Accessibility
At Cityzen451 we consider improving computing accessibility to be very important, and we are currently seeking endorsements from various UK charities who work towards better access and services for all. We also hope to work closely with Lancaster University to help enhance their disabilities support service, enabling more students to maximise their potential.
WaterMark interface technology has a variety of accessibility benefits:
Visual disabilities
The use of large, animated and easily discernable controls allows the
user to see and target them more easily than traditional smaller controls,
which are much less visible and packed together onscreen, making them
difficult to target and read for users with visual disabilities.
On a conventional interface the solution is to use larger control panels,
which makes for a rather clumsy-looking desktop and by covering up other
applications gives you a smaller area to display your work. With Cityzen451's
patented interface technique you can have the benefits of easy-to-see
and quick-to-use controls without them getting in the way of your work.
Arthritis, RSI and motor-function disabilities
Selecting buttons and clicking on small controls require a high level
of fine motor control and precise coordination that many users with
poor manual dexterity or painful joints struggle with. Using controls
with small target areas also often causes the user
to tense their hand, which can cause painful problems such as tendonitis,
and moving constantly between mouse and keyboard can also be damaging.
Charm controls provide a larger target area that allows the user to relax their hands, helping users who suffer from RSI. They also enable the user to control their desktop interface as efficiently as though using keyboard shortcuts, but avoiding the need to swap to and from the mouse. The use of gestures to command applications means that users avoid excessive flexion of fingers and wrists, reducing joint aggravation. These simple gestures are also easier to draw for users with poor fine motor control, helping them use programs more easily.
Cognitive impairment and poor memory
How often have you stared at an application you've just called up and
wondered exactly what you wanted it for? Searching out and reading small
controls and switching between conventionally layered applications (where
only the uppermost is visible on your screen) can be distracting and
create a "cognitive overhead" of attention switching. The
more actions you have to do to move between applications, the greater
the demand on your memory and attention span and the higher the likelihood
of forgetting goals.
Cityzen451 interface design provides direct access to a greater number of
functions and applications at once, reducing the level of distraction
and delay and so reducing the demand on cognitive resources. Its use of
gestures also makes interaction more meaningful and hence more memorable.
These advantages can not only help users with cognitive impairments or
memory problems, but are benefits that everyone can feel.
