[Irl-dean] Accessibility thoughts on the iPhone

[Tim Culhane]

Hi,

The really worrying thing  for me is, if Apple have great success with this
design, then other manufacturers will follow suit.  Before we know it you
won't be  able to buy a standard phone with a keypad.

Tim

>-- Original Message --
>From: "Laurence Veale" <laurence.veale at iqcontent.com>
>To: irl-dean at list.eeng.dcu.ie
>Subject: [Irl-dean] Accessibility thoughts on the iPhone
>Reply-To: irl-dean at list.eeng.dcu.ie
>Date: Mon, 22 Jan 2007 16:27:40 +0000
>
>
>Call this one of those crap "5 things" memes/chain emails, but having
>just read the comments on the following blog post:
>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/01/10/does-the-iphone-shaft-the-blind/  , I'd
>be interested to hear anyone's thoughts on the iPhone. I've answered
>my own questions below to stimulate a bit of banter. Feel free to keep
>it light or to go a little deeper (if so, I expect use of the word
>"haptics" to be used and hopefully explained)
>
>Q: Do you think Apple Inc considered visual impaired customers in
>designing the interface (and if they did consider, did they decide to
>ignore)?
>A: With Apple's innovation in design, the question was surely asked,
>but I think "different" and "cool" trumped those considerations
>
>Q: Do you want one?
>A: Not really. Although I'd love to play with someone else's for an
>afternoon. Then ask me again.
>
>Q: Is the fact that it *seems* to offer purely visual feedback lead to
>a worse user experience for everyone?
>A: Possibly, how the hell will I send a text from under the steering
>wheel while driving?
>
>Q: Is it okay for manufacturers (like websites) in a saturated
>marketplace to ignore accessibility, as someone else can always cater
>for people with disabilities?
>A: I don't think so, I'm of the universal design school of thinking
>(but haven't yet graduated ;) )
>
>Q: Sure, can't blind people just buy a Nokia?
>A: More of a practical question than above, but I suppose they'll have to
>
>-- 
>Laurence Veale
>Senior Analyst
>iQ Content Ltd
>
>Usability | Accessibility | Training | Search
>
>iQ Content is a Google Enterprise Partner
>
>Blog: www.iqcontent.com/blog
>Tel: (office) +353 1 817 0768
>Tel: (mobile) +353 87 900 2999
>Skype: laurenceveale
>Fax: +353 1 817 0769
>Email: laurence.veale at iqcontent.com
>
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-------------------------
Tim Culhane,
Critical Path Ireland,
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Dublin 2.
Direct line: 353-1-2415107
phone: 353-1-2415000

Tim.culhane at criticalpath.net
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