A Framework for Information Accessibility in Large Video Repositories

International audienceOnline videos are a medium of choice for young adults to access or receive information, and recent work has highlighted that it is a particularly effective medium for adults with intellectual disability, by its visual nature. Reflecting on a case study presenting fieldwork observations of how adults with intellectual disability engage with videos on the Youtube platform, we propose a framework to define and evaluate the accessibility of such large video repositories, from an informational perspective. The proposed framework nuances the concept of information accessibility from that of the accessibility of information access interfaces themselves (generally catered for under web accessibility guidelines), or that of the documents (generally covered in general accessibility guidelines). It also includes a notion of search (or browsing) accessibility, which reflects the ability to reach the document containing the information. In the context of large information repositories, this concept goes beyond how the documents are organized into how automated processes (browsing or searching) can support users. In addition to the framework we also detail specifics of document accessibility for videos. The framework suggests a multi-dimensional approach to information accessibility evaluation which includes both cognitive and sensory aspects. This framework can serve as a basis for practitioners when designing video information repositories accessible to people with intellectual disability, and extends on the information presentation guidelines such as suggested by the WCAG. Publication rights licensed to ACM. ACM acknowledges that this contribution was authored or co-authored by an employee, contractor or affiliate of a national government. As such, the Government retains a nonexclusive, royalty-free right to publish or reproduce this article, or to allow others to do so, for Government purposes only

Co-designing with adults with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities to enable active communication technology use

This thesis describes a series of studies examining the role of technologies in supporting adults with intellectual disabilities to have their voices heard and express their competencies and interests in a day centre for people with intellectual disabilities. It offers insights on how communication unfolds through complex relations between adults with intellectual disabilities and their carers. This thesis also describes several working prototypes and shows new pathways for design of Alternative and Augmentative Communication devices. Overall, the research articulates a number of methodological contributions on how to operationalize co-design activities in a group care setting for people with intellectual disabilities

EDA Based Detection of Emphatic Accuracy

Empathische Akkuratheit (EA), die Fähigkeit Gefühle einer anderen Person nachzuempfinden, bezieht sich meist auf die genaue Beurteilung der Intensität und Art von Emotion die von einer anderen Person empfunden wird (Ickes, 1993). Eine typische EA Aufgabe verlangt von StudienteilnehmerInnen kontinuierlich das emotionale Empfinden von Zielpersonen zu beurteilen. Dabei kategorisieren Zielpersonen autobiographische Erlebnisse als negativ oder positiv bewertete Ereignisse (Zaki and Ochsner, 2011). Die aktuelle Studie soll untersuchen ob Synchronität von Selbst-Einschätzung und elektrodermaler Aktivität (EDA) zwischen aufmerksamem und nicht-aufmerksamem Zuhören unterscheiden kann. In der ersten Phase der Studie wurden zwei weibliche Zielpersonen gefilmt als diese positive und negative biographische Erlebnisse diskutieren, während ihre EDA gemessen wurden. Nach der Aufnahme der Stimulus-Videos wurden diese den Zielpersonen gezeigt, während sie dazu angewiesen wurden mit „Affect Dial“ die während dem Erzählen der Geschichten gefühlte Intensität der affektiven Valenz kontinuierlich anzugeben. In der zweiten Phase wurden diese Videos ZuseherInnen unter normalen und abgelenkten Bedingungen vorgeführt, während diese die Zielpersonen ebenfalls mit „Affect Dial“ kontinuierlich einstuften, wobei auch deren EDA gemessen wurde (Levenson and Ruef, 1992). Unser primäres Ziel war sowohl zu untersuchen, ob ZuseherInnen unterschiedlich in den beidenSituationen auf die Videos reagieren als auch, im Fall der abgelenkten StudienteilnehmerInnen, eine niedrigere Synchronität von EDA und „Affect Dial“ aufweisen. Die Ergebnisse unserer Studie deuten darauf hin, dass sich EDA Muster unter normalen Bedingungen synchron verändern, aber mit der Zeit und bei kognitiver Belastung, zwischen zwei Individuen inkonsistent werden. Zusätzlich ist niedrige interpersonale Genauigkeit im experimentellen Aufbau durch das Verhalten der ZuseherInnen mit dem „Affect Dial“ Bewertungssystem erkennbar. Das zeigt, dass der top-down Regulationsprozess (Aufmerksamkeit) die Antwortmuster des autonomen Nervensystems reguliert.Empathic accuracy (EA), the ability to empathize with another person, often refers to the accurate judgments of the amount and kind of emotion experienced by another person (Ickes, 1993). A typical EA task involves participants (in similar studies known as perceivers) continuously judging the emotional experience of target individuals, where the targets describe their autobiographical experiences comprised of negatively and positively charged events (Zaki & Ochsner, 2011). The present study aims to investigate if self-reported and electro-dermal-activity (EDA) synchronization differs between attentive and non-attentive listening. In the first phase of the study, two female targets were recorded discussing their positive and negative autobiographical events while having their EDA measured. Upon recording the stimulus videos, targets were instructed to use “Affect Dial” to continually rate the intensity of the affective valence they had felt while telling the stories. In the second phase of the study perceivers watched the recorded videos under a normal and distracted condition, while continuously rating them using “Affect Dial” system measured simultaneously with their EDA response (Levenson & Ruef, 1992). Our primary goal was to examine whether perceivers react differently and get a lower EDA and Affect Dial response in the case of distracted condition. Our study results suggest that EDA activation patterns change in a synchronized way in a normal condition, but under distraction, those patterns become inconsistent through time between two individuals. Furthermore, low interpersonal accuracy in the experimental setting is behaviorally expressed through the perceiver`s affect dial rating system, where perceivers exhibit the effect of top-down regulatory processes (attention) over autonomic nervous system response patterns

Information sharing between family members of children with Intellectual Disability - Future perspectives of ICT

Children with intellectual disabilities (ID) can benefit greatly from technologies, when the technologies fit with their motivations and interaction needs. This paper investigates literature on how families of children with ID become aware of and adopt technologies, in order to identify the current practices and opportunities for better support for families. The analysis and findings point to the difficulties faced and the need for creating a sustainable web-based community that can effectively disseminate and share knowledge about how technologies are used and what technologies are needed. A video-based sharing community is proposed and the form that this community might take is then discussed

Reframing search and recommendation as opportunities for communication for people with intellectual disability

AI-driven commercial innovations and the digital disruptions they create, tend to accelerate faster than assistive technologies, and are rarely designed with inclusion and diversity in mind. We explore the joint value of research through design and co-design to give a voice to users with intellectual disability to set new directions for inclusive innovation. To do this, we present an account of, and a reflection on, the reframing that took place throughout a research program that has evolved over the last 8 years, presented through the lens of 3 case studies. These illustrate turning points in the frames of the research and its journey through the disciplinary traditions of Information Retrieval and Human Computer Interaction (HCI). The contributions of this paper are threefold. First, we contribute knowledge on the value of research through design to identify new frames for inclusive intelligent systems. Second, we extend inclusive co-design approaches to employing working prototypes that can support participant’s voice about the design of the algorithms that underpin intelligent systems. We highlight how these working prototypes nurture the importance of participation and observation. Third, we contribute new frames for inclusive information retrieval, with new perspectives on intent, particularly in the context of image search.</p

Designing a Pictorial Communication Web Application With People With Intellectual Disability

This paper presents the first iteration of the design of a web application which supports its users to access and arrange pictures as a non-linguistic way of supporting communication. We motivate our initial design by examining related work on Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC). We present our reflections on the use of a working prototype by two minimally-verbal users with intellectual disability and how this can inform future work

Expanding Designing for One to Invite Others Through Reverse Inclusion

This research aims to explore how tangible technology created through co-design can be designed in a way that invites social interaction for people with intellectual disability. We conducted co-design sessions with one participant to create a sensory musical blanket. As the trials were run in a collective environment, their peers were drawn to the developing design. The design method and unique interactions are key contributions of this research

Designing an IIR research apparatus with users with severe intellectual disability

Traditional methods of engagement with pre-defined queries, verbal instruction and interviewing do not provide necessary means to address information-seeking behavior and visual browsing for participants with severe autism and intellectual disability. In this paper, we identify challenges and characteristics of providing effective methods to explore visual browsing and video recommender systems with one non-verbal participant with autism and intellectual disability. We contribute a case study and a reflection on a) how iterative design approaches that builds on special interests and strengths of one individual with disability can support experimental IIR research in becoming more inclusive, b) some of the ethical consideration that arise in the tensions between participation in the research and other interests and c) how flexible experimental and apparatus design can further allow participant's terms to prevail.</p

Diagramming Working Field Theories for Design in the HCI Classroom

HCI has historically provided little support for moving from feldwork insights or theories to design outcomes. Having witnessed many students struggle and then justify their designs with a form of marketing hype, we developed a supporting approach of feld theories. A feld theory is a working theory about salient interactions in a particular domain and sensitizing concepts in order to frame design investigations. It is presented visually in a feld theory diagram to support succinct communication and critique. Studying use of design prototypes that have been informed by a feld theory helps to refect upon and refne the theory. In this paper we present examples from our HCI classes and refections based on interviews with students. We discuss how feld theories ofer an orientation in the spirit of a 'bricoleur' who harnesses elements of theory and practice to produce deeper understandings and more ftting outcomes for the task at hand.</p