Beneficial Designs, Inc.
2240 Meridian Blvd, Suite C
Minden, NV 89423-8628
775.783.8822 ph
775.783.8823 fax

Improving access for people of all abilities

Development of Uniform Standards for Cognitive Technologies

Initial Survey to Gather Stakeholder Feedback

Do you have a cognitive disability? If so, your thoughts would be helpful in our telephone survey.

If you would like to learn more about our telephone survey for people with cognitive disabilities, please call Seanna Kringen at
(831) 685-4798 or email her at seanna@beneficialdesigns.com.

If you meet the target group criteria below, and you would like to complete this on-line survey, please continue.

Target Group: people who represent or work with people with cognitive disabilities
(for example, researchers, educators, staff at disability organizations, caregivers, etc.)

Development of Uniform Standards for Cognitive Technologies is funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research under the US Department of Education, Grant #H133E090003 and the Coleman Institute for Cognitive Disabilities.

1. What do you think are the most important products for everyday living activities for people with cognitive disabilities or impairments?

Should we work on improved ease of use right now, or can it wait until later?
Please list any changes or modifications that would make this product easier to use.

Voice Communication:	Now	Later	No Improvements Needed	Not Applicable
Phones – cell
Phones – corded/wall land line
Phones – cordless land line
Other (explain):

Entertainment:	Now	Later	No Improvements Needed	Not Applicable
Digital cameras
DVD players
Handheld video games
Listening devices (head sets, ear buds)
Music players (stereo)
Portable music players (mp3 player, iPod)
Televisions
TV-based video games (Xbox, Wii)
Video cameras
Other (explain):

Household Products:	Now	Later	No Improvements Needed	Not Applicable
Calculators
Dishwasher
Fire/CO detectors
Fire extinguishers
Ovens and stoves - Conventional
Ovens - Microwave
Other (explain):

Self Care:	Now	Later	No Improvements Needed	Not Applicable
Clothing
Shoes
Toothbrush
Brush/comb
Razor
Other (explain):

Transportation:	Now	Later	No Improvements Needed	Not Applicable
Reading bus schedules
Reading bus routes
Getting on/off bus
Other (explain):

Time Reminders:	Now	Later	No Improvements Needed	Not Applicable
Alarm clocks
Calendars/schedules
Prompters
Stand-alone memory aids
Watches
Other (explain):

2. Computers are being used for many purposes. Which of the following applications of computers are most important for people with cognitive disabilities or impairments?

Should we work on improved ease of use right now, or can it wait until later? List any changes or modifications that would make this application easier to use.

	Now	Later	No Improvements Needed	Not Applicable
Calendaring and scheduling systems
Computer games
Email programs
Music player programs
Photo management systems
Screen reader programs
Social networking programs
Speech recognition systems
Video player programs
Web browsers
Websites that provide entertainment
Websites that provide information
Websites that provide products or services
Word processing programs
Other (explain):

3. Which of the following computer hardware components are especially important for ease of use for people with cognitive disabilities or impairments?

Should we work on improved ease of use right now, or can it wait until later? Please list any changes or modifications that would make this hardware component easier to use.

	Now	Later	No Improvements Needed	Not Applicable
Setting up the computer hardware (connecting display, keyboard, etc.)
Connecting to the Internet
Visibility of information on the screen
Using physical controls (keyboard, mouse)
Working without using the mouse
Other (explain):

4. Which of the following computer software design elements are especially important for the ease of use for people with cognitive disabilities or impairments?

Should we work on improved ease of use right now, or can it wait until later? Please list any changes or modifications that would make this software design element easier to use.

	Now	Later	No Improvements Needed	Not Applicable
Setup (downloading, installing, setting user preferences)
Understanding information presented
Figuring out how to do things
Errors and error recovery (undo & redo)
Standard key-combination conventions
Contextual Help (Help Screens)
Other (explain):

5. What are the most important criteria to include in an Ease-of-Use Reporting Consumer System for people with Mobility, Sensory, Visual, Hearing, or Cognitive Impairments?

We will report on the following criteria.
(Note that not all ratings will apply to all products, i.e. button size will not apply to a product without a button.)

	Agree	Disagree
Force required to activate button/switch
Button/switch size and profile
Feedback provided upon actuation
Product shape/size (L x W x H)
Text size and font
Language level of text
Contrast of text/symbols against background
Number of layers or steps required for control navigation
Complexity of function
DB of any audio output
Clarity of instruction manuals
Product weight
Navigation memory demand
Response - time required before automatic reset
Are there other features that are important to you? Note that not all criteria will apply to all products, i.e. button size will not apply to a product without a button.

6. What benefits would you expect from creating an Ease-of-Use Reporting System for everyday products?

	Agree	Disagree
Products might be better at meeting everybody’s needs
Greater flexibility for using technology
People would need less specialized assistive technology
People would need less assistance
People would not have to carry around specialized assistive technology as often
Allows for easier comparison of products
People would be more satisfied with their products
Greater user independence
Better match between the product and specific user
The ability to market to clients with different abilities
Encourage attitudes more accepting of differences

Please provide any other potential benefits or comments that you may have?

7. What are the most important components for creating an Ease-of-Use Reporting System for everyday products?

The reporting system needs to:	Agree	Disagree
benefit all users of all abilities
be clear, easily understood, and objective
rate issues that affect the usability of the product
be quick and inexpensive to conduct
be able to be applied to a wide range of products
be well accepted after allowing for a learning curve
not be associated with any type of stigma to a product or user

Please list other potentially important criteria for the reporting system:

The reporting system label should:	Agree	Disagree
be designed to be on the outside of product packaging
be the format and size of a nutrition food facts label
have less than 12 items on it (a nutrition food facts label has 10 to 30 values on it
have non-serif font with dark color on a light background

Please list other label criteria:

8. Do you have any additional comments that would benefit our research:

9. How can you ensure the reporting system and guidelines for everyday products and website interface are effective, practical and affordable?

Our primary goal for this project is to target products and website interfaces that will have the most benefit to people with cognitive disabilities and to develop guidelines for standardization accordingly. There are many ways to be involved in this project, depending on your time and interests. We would welcome your participation in whichever aspects of the project are of interest to you.

Please indicate whether or not you would like to be involved in future phases of this research by checking either “Yes” or “No” for each of the major project activities.

	Yes	No
Evaluation of the draft Uniform Standards for Cognitive Technologies
Development of the reporting system to identify the ease of use and complexity of products
Evaluation of the reporting system to identify the ease of use and complexity of products
Pilot test the rated products
Contribute your expertise throughout the project as a member of the project advisory committee
Participate in the RESNA Standards Committee on Cognitive Technology

How did you learn about this survey?

Contact Information

Name:
Company:
Expertise:
Phone:	Fax: Cell:
Email:

Send your comments and ideas to Beneficial Designs, Inc.
seanna@beneficialdesigns.com or fax: 775-783-8823
submit online: http://www.beneficialdesigns.com/236survey/
2240 Meridian Blvd., Suite C, Minden, Nevada 89423