The VERITAS project aims to develop tools to support accessibility testing during the planning and development of various products and technologies. It will create virtual user models based on primitive tasks to simulate the experiences of different types of users. This will allow iterative testing and feedback without relying solely on real user testing. The project will develop multi-level simulation platforms and apply the tools to scenarios in automotive, smart home, workplace, entertainment, and healthcare domains. It seeks to address the current lack of accessibility support across different sectors and development stages.

1. VERITAS project
VERITAS project
FP7 247765
FP7 247765
VERITAS overview
CERTH/ITI
30th November
11-12/01/2010 2011 Kick-off meeting Brussels, Belgium

2. Development chain before VERITAS
2

3. The Problem - Needs
NE1: Lack of designer/developer plug-ins, tools to
support accessibility testing
NE2: Minimisation of the need for real user testing
during the planning/development phase
NE3: Accessibility assessment tools exist only for some
application areas and only at the final stages of
development
NE4: The clear lack of accessibility support tools for
non-ICT products
NE5: There is a clear lack of a realistic and immersive
simulation experience during design/development
of assistive technologies
NE6: There is a clear lack of simulation interface for
multimodal interfaces targeting various disabilities

4. Development Chain with VERITAS

5. VERITAS Architecture
5

6. VERITAS Approach
 User Centered Design
 Iterative development and testing
 Virtual user models: Iterative development using
feedback from the multisensorial platform
 Simulation models: Iterative development with feedback
from real developers from the five VERITAS application
sectors
 Iterative pilots: Feedback from real users
 Comprehensive risk analysis and mitigation strategy.
 Involvement of key industrial partners in all stages so as to
6 ensure the applicability of the developed algorithms and
systems

7. VERITAS user modeling methodology
7

8. Primitive tasks
Virtual User Models
Fundamental
element
Task Models Primitive Tasks
Simulation Models
8
 VERITAS user modeling is based on primitive tasks.

9. VERITAS Model Platform
SoA, rules, etc.
Parametric
9
Formal structured Fully functional
representation Customization model for
utilities simulation

10. PERSONAS
 A persona is an
archetypal user that
is derived from
specific profile data
to create a
representative user.
 A persona is more
tangible, less
ambiguous, easier
to envision, easier to
empathize with. A
Virtual User Model
10
describes an
instance of a virtual
user.

11. VERITAS PERSONAS
11
 E.g. PERSONA covering 90% of the disabled
population w.r.t a specific disability

12. Multi-layered simulation platform
 VERITAS will support three levels of simulation
 Level 1: Low-level constraints satisfaction
 In this level the platform will examine whether the simulation
models can be properly executed using the task models of the
target user group
 Level 2: Semi-automated simulation also include several
environmental variables.
 Execution of the simulation model of the virtual prototype with
the target user group task models, including simulation of
several environmental variables.
 Any inaccessible parts of the execution of the simulation model
will be reported.
 Level 3: Physically-based simulation
 Is a grand research target on its own! VERITAS will focus on
identifying parameters and specific degrees of freedom in the
simulation that can be physically simulated and potentially result
in evaluations that are not possible using Levels 1 and 2

13. VERITAS Application scenarios
 Application development and reporting
 Automotive applications
 Smart Living Spaces applications
 “Office” workplace applications
 Infotainment and games applications
 Personal healthcare
 Pilots:
 Iterative Pilots and Pilots Planning
 Pilots for the designers
 Pilots for the end-users

14. Examples
 Car interior
design using
RAMSIS
 Motorcycle
handling

15. Demonstrations - Automotive

16. THANK YOU!