 2016 - In 2014, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate funded the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), Center for Advanced Communications Policy to examine and report on how to optimize Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) message receipt by people with disabilities. The research conducted under this contract with DHS S&T builds upon research initiated via the Wireless RERC emergency communications research and development projects.

Reaching people with disabilities, including the deaf and hard of hearing, with WEA messages is critical, in part because people with disabilities utilize and depend on wireless devices, including mobile phones at more than 96 percent. Their devices become even more important during emergencies. The aim of this project was to assist in understanding and identifying ways to ensure that people with disabilities had timely and effective access to WEA messages. This report summarizes the findings.

Emergency Preparedness and Your Mobile Device

mz22 — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 14:41:35 +0000

emergency preparedness

mobile devices

Tips for Emergency Use of Mobile Devices

August 2015 - There are several steps to prepare your mobile device in case of an emergency. One of the most basic is making sure there are a set of emergency contacts easily accessible on your device. This means ensuring that your contacts are saved to the device and to the SIM card. Various apps are also available for an array of functions such as first aid information, emergency shelter locations, and geographical emergency alerts. It is also always a good idea to have power backup strategies in case a situation where the power goes out. All of these tips and more can be found in the 2015 edition of Tips for Emergency Use of Mobile Devices, by Disability Policy Consultant, June Isaacson Kailes. The publication provides guidelines for optimal use of your mobile device before, during and after an emergency. It covers emergency contacts, alerts, texting, documents, apps, power back-up charging options, bookmarks, “No Service” backup plans, skill drills and more.

Wireless RERC Research in IAEM Bulletin: Navigating the New Normal

mz22 — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 21:28:56 +0000

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA)

Moving Towards Accessible Wireless Emergency Alerts: Sending and Receiving

Dr. DeeDee Bennett’s article, Moving Towards Accessible Wireless Emergency Alerts: Sending and Receiving, was published in October’s issue of the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) Bulletin. In preparation for IAEM’s annual conference in November, the theme of this issue and the conference is Navigating the New Normal. As such, Dr. Bennett’s article discusses the findings of a Wireless RERC survey on the accessibility of Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs), and survey research funded by FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS).

The first survey, sent to people with and without disabilities, sought to determine the level of public awareness of WEA messages, accessibility of the messages and behavioral response. The survey revealed that 36% of the respondents with disabilities had no prior knowledge of WEA, compared to 24% of the respondents without disabilities; indicating a need for more public awareness campaigns. While use of wireless devices has reached near saturation for people with disabilities, WEA has yet to establish itself amongst the population as the ‘new normal.’

The second survey, sent to IPAWS alerting authorities, sought information to gather best practices for sending accessible WEA messages to people with and without disabilities. Survey data revealed that less than 10% of alerting authorities have actually issued a WEA message, 9% of respondents provided information in accessible formats, and 7% have issued a WEA message in a language other than English. The common theme that emerged from alert authorities was the need for more education and training on when and how to send WEAs.

NCD Issues 2014 Disability Policy Progress Report

mz22 — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 14:49:18 +0000

National Council on Disability (NCD)

National Disability Policy: A Progress Report - October 2014

October 2014 – The National Council on Disability (NCD) issued their 2014 edition of the National Disability Policy: A Progress Report. The report highlights findings related to the “Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (CRPD), employment access and inclusion, subminimum wage, education outcomes, Medicaid managed care, mental health care, and data trends in disability policy.” The details of the NCD report are intended to provide policymakers, stakeholders, and advocates of disability rights with a social context regarding progress and opportunities for people with disabilities.

The 2014 Progress Report also recommends public policies and research agendas to contribute to a more inclusive and accessible society, including:

Encouraging the Department of Transportation to partner with the private sector on researching autonomous vehicle technology and its potential for people with disabilities.
Recommending that the Department of Labor develop a science technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) initiative for youth with disabilities in order to prepare them for an encourage careers in STEM fields.
Advising the FCC to provide guidance on best practices on including people with disabilities in the research and development (R&D) throughout all phases of the development process, from concept to market.

To read a full copy of the NCD’s 2014 Progress Report, please click the link below.

W3C HTML Techniques for Providing Useful Text Alternatives

mz22 — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 13:38:59 +0000

World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)

HTLM5

Web Accessibility

W3C Working Draft - HTML5: Techniques for providing useful text alternatives

October 2014 – The World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) update to Working Draft of HTML5: Techniques for providing useful text alternatives was published this month. The document is a working draft and contains best practice guidance for authors of HTML (HTML5) documents on providing text alternatives for images. The update incorporates changes and corrections from as early as October 2012 and addresses common issues related to accessible web browsing. Developed through the HTML Accessibility Taskforce, the document is published by the HTML Working Group with approval by the Protocols and Formats Working Group. An updated publication with more information on descriptions of complex images and with clarifications of other guidance is in progress and expected in the near future.

The Accessibility of Cloud Computing

mz22 — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 17:24:13 +0000

cloud computing

The Accessibility of Cloud Computing: Current and Future Trends

August 2014 - Media Access Australia, Australia’s only non-profit organization devoted to media accessibility for individuals with disabilities, released a report discussing the uses, benefits, and accessibility challenges of cloud computing for individuals with disabilities. Some of the benefits highlighted in The Accessibility of Cloud Computing: Current and Future Trends include the ability for people with disabilities to use their personal assistive technologies, the constant availability of cloud storage through cloud profiles, and the ability to synchronize cloud accessibility preferences in recent Windows technologies.

The report also acknowledged that cloud-based services have challenges as a result of platform variations. Because app and web solutions offer different cloud accessibility features depending on which ecosystem consumers choose, the report advocates for industry compliance with the W3C Web Accessibility Standards when creating cloud access. Specifying the need for inclusive accessibility design for cloud platforms; the report calls for industry, consumer, and government collaboration, as well. Click the link belwo for access to a full copy of The Accessibility of Cloud Computing: Current and Future Trends.

Blind and Deaf Consumer Preferences for Android and iOS Smartphones

mz22 — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 19:15:16 +0000

iPhone

Android

Book Chapter

Inclusive Designing: Joining Usability, Accessibility, and Inclusion

Wireless RERC researchers John Morris, PhD and Jim Mueller authored a book chapter titled Blind and Deaf Consumer Preferences for Android and iOS Smartphones, to be published by Springer London in Inclusive Designing: Joining Usability, Accessibility, and Inclusion. The abstract for their chapter follows: Access to and use of mobile wireless technology has become critical to social and economic participation for people with disabilities. As the technology increases in power and sophistication, these customers increasingly rely on mobile devices and software for functions previously available only through dedicated “assistive technology.” Successfully serving this large and growing population has become a market imperative as well as a legislative mandate for the wireless industry in the US. Competition for this market is especially keen between the Android and Apple’s iOS operating systems. This article presents survey research findings on the relative ease of use, importance, and satisfaction observed by blind and deaf customers using mobile devices on Android or iOS platforms. Focus group research conducted by the authors suggests that blind smartphone users overwhelmingly favor the iPhone, while deaf smartphone users show greater diversity in their device choices. Data collected through the Survey of User Needs (SUN) conducted by the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for Wireless Technologies (Wireless RERC) are presented to test this finding with quantitative data, and to test differences between blind and deaf users in terms of ease of use and satisfaction with iPhone and Android smartphones.

America at Risk: Job Crisis for People with Disabilities

mz22 — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 18:11:52 +0000

employment

Attitudinal Barriers

RespectAbility - America at Risk

April 2014 — RespectAbility has released a report entitled “America at Risk: Job Crisis for People with Disabilities – Views on Solutions from 3839 People on the Front Lines.” The report compiles data from a nationwide survey and focus groups of people with and without disabilities to highlight the current attitudes and practices regarding employment of people with disabilities. Findings from the report highlight that despite the disparity seen in the low employment of people with disabilities; approximately 71% of survey respondents noted the importance of employment and independence. A change was also seen in the attitude towards disabilities among younger people with disabilities, with 82% of respondents ages 18-29 reporting that “their disability gave them a challenge and that they are more capable because of it,” as compared to 69% of all respondents with disabilities. The report cites the largest barrier to employment of people with disabilities as the perceptions and attitudes of employers and suggests that additional training may be needed for employers. Of the report, Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, RespectAbilityUSA President, noted, “While the US Census and other reports measure many demographics of Americans with disabilities, RespectAbilityUSA’s report is unprecedented in its size and scope of asking people with disabilities and other stakeholders their own real-life experiences and opinions. People with disabilities need to be heard regarding the policies and practices that impact us the most.”

Pew Research Center Releases: The Web at 25 in the U.S.

mz22 — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 18:20:28 +0000

Pew Research Center

Internet

Pew Research Center: The Web at 25

February 2014 — The Pew Research Center released a report marking the 25^th anniversary of the World Wide Web. The Report highlights that since 1995, internet use has risen from 14% to 87% in 2014. Today, many devices are considered essential, with 46% and 44% of individuals noting that it would be difficult to give up the internet or their cell phones respectively. Also noted were many positive outcomes of the internet, including the impact of online communication, which was said to generally strengthen relationships. The report is the first of a series to be released by the Pew Research Center in association with the Imagining the Internet Project at Elon University, all of which will discuss “emerging trends in digital technology.”