Thread Subject: Re: Cognitive recommendations -configurableuserinterfaces

From: Gregg Vanderheiden
Date: Fri, Feb 23 2007 3:15 PM

• Return to this mailing list's archives
• View all messages in this thread
• Next message in thread: Smith, Jamie: "Re: Cognitive recommendations -configurable userinterfaces"
• Previous message in thread: None
• Messages sorted by: Author | Thread | Date

I don't like the automatic unless it is easily (and obviously) defeatable.
Otherwise it actually adds to cognitive complexity.

But the simple - with a way to increase for power users can be very
effective.

Gregg
-- ------------------------------
Gregg C Vanderheiden Ph.D.



> -----Original Message-----
> From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
> [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf
> Of Sean Hayes
> Sent: Friday, February 23, 2007 3:21 PM
> To: TEITAC Web/Software Subcommittee
> Subject: Re: [teitac-websoftware] Cognitive recommendations -
> configurableuserinterfaces
>
> What about complex applications that simplify their
> interfaces automatically, or as the out of the box setting;
> but which can be made more complex by 'power users'
>
>
> Sean Hayes
> Standards and Policy Team
> Accessible Technology Group
> Microsoft
> Phone:
> mob +44 7977 455002
> office +44 117 9719730
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
> [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf
> Of Smith, Jamie
> Sent: 23 February 2007 21:16
> To: TEITAC Web/Software Subcommittee
> Subject: Re: [teitac-websoftware] Cognitive recommendations -
> configurable userinterfaces
>
> I'm glad you started the wording. I made a couple changes.
> 1. Added "for complex applications" and removed "with a
> cognitive disability" as this simplification would benefit
> speech users as well as typical users.
> Here it is.
>
> For complex applications, software should provide a mechanism
> enabling users to simplify the interface look and feel such
> as hiding or displaying information or command buttons.
>
> Example 1: A user would be able to hide or show a tree
> structure or detail data information.
> Example 2: A user may select from a list of topics (grouped)
> and link to more detailed information.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
> [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf
> Of Andi Snow-Weaver
> Sent: Friday, February 23, 2007 3:19 PM
> To: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
> Subject: [teitac-websoftware] Cognitive recommendations -
> configurable userinterfaces
>
>
> Also on the cognitive topic, we need to develop a proposal
> around this recommendation from Dr. Lewis:
>
> - provision for suppressing unneeded functions
>
> There are several challenges in coming up with something to
> address this.
> One challenge is testability and the other is the feeling
> that this doesn't need to be applied in all cases. Some
> software user interfaces and websites are very simple and
> probably don't need to do this. There are also issues of
> users forgetting that they have suppressed some functions and
> not being able to find them again when they do need them so a
> requirement to reset to the default configuration might be needed.
>
> The ISO and ANSI software accessibility standards address
> this by providing a recommendation, but it is not a
> requirement for conformance to the
> standard:
>
> Software should provide a mechanism enabling users to
> individualise the interface look and feel including the
> modification or hiding of command buttons.
> - EXAMPLE 1 A user with a cognitive disability may, when
> using a given application, change the interface via a "skin"
> to simplify the application's look and feel.
> - EXAMPLE 2 A word processor allows users to hide menu items
> and tool bar buttons that they do not find useful.
>
> 508 doesn't have the concept of optional requirements but
> other Access Board standards do. For example, the ADA
> building standards contain advisory provisions.
>
> Should we recommend this ISO/ANSI provision as an advisory
> provision in
> 508 or can somebody think of something else we could
> recommend as a required provision to address Dr. Lewis'
> recommendation?
>
> Andi
>

• Next message in Thread: Smith, Jamie: "Re: Cognitive recommendations -configurable userinterfaces"
• Previous message in Thread: None