Project
A User-Centered Design Approach to Juiciness in Touch-Typing Applications for Children with Specific Learning Disorders
People interact with computers through traditional interfaces like a keyboard, a mouse and a touch screen. These devices are optimized for the ‘average’ user, under the assumption of ‘normal’ apabilities. However, many users lack some skills, cognitive or perceptual motor skills or a combination, that would allow them to interact with the traditional computing system. This also deprives them from further progress, although they have the skills to learn by using the system. In this project, the target users are children with multiple disabilities. In consultation with the children, their teachers and caregivers, the needs and wishes they have regarding interacting with computing systems will be investigated. Prototypes that allow them to interact with computers and support ongoing processes of empowerment will be designed, built and tested. Therefore, an important criterion is the ‘infrastructuring’ of the solutions, i.e. integrating the designed solutions with ongoing activities embedded in this community for extended periods. Research questions will be defined, and publications in scientific journals and conference proceedings about this research will be written. Besides these research activities (50%), there will be several teaching activities (50%). This includes the preparation of learning activities, guiding students during contact moments, and evaluating students on their performance. Courses are in the domain of Electronics, ICT, and Human Computer Interaction.