Designing studies for the requirements and modelling of users for an accessible set-top box

摘要

This paper describes work carried out to address the human centred design process behind the generation of requirements and user data for the prototyping of a user-model intended as part of a TV set-top box intended for use by mild to moderately impaired users. The aim is to develop both the technology and user modelling required within one STB system that will enable individuals with sensory, cognitive and physical impairments to interact with a number of reference applications. In order to do this it will be necessary for the system to categorise users on the basis of their input and interaction performance with a variety of input devices and assign them to a pre-assigned profile in the systems internal user-model. We address the issue of whether a human centred design process can be developed that is in principle capable of adequately generating the required data and specifications. We report the development of an inclusive design approach which subsumes both accessibility and usability. The ultimate aim will be to create a foundation for actual research and development work by identification of requirements from users as well as application and framework developers. We report the requirements analysis of this development and some preliminary results from user focus groups, chosen using an inclusive survey of capability, and interacting with early prototypes of interaction interfaces.