| Mainstream research has a tendency to become normative. Gender, cultural context, and other individual constraints are often glossed over as we search for the elusive Universal. However, there is a new awareness that every individual is different and we are all handicapped to one extent or another. Accessibility has seen a rise as an approach to address differently abled populations as the concept of “Normal” is decentralised. Whilst there are sets of standards and well-documented practices, companies often fail to take those into account as they veer into normative design. Research plays a huge role in countering this. But it is not enough to simply perform user testing or interviews: a naturalistic, contextual enquiry can provide a huge insight into how these groups interact with technology and in which their disability can impact their lives. On this talk, we will discuss a case study with COMPANY, solid practical recommendations on how to research for differently abled populations, how to recruit effectively, and how to use an ethnographic approach to delve into the requirements of those user groups that are often forgotten about. |
