Universal Design Flashcards
What is Universal Design ?
This is the process of designing products that can be used by as many people as possible in as many situations as possible
What is the primary focus of Universal Design?
The primary focus is on accessibility by considering human diversity, redundancy and assistive technologies.
What is redundancy?
This is the use of more than one type of interaction such as audio for blind, text for the deaf and specific colour combinations for the colour blind
What is accessibility?
It is an attribute and not a process and it is the ability to utilize a system or entity.
What is the focus of accessibility?
It focuses on the removal of barriers that prevent successful access.
What are the seven general principles of universal design?
Equitable use
Flexibility in use
Simple and intuitive to use
Perceptible information
Tolerance for error
Low physical effort
Size and space for approach and use
Describe equitable use
It means it is useful to a wide range of people, don’t stigmatize
Describe flexibility in use
It allows for a range of abilities and preferences
Describe simple and intuitive to use
It means that you can use it regardless of knowledge, experience or language
Describe perceptible information
It means it has effective communication despite user skills or environmental conditions, redundancy of presentation
Describe tolerance for error
It minimizes the damage due to mistakes or unintended behavior
Describe low physical effort
It means it is comfortable to use, minimizes physical fatigue and effort
Describe size and space for approach and use
The system should be placed so that any user can reach and use it
What are the disadvantages of Universal design?
Since the objective is to create one system that is accessible to as many people as possible. It can leave out one or more groups because:
The groups are small in size when compared to the majority
The development costs are way too high
The design cannot be modified
The developers discovered that the group was missed after the software has been completed
