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Digital Outcasts: Moving Technology Forward without Leaving People Behind
The blind person who tries to make an online purchase. The young girl who cannot speak due to a cognitive disability. The man confined to his home due to permanent injury. The single mother with a long-term illness who struggles to feed her family.
With one in seven people worldwide currently living with a disability, the term "outcast" covers numerous scenarios. Digital outcasts rely on technology for everyday services that many people take for granted. However, poorly designed products risk alienating this important (and growing) population.
Through a "grass roots" approach to innovation, digital outcasts are gradually taking action to transform their lives and communities. This emerging trend provides exciting learning opportunities for all of us. Citing real-world case studies from healthcare to social science, this book examines the emerging legal and cultural impact of inclusive design.
Gain a better understanding of how people with disabilities use technology
Discover pitfalls and approaches to help you stay current in your UX practices
Anticipate a future in which ambient benefit can be achieved for people of all abilities and backgrounds
With one in seven people worldwide currently living with a disability, the term "outcast" covers numerous scenarios. Digital outcasts rely on technology for everyday services that many people take for granted. However, poorly designed products risk alienating this important (and growing) population.
Through a "grass roots" approach to innovation, digital outcasts are gradually taking action to transform their lives and communities. This emerging trend provides exciting learning opportunities for all of us. Citing real-world case studies from healthcare to social science, this book examines the emerging legal and cultural impact of inclusive design.
Gain a better understanding of how people with disabilities use technology
Discover pitfalls and approaches to help you stay current in your UX practices
Anticipate a future in which ambient benefit can be achieved for people of all abilities and backgrounds
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
2 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 12, 2013
Starting off with a set excellent introductory chapters to the worlds of accessibility, disability, demographics and attitudes, including a definition of the term ‘digital outcast’, which I was unaware of, this book is very readable throughout.
Kel Smith is a lecturer in accessibility at Rutgers University and a ‘user experience’ expert and obviously knows his stuff - not just in US terms (although the book can sometimes relate more to that country in legal background), but examples are brought in from across the world.
The US origin may be seen most in the chapter summaries, which meant little to me, and in the models of disability drawn upon, i.e. medical, workplace, moral and cultural (European campaigners might encourage the social model to be emphasised where it is society as a whole, and by its actions, that makes people disabled).
Having said that it makes little difference to the quality of the text as the author throughout encourages the ‘principles of universal design’.
The examples of ‘outcasts’ are not limited to those with disabilities. Smith manages to draw upon the uses of technological innovation in bringing better health to those in ‘food deserts’.
There is, however, no unguarded support for remote patient monitoring (RPM) technologies, so often labelled ‘e-health’, as they need to be fully experience tested by real users before any adoption, and even then a human being might be better suited.
This is a wise book that accepts that disability, like ability, is abounding with nuances and variation, and Smith admits that it is behaviour that has to be focused upon rather than any device. He also covers the difficulties of patent protectionism but I can note that since publication the ‘Speak for Yourself’ case has been settled, and the product is again available.
As the author states - nobody owns accessibility. Kel Smith draws this excellent book to a close with the ethics surrounding the technology, along with current and future developments, but as is underlined throughout, it is down to all of us to bring about inclusive innovation.
Reviewed by Dr Mick Phythian MBCS, CITP
Kel Smith is a lecturer in accessibility at Rutgers University and a ‘user experience’ expert and obviously knows his stuff - not just in US terms (although the book can sometimes relate more to that country in legal background), but examples are brought in from across the world.
The US origin may be seen most in the chapter summaries, which meant little to me, and in the models of disability drawn upon, i.e. medical, workplace, moral and cultural (European campaigners might encourage the social model to be emphasised where it is society as a whole, and by its actions, that makes people disabled).
Having said that it makes little difference to the quality of the text as the author throughout encourages the ‘principles of universal design’.
The examples of ‘outcasts’ are not limited to those with disabilities. Smith manages to draw upon the uses of technological innovation in bringing better health to those in ‘food deserts’.
There is, however, no unguarded support for remote patient monitoring (RPM) technologies, so often labelled ‘e-health’, as they need to be fully experience tested by real users before any adoption, and even then a human being might be better suited.
This is a wise book that accepts that disability, like ability, is abounding with nuances and variation, and Smith admits that it is behaviour that has to be focused upon rather than any device. He also covers the difficulties of patent protectionism but I can note that since publication the ‘Speak for Yourself’ case has been settled, and the product is again available.
As the author states - nobody owns accessibility. Kel Smith draws this excellent book to a close with the ethics surrounding the technology, along with current and future developments, but as is underlined throughout, it is down to all of us to bring about inclusive innovation.
Reviewed by Dr Mick Phythian MBCS, CITP
June 9, 2013
It has been a very broadening experience to read this book. I am a blind person who has been involved with assistive technology since 1980, and with rehab teaching since 2002. This book is really helping me expand my understanding of what inclusive design means for everyone. It is a very informative book!
February 24, 2016
"Provides real-world insight on how to be mindful of accessible user experiences for those with disabilitites."--Back cover.
January 20, 2019
A must read for teachers , app developers and entrepreneurs.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews