An ontology-based approach to achieve inclusive design support in the early phases of the product development process

In recent years more and more sophisticated devices are created including an, in the worst case, exponential growth of functionality: In current versions mobile phones are not just telecommunication devices, but also a camera, music player, browser, email interface etc., resulting in new terms like smart phones. A television device can also be used as a browser using a wireless internet connection and washing machines contain more programmable functions than customers will ever need and use. This complexity can most often be reflected as a burden for the users regarding the necessity to learn how to use such a product. Accordingly, one main challenge - and opportunity - of human computer interaction is the involvement of each functionality in a respective and selfdescriptive way to the user. On the other hand, especially due to demographic changes, user requirements must also be considered in the design process. Existing guidelines and standards define approaches and recommendations regarding design issues related to different devices and user impairments, but are not consequently included in product development. Designers have the challenge to respect both topics and create either individual products or products for an as wide spread customer group of people as possible

Supporting Inclusive Design of Mobile Devices with a Context Model

The aim of inclusive product design is to successfully integrate a broad range of diverse human factors in the product development process with the intention of making products accessible to and usable by the largest possible group of users. However, the main barriers for adopting inclusive product design include technical complexity, lack of time, lack of knowledge and techniques, and lack of guidelines. Although manufacturers of consumer products are nowadays more likely to invest efforts in user studies, consumer products in general only nominally fulfill, if at all, the accessibility requirements of as many users as they potentially could. The main reason is that any user-centered design prototyping or testing aiming to incorporate real user input, is often done at a rather late stage of the product development process. Thus, the more progressed a product design has evolved - the more time-consuming and costly it will be to alter the design. This is increasingly the case for contemporary mobile devices such as mobile phones or remote controls

Chapter Supporting Inclusive Design of Mobile Devices with a Context Model

Embedded system

Ein ontologiebasierter Ansatz zur Unterstützung von Inclusive Design im Produkt Entwicklungsprozess

In recent years more and more sophisticated devices are created including an, in the "worst" case, exponential growth of functionality: In current versions mobile phones are not just telecommunication devices, but also a camera, music player, browser, email interface etc., resulting in new terms like smart phones. A television device can also be used as a browser using a wireless internet connection and washing machines contain more programmable functions than customers will ever need and use. This complexity can most often be reflected as a burden for the users regarding the necessity to learn how to use such a product. Accordingly, one main challenge - and opportunity - of human computer interaction is the involvement of each functionality in a respective and selfdescriptive way to the user. On the other hand, especially due to demographic changes, user requirements must also be considered in the design process. Existing guidelines and standards define approaches and recommendations regarding design issues related to different devices and user impairments, but are not consequently included in product development. Designers have the challenge to respect both topics and create either individual products or products for an as wide spread customer group of people as possible

Chapter Supporting Inclusive Design of Mobile Devices with a Context Model

Embedded system