hw4: Technology Review

Last revised: Feb 5, 2023
Assigned:
  • Jan 31, 2023
Due:
  • Feb 7, 2023, 5pm Pacific
  • Two day grace period, Feb 9, 2023

Learning Goals

This assignment will expose the class to a range of in-use accessibility technologies, and give you experience with seeking out first-person accounts of disability experiences with technology. It will also give you experience with presenting accessibly.

1. Select one example of second wave technology and read about it/try it

Select an example of a so-called second wave technology, that you will write or make a video about. Your goal is to (1) summarize some accessibility research with that technology in plain language and then (2) give a survey of some common accessible solutions available today for people with disabilities who want to try the technology (here you can do more of a survey, links to actual available stuff is ideal)

We have a couple of requests from community partners, and you can also select something based on interest. Once you select that technology, you should pick one paper to read deeply, and also try out some of accessible examples of the technology that are available now (you may need to search around to find these). The details of what you read, and try out, may vary with the topic you pick ad you can check with the instructors if you are unsure.

Possible technologies

Those marked with CA are CREATE ASK topics, i.e. topics that CREATE partners have asked us to provide them with content about. Those with MA are Maybe Ask topics, i.e. relevant to a community partner but not a direct ask. Essays on those topics may be shared more broadly in CREATE or partner publications.

2. Write/Talk about the technology using plain language techniques

You should write or talk about the technology using the plain language techniques you learned in class. Your writeup should

  1. Describe the topic a. Introduce the technology you focused on (1 paragraph) b. Summarize what might be important to know about the technology from a disability perspective (1-2 paragraphs), including things that can impact its accessibility

  2. Summarize what you learned about the topic from the research article. It is ok to mention more than one article, and we selected articles that complement each other. However, you are only required to summarize a single article. (4-5 paragraphs)
  3. Describe solutions and/or options available now to people with disabilities. For each one, Describe it briefly; Provide a link
  4. Conclude by summarizing the key take aways

Please note that if you choose to create a video, we cannot provide as many resources about plain language. However, many of the same principals that you would use for an essay apply. Some apply to the video script (such as don’t use jargon) and some might apply to the video structure (such as having clear transitions rather than headers).

In addition to using plain language techniques, please make sure that the document and/or video you produce is accessible. In the case of the document, you should use a single column format; label headers properly (in word, pdf, or html); and include alt text for images (again in any format). In the case of a video, you should present accessibly; and include captions and verbally describing important visual elements.

Please choose at least five of the ten plain language principals presented in class and include an addendum saying which five you picked.

Turnin

You will turn this assignment in on canvas.

Competencies

This homework may contribute to your competency grade on