MAUUD4200 User Diversity and ICT Barriers Course description

This course covers differences in user requirements; due to user heterogeneity, situational variations and the wide range of hardware, software and versions of these. Identification of technical barriers and how these can be eliminated or reduced through universal design of ICT. Furthermore relevant guidelines, regulations and legislation will be covered.

Admission requirements.

A student who has completed this course should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

On successful completion of this course the student:

• has basic HCI knowledge
• has thorough knowledge of diversity among users, equipment and user situations
• has thorough knowledge of demography and age structure of society, trends and tendencies and their implications for universal design of ICT
• has thorough knowledge of sensory, motor and cognitive disabilities
• has thorough knowledge of the concept of disability and the Gap model
• has advanced knowledge of disabling barriers in ICT solutions
• has advanced knowledge about universal design and accessibility
• has thorough knowledge about accommodation, assistive technology and welfare technology
• has advanced knowledge of relevant laws, policies and standards

Skills

On successful completion of this course the student:

• can analyse and deal critically with different user requirements, and apply these to structure and formulate arguments regarding accessibility, accommodation, and universal design of ICT
• can analyse contradictions within/between universal design, accessibility and accommodation in different situations

General competence

On successful completion of this course the student:

• can identify disabling barriers of ICT solutions based on the Gap model
• can carry out independent study and master dedicated terminology related to user diversity, impairment, disability and universal design
• can communicate scientific problems, analysis and conclusions in ICT and user diversity, impairment, disability and universal design to both specialists in health care and the general public

This course is organized as a series of seminars where students present and discuss core concepts and topics in the literature. Guest lectures will be held on chosen topics. There will be visits to, for example, public institutions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and rehabilitation centres. Work labs with supervision will be arranged. Each student works on a project assignment on a topic from the curriculum, and will have their work peer reviewed by two fellow students.

• Individually written peer reviews of draft project reports from two other students.
• Individual oral presentation of journal or conference articles in class.
• An individual online HCI-course must be conducted, in a HiOA-lab, by students without HCI background

• Individual project report (5000-6000 words). The project examination counts 70% of the final grade
• Individual oral examination (20 minutes for each candidate). The oral examination counts 30% of the final grade

The oral examination can not be appealed.

Use of Examiners

Two internal examiners will assess the report and oral exam. External examiner is used periodically

Examination support materials

For the oral exam, students will not have access to computers or other aids.

Assessment grades

A grading scale of A (highest) to F (lowest) where A to E is a pass grade and F is a fail grade.

Syllabus

Compulsory literature

(approx. 800 pages in total)

EN 301 549 V 1.1.1 (2014-02) Accessibility requirements suitable for public procurement of ICT products and services in Europe, European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), pp. 15-77, 2014.

Harper, S. & Yesilada, Y. (eds.) (2010): Web Accessibility: A Foundation for Research. Springer-Verlag London Limited, pp. 1-58, 139-193.

Johnstone, J. (2001): An Introduction to Disability Studies , David Fulton Publishers, 2nd Edition, pp. 5-25, 42-60, 93-111, 138-146.

Oliver, M. & Barnes, C. (2012): The New Politics of Disablement. Palgrave Macmillan; 2nd edition, pp 11-31, 48-51, 143-176.

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006). (Preamble, Article 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 24, 27, 29 and 30)

Vavik, Tom (2009): Inclusive Buildings, Products & Services: Challenges in Universal Design. Trondheim: Tapir Academic Press, pp 218-267.

WHO (2011): World Report on Disability, pp 3-14, 21-46, 169-172 and 183-195.

Relevant international and national ICT standards and guidelines.

Selected articles from relevant academic books, journals and conference proceedings will be informed about during the course.

International and national anti-discrimination laws and regulations on ICT, university and college laws, and regulations concerning public sector procurements.