Today I want to talk a little bit about assistive technology. My background in usability research has hardly touched on accessibility and assistive devices. Occasionally I think about doing some research on accessible Web sites, but I haven't much considered how people with disabilities use graphic design software until this week.
About a month ago, Jason Statts, a former colleague of mine from SCAD was severely injured in a shooting, leaving him with limited arm and hand mobility. One of the most frustrating parts of his recovery is how difficult it is to find assistive devices that cater to designers. It is hard for him to accept that he may now have to work on a PC after years of being a die-hard Mac fan. There's also the added difficulty of limited availability of devices that could help him with the fine motor movements required to design artwork.
I had a chat with Georgia Tech senior research scientist, Robert Todd, to see if there is anything new in the world of assistive technology. He completely sympathized with the plight of designers who are suffering from limited mobility. Most devices are designed to help with basic tasks - writing a letter, sending email, and chatting. Unfortunately, researchers haven't focused much on helping people use more advanced applications like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.
With little options available now, I challenge assistive technology researchers to consider graphic designers. There are countless solutions just waiting to be discovered because talented designers like Jason Statts were born to be creative artists and should have the chance to share their work with the world. I want to see Jason double the number of ADDYs on his mantle.
If you want to learn more about Jason Statts, please visit http://www.stattswilliams.com/.
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