Evaluation of cognitively accessible software to increase independent access to cellphone technology for people with intellectual disability

Background  There are over two billion telephones in use worldwide. Yet, for millions of Americans with intellectual disabilities (ID), access to the benefits of cellphone technology is limited because of deficits in literacy, numerical comprehension, the proliferation of features and shrinking size...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of intellectual disability research 2008-12, Vol.52 (12), p.1155-1164
Main Authors: Stock, S. E., Davies, D. K., Wehmeyer, M. L., Palmer, S. B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
access
Adolescent
Adult
Adult and adolescent clinical studies
American people
Biological and medical sciences
Cell Phone
cellphone
Cellular telephones
Cognition & reasoning
Colorado
Computer Software
Computers, Handheld
Educational Technology
Equipment Design
Evaluation
Feasibility Studies
Female
Handheld Devices
Humans
Intellectual deficiency
intellectual disability
Intellectual Disability - rehabilitation
Intelligence
Interfaces
Learning disabled people
Male
Medical sciences
Mental disorders
Mental Retardation
Middle Aged
Multimedia
Multimedia Instruction
Prototypes
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Software
Software Design
Systems development
Technology
Telecommunications
Usability
User interface
User-Computer Interface
Young Adult
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Description
Summary:Background  There are over two billion telephones in use worldwide. Yet, for millions of Americans with intellectual disabilities (ID), access to the benefits of cellphone technology is limited because of deficits in literacy, numerical comprehension, the proliferation of features and shrinking size of cellphone hardware and user interfaces. Developments in smart phone technology and PDA‐based cellphones provide an opportunity to make the social and safety benefits of cellphones more independently accessible to this population. Method  This project involved employment of universal design and other specialised software development methods to create a multimedia cellphone interface prototype which was compared with a typical mainstream cellphone in a usability evaluation for individuals with ID. Participants completed a structured set of incoming/outgoing phone tasks using both the experimental and control conditions. Usability measurements included the amount of assistance needed and errors made in completing the cellphone use sequence. Results  A total of 22 individuals with ID participated in the research by engaging in a series of incoming and outgoing cellphone calls using both the multimedia cellphone prototype system and a mainstream Nokia 6360 cellphone. Test subjects required significantly less help (P = 0.001) and made significantly fewer errors (P 
ISSN:0964-2633
1365-2788
DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2788.2008.01099.x