2007 annual report for the RNIB's Scientific Research Unit

Annual Report 2007

1. Aims of the Unit

To influence and encourage external research and development of future benefit to blind and partially sighted persons.
To influence the design of equipment and systems for the general public such that they are accessible to blind and partially sighted persons.
To influence the development of relevant standards.

2. Staff

Current staffing of the Unit is:

John Gill - Chief Scientist

Shaun Leamon - Human Factors Scientist

Linda Newson - Research Officer

Katherine Carter - Research and Information Editor

3.Research Activities

With funding from the European Commission, the Unit is a partner in a large project concerning the development of ambient intelligent systems to help disabled people. One of the Unit's responsibilities is the creation of a resource on standards which relate to accessibility of information and communication technology systems. Katherine Carter has created a list of these standards and is adding information about the relevant standards committee or working group to each standard.

With funding from the European Commission, research has been undertaken on the design of a tablet dispenser which reminds blind and partially sighted users when to take their medication, and records when the tablet was removed from the dispenser.

With funding from the European Commission, the Unit is a partner in a project on improving accessibility for disabled visitors. Linda Newson has developed a web-based resource on devices and systems.

The Tiresias website contains over two thousand pages of information about accessibility of information and communication technology systems, and received over five million hits in the last year. Katherine Carter has been concentrating on bringing the whole website up-to-date and making it easier for users to find the information of relevance to them.

COST 219ter held their conference in London in January. John Gill chaired the organising committee and the conference. Linda Newson handled the administrative arrangements, and Katherine Carter produced the proceedings.

4.Publications and Reports

Carter K E Guidelines for Mobile Phones ( June 2007)

Carter K E Guidelines for e-Voting (November 2007)

Carter K E   Guidelines for Household Appliances (November 2007)

Carter K E   Guidelines for e-Banking (December 2007)

Fennell A M   An Investigation into Audio Device Icon Preference (January 2007)

Fennell A M   Designing an Accessible Membrane Keypad - An Investigation of Tactile Features (February 2007)

Fennell A M   Investigation into the Accessibility of Clasps (March 2007)

Fennell A M   An Assessment of the Benefit of Internal Illumination in Keypads (March 2007)

Gill J M, Astbrink G & Roe P (2007) From concept to reality. In: Roe P R W ed. Towards an Inclusive Future: Impact and Wider Potential of Information and Communication Technologies. COST 219ter, EUR 22562, ISBN 92 898 0027, 2007, p 300-311.

Gill J M (2007) Changing the Future of Transport Information Systems. NB, ISSN 0028-4270, Issue 17, May 2007, p 32-34.

Gill J M (2007) Accessibility for Visitors who are Blind or Partially Sighted: How Technology Can Help. ISBN 1 86048 033 0.

Gill J M (2007) Accessibility of Information and Communication Technology Systems: Involving People with Disabilities in the Standardisation Process. COST 219ter, ISBN 1 86048 034 9.

Gill J M  (2007) Access All Areas. The Engineer 293(7729), 16, July 2007. ISSN 0013-7758.

Gill J M (2007) Increasing Accessibility of Information and Communication Technology Systems Through Open Standards. Conference on Digital Inclusion: Accelerating Global Participation and Access Through Open ICT Standardisation, Rio de Janeiro, November 2007.

Newson L C Guidelines for Smart Homes (March 2007)

Newson L C Guidelines for the Built Environment around Public Access Terminals (April 2007)

Newson L C Guidelines for Organising Accessible Events (April 2007)

Newson L C Guidelines for Radio Frequency Identification (June 2007)

Newson L C Guidelines for Near Field Communication (June 2007)

Newson L C Guidelines for the Accessibility of Transport (November 2007)

Newson L C Guidelines for Accessible Tourism (October 2007)

Newson L C Guidelines for Deafblindness (December 2007)