JO8 - Design & Accessibility

I chose to pick the topic of accessibility in design mainly because I feel that it is one of the more important features of design in terms of designing for the greater good of all people. I could have chose color, or legal issues, but I felt that accessibility in design pertains more to the one of the main concepts of design itself: finding a problem (accesible areas for the handicapped is a very large problem in society today) and developing a solution through design. The topic itself deals with how designers today are designing buildings and products to help the handicapped navigate their daily routines in much easier ways. Handicap ramps and designated parking spots are just some of the solutions thought up to help.

http://www.disaboom.com/accessible-homes-general/thinking-bigger-making-an-accessible-home-out-of-a-small-house

My first post shed light on the process of designing a small home to be handicap accessible. Basically, it is a list of questions that designers believe handicapped people should ask themselves when thinking of making their home more accessible. This includes clearing up closet space, replacing bath tubs with roll in showers, and making sure the floor plan of the home is simple and easy to navigate. A great post for anyone who is thinking about making their home more accessible for the disabled.

This next one is a video from one of my favorite shows, Top Gear. It is a british television show that deals mainly with cars, but in this episode they travelled to Japan to test out a high-tech wheelchair. This wheelchair is sleek, fast, and comfortable, and is equipped with an array of high-tech features, such as a computer where you can connect with others who own the iReal (the name of the chair). I think this is a great way to bring the wheelchair into the modern age.

http://www.asktooltalk.com/articles/construction/accessibility/accessible_kitchens/barrier.php

This post deals with the idea of building a handicap accessible kitchen. Basically, the article breaks down the concept of designing a kitchen into three concepts; making it a barrier free environment (meaning that there are limited obstacles that the disabled user needs to overcome in order to make use of the kitchen), the design of the kitchen itself (as in all the technical aspects such as the dimensions of the doors and countertops), and the placement of appliances. An article that is a little technical, but informative about the process of design nonetheless.

http://www.studygs.net/accessibility.htm

This website talks more about designing a website to be accessible for the visually impaired and anyone else in general. I thought it had a pretty cool design by supplying a more interactive approach to getting its point across. It talks about everything from font design to links and images to testing the website's colors to make sure it is accessible for people with color blindness. A very informative and interactive website for those who wish to learn more about website design.

http://www.techrepublic.com/article/web-design-web-accessibility-design-guidelines/5112995

This last website also deals with the concept of designing a website to be accessible. This one is a little more straightforward, outlining some tips and no-no's for designing a website to be accessible for all people. A slightly older post, but still relevant I believe.