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Inside the Machine G3 to G5 / Week 12 / Wednesday
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Week 12 · Design a computer

Wednesday

A computer for everyone
// Pick parts for a purpose
⏱ about 15 min

Wednesday: A computer for everyone

A neighbor visits with a grandparent who cannot see the small letters on a tablet. "I just want to read my messages," the grandparent says. Rocket turns the brightness up. It does not help.

Raven asks, "What do you notice about the letters, not the light?" Rocket pauses. "They are tiny."

Nova glows a gentle gold. "Would you like a hint? A good design has more than one way in."

Different people, different ways in

People use computers in many ways. Some cannot see well. Some cannot hear. Some use one hand. Some are still learning to read.

Accessibility means designing so that all of these people can use the device. It is not an extra. It is part of good design.

A device with only one way in leaves people out. A device with many ways in welcomes everyone.

Many accessibility features help everybody. Captions help in a loud room. Big text helps tired eyes. Voice input helps when your hands are full.

Features that open the door

A person whoMight useWhat it does
Cannot see the screen wellBig text or a screen readerMakes letters large, or reads them out loud
Cannot hearCaptions and flashing alertsShows the words and the sounds as text and light
Uses one hand or no handsVoice input or a switchLets speech or one button do the work
Finds colors hard to tell apartHigh contrast and labelsUses shapes and words, not only color
Is still learning to readRead-aloud and picturesSays the words and shows an icon
OPEN THE DOOR
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
The grandparent cannot see the small letters. Which feature helps most?
A person cannot hear a video. Which feature helps?
A person uses one button to control the whole device. What is that called?
Who benefits from captions in a loud, busy room?

Design with people, not for them

The best way to design for someone is to ask them. The grandparent knows what is hard. The designer listens first.

Raven asks the grandparent three questions. What do you want to do? What is hard right now? What would make it easier?

Then the crew tries a feature and asks again. Is that better? Designers test with real people, not with guesses.

Rocket turns on big text. The grandparent smiles. "I can read it." Then Raven shows the read-aloud button too. Two ways in.

  1. Ask the person what they want to do.
  2. Ask what is hard right now.
  3. Try one feature that might help.
  4. Ask if it is better. Listen carefully.
  5. Add a second way in, so there is a choice.
Designing so people with different abilities can use a device is called what?
Software that reads the screen out loud is called a screen what?
What should a designer do before choosing a feature?
StatementTrue or false?
Accessibility is an extra that only a few people need.?
Captions can help everyone in a noisy room.?
A designer should ask the person what is hard.?
More brightness fixes letters that are too small.?
WHY THIS EXERCISEDesigning with people and offering more than one way in makes a device truly usable.
Which feature shows the words of a video as text on the screen? One word.
WHY THIS EXERCISECaptions turn sound into text, a second way in for the same information.
Try it
With a grown-up, find the accessibility settings on a device at home.
Turn on big text for one minute, then turn it back off together.
Say one person you know who might like it on all the time.
For a grown-up
Accessibility settings are usually under Settings. Explore them together.
Talk about a family member or friend who uses one of these features.
Change settings back together so the device works as the owner expects.

Kind design, Crew Technician! You gave the grandparent two ways in. Tomorrow you write a full design brief and design a computer of your own.

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