Computer access for people with special needs

Abstract

SUMMARY To maximize the accessibility of computers for people with special needs (such as people with handicaps), fundamental changes in the design of the user-computer interface are necessary. The support of user-adapted input devices or techniques and of a multi-sensitive communication embedded in the computer's operating system will be presented. For this, basic models will be shown to describe the user-computer-software system. An analysis of the user's capabilities and the requirements of both software and devices leads to supporting tools that will be implemented by an installation unit. This package of tools will act as an intermediary between the operating system and every application.