accessibility

Designers should consider people with disabilities because these considerations will make the product better for all users, not just those who are disabled. Non-disabled users interact with the same devices that disabled people use and often the designs that were meant to cater to the disabled users actually end up benefitting everyone. This is a great way to go about designing interactive devices because it allows for more widespread use, a larger audience, and increased profit for the company. If disabled users' needs are not considered in a design, they will be excluded from accessing the device. The audience will therefore be limited, along with compnay revenue. Designers should also consider the needs of disabled because (a) even non-disabled users might be temporarily disabled (for example, if an injury occurs and their usual performance is affected) and (b) one day we will all encounter disabilities in terms of loss of hearing or eyesight, arthritis, and reduced mobility. Designers must be sensitive to the needs of the disabled because it is ethical, progressive, and overall beneficial to everyone involved, including the company, disabled and non-disabled users.

I think that remote controls for televisions and dvd players could be inaccessible for a lot of disabled users. The printing that indicates the commands is very tiny which makes it hard for people with impaired vision. The buttons also require lots of interactivity which might be difficult for users who can only do one movement, for example, if a user can only nod his/her head or pound a fist, this device would be very difficult to use. Access to entertainment should be just as easy for disabled users as it is for non-disabled users but the design of so many of these remotes is complicated enough for non-disabled users that it could be too overwhelming to use.