This document discusses innovation for people with disabilities or special needs. It outlines two "hidden gems" - people with special needs and commercial interests in inclusive design. It provides examples of both incremental and radical innovation to make technology more accessible, such as improved pens, alternative input methods for writing, and assistive technology for veterans. The document advocates for inclusive design that considers the needs of people across different abilities, arguing that products designed to be accessible and usable for disabled people will benefit most of the population. It lists various user groups and design considerations for sight impaired, hearing impaired, mobility impaired, and others. The goal is to create intuitive solutions that can be easily operated without instructions.

1. INNOVATION FOR ALL
THE HIDDEN GEMS
Maja Arnestad

2. Innovating for the disabled
or the differently abled?

3. Hidden gem no.1
People with special
needs

4. Incremental innovation:
A better pen

5. Radical innovation:
Alternative to the pen

7. Touch typing:
learning to write
as a blind person

8. Alexander
Graham
Bell:
Invention
for the
hard of
hearing
1876

9. Assistive technology
for war veterans

12. The story of Sniff:
A friend for all senses

13. Hidden gem no.2
Commercial
interests
Social
interestsArea for
Innovation
for all

14. The market of the “differently abled”:
- 5 years old - once, twice or always
- Only use of one hand – missing or busy
- No use of any hand – paralyzed or otherwise occupied
- Cannot read screen – due to sunshine or eyesight
- Cannot understand text – language or any text
- Cannot hear audio signals – noise, quiet, hearing loss
- Cannot hit keys – big fingers or shaking transport
- Need more time to respond in interactive systems
- Cannot remember code and password – most of us?

15. Who can tell us what «all» want?
Adults with small
children
Can the solution be used
with only one hand and
limited attention?
Sight impaired
Are the visual
signals clear and
unambiguous?
Hearing impaired
Is the visual
information complete
and audio signals
clear and distinct?
Children:
Is it easy to understand?
Can it be operated by small people
with limited strength?
Memory or
reading problems
Is the solution
intuitive in use –
without instructions
or experience?
Mobility impaired
Testing access for wheels
and «big size»
Blind
Evaluate tactile og
auditive
characteristics

16. Creating a product that is understandable and
usable by older people, or disabled people in
general, means you have a product that is
understandable and usable, full stop.
Inclusive design is just good design!
Professor William Gaver, University of London.
At least 60 % of the population will benefit
from ”accessible technology”
Forrester Research 2003

17. For more information:
www.itfunk.org
http://nearfield.org/sniff/index.html
www.norskdesign.no (innovation for all)
Thank you for your attention!