People are either disabled or temporarily abled.
In today's digital age, ensuring accessibility in design is not just a choice, but an ethical imperative. It's about creating experiences that are inclusive, considerate, and empowering for all users, regardless of their abilities or disabilities.
Problem Space
A number of digital interaction barriers are faced by motor-impaired individuals in the common world.
Practicum
E-Touch was an academic project on implementing Accessible Design in existing technologies with a vision to create inclusive universal design
Role
UX UI Designer
Duration
Tools
2 Weeks
Figma, Adobe Creative Suite
UX Research | Wireframing | UI Design | Visual Design | Usability Testing | Roleplay
How might we
design and implement accessible public digital interfaces for motor-impaired individuals, utilizing alternative input methods beyond traditional means?
Research
Secondary research was conducted on the problem space with published studies, and reports. I also studied the products involved in the chosen problem space.
Digital Kiosk
How the product works
Digital kiosks in public places typically work by combining hardware components, software applications, and interactive interfaces to provide information, services, or entertainment to users.
Usage
Quick-service restaurants, retail stores, smart cities, banks, hotels, and hospitals are all using self-service kiosks to offer more seamless and convenient experiences.
Features
Display, Processors, input devices, etc.
Example Product link
Reclining Wheelchair
How the product works
A recliner wheelchair features an adjustable backrest, allowing users to recline for comfort and pressure relief. It may have adjustable legs and footrests to provide additional support. Some models offer manual or power recline options for ease of adjustment.
Usage
World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that approximately 15% of the global population has a disability, out of which 1.85% (131.8 million) people require a wheelchair. These individuals could potentially benefit from our solution.
Other intersections
Amputation, Motor disabilities, paralysis, etc
Accessibility issues
For a person in a recliner wheelchair, Reduced physical reachability and loss of freedom create a range of interaction barriers making tasks almost impossible.
Limited reach due to seated position may hinder access to touch-based interfaces on a standing kiosk. The inability to stand and lean forward limits physical reach making interaction with screens at standard heights challenging.
These barriers create dependency, leading to frustration making users avoid the task altogether due to the reliance on assistance from others.
Meet Nick
Age: 35 | Location: New York | Occupation: Marketing Analyst
Nick, a tech-savvy individual with Multiple Sclerosis, uses a specialized wheelchair for mobility and embraces technology to enhance his daily life as a motor-impaired person.
Goals
Nick wants to independently order food at McDonald's using the self-ordering kiosk, a technology he has encountered at movie theaters and wayfinding kiosks in the mall.
Pain point
Nick encounters accessibility challenges with digital screens and kiosks seated in his reclining wheelchair, which limits his ability to reach touch screens independently.
Desires
Nick desires to access and interact with screens from his reclining wheelchair using his personal device, allowing him to be more self-sufficient and enjoy an enhanced mall experience.
Solution
E-Touch
The ultimate SaaS solution enhancing accessibility at your kiosks.
E-Touch's innovative Digital QR Code offers users an autonomous experience by delivering a customized web remote with a virtual trackpad and buttons tailored to meet unique business requirements and accessibility options.
Grow your business enhancing inclusivity.
E-Touch ensures inclusivity and legal compliance providing users with convenience and independence in navigating screens using personal devices, delivering improved accessibility, heightened customer satisfaction, and enhanced brand loyalty while avoiding potential lawsuits.
Syncing devices with E-Touch.
A unique QR code is displayed on the screen of the interface. Users can easily scan it with their internet-enabled personal devices like a mobile, tablet, or camera-equipped computer, even while using an inclined wheelchair. This action instantly opens a browser window with the E-Touch remote for seamless interaction.
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Range of input methods for accessibility.
Any other input method catered for accessibility already adapted to the user's personal device can control the remote thus making it accessible to a wide range of impaired people with different needs.
Inputs can include eye trackers, switches, sip-and-puff joysticks, gesture controls, etc.
Kiosks with E-Touch.
With minimal changes to the existing design, E-Touch can be implemented to Kiosks enhancing accessibility.
Existing interaction
Input
Touchscreen on kiosk to select and navigate
Process
Inbuilt Operating System in kiosk.
Output
Feedback on Kiosk display showing items in cart
Interaction with E-Touch
Input
McRemote in Personal device to control focus and cursor
Process
Cloud server to processing web remote input.
Discover McRemote: A Conceptual Exploration
McRemote, a fictional project reimagines the McDonald's kiosk experience with E- Touch (for educational purposes). Please note, "McRemote" is not affiliated with McDonald's Corporation and exists solely within the realm of imagination and academic exploration.
Responsive Trackpad
The integrated trackpad enables users to control a cursor on the display effortlessly with their fingers, offering a tap-to-click function for precise and responsive interaction.
Keypad
The built-in keypad can be used to easily enter integers, such as quantity or PIN codes, with simplicity and accuracy.
Voice Input
The inclusion of a voice input button allows users to interact with the system using voice commands.
Help
A help icon provides simple and clear instructions, ensuring users can quickly understand the remote's features effectively.
Shortcuts
A set of buttons are placed exclusively for McDonalds to streamlining the ordering process for efficient use with reduced taps.
Add to order instantly adds the chosen item from the menu to their order, eliminating the need for additional steps or confirmations.
Customize provides quick access to customization options like extra toppings, cooking preferences, or different sauces, ensuring customers' preferences are met without delays.
Cancel allows users to easily undo selections and make adjustments to their order.
The + and - acts as a quantity adjuster allowing users to increase or decrease the quantity of selected items easily.
Phase 2 Features
Upon selecting the hamburger, the remote offers users the ability to customize their accessibility mode, catering to multiple impairments.
Color blindness by letting the user select his condition which will alter the colors of the kiosk display normal to the impaired
Voice assistant which will read out the screen onto the headphones connected to the user’s device which will be lot helpful in a noisy environment to access it.
Design Iterations
The buttons were made bigger with higher text size improving visibility.
The Color palette of McDonald’s was adapted.
Added shortcut buttons personalized for the checkout process after which task completion was proven to be faster in testing.
Changed the color of the focus pointer within the brand palette and increased the stroke weight of it since people found it difficult to spot it on the screen since it merged with the color of the buttons while user testing.
Product Branding and Identity
The E-touch logo was intuitively designed to reflect its function, with color schemes meticulously chosen to comply with AAA Accessibility standards.
The remote made for McDonald's was aptly named with a "Mc" suffix, aligning it with their menu products.
Possible Failures
Apart from the interface not supporting the proposed alternative, The tasks may not be 100% successful if
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The web remote relies on internet connectivity to function and in case of poor internet connection, the remote may become unresponsive or fail to communicate with the kiosk.
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There may be a delay between the user's input and the remote's response, resulting in input lag, which can be frustrating.
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The interaction may involve an other hardware component which cannot be controlled with the remote such as a credit card terminal for payments which may remain inaccessible.
Here is our product, McRemote powered by “E-touch”, a web remote is for accessing the kiosk via an ipad customized for McDonalds.
To test the prototype,
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Fit to screen size after visiting the link
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The remote has shortcut buttons for easy navigation. They will only be enabled only when the function is applicable.
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The prototype is made for the user flow of getting a “Cheese burger”