PhET Forces and Motion simulation - Keyboard / switch and non-visual interactions

[Jonathan Hung]

Hi everyone,

I have made some updates to the storyboards. The changes are:

- The audio mute checkbox has been replaced by a 2-position switch with the
left side for "mute audio" and the right side "audio enabled".
- The play and rewind game button is now always visible even if it is
disabled. The user can tab focus these buttons and it will report its state.
- Added an alternate design to the game control buttons - Play, Rewind, and
Restart buttons relabelled and relocated. Refer to page 32 of the PDF.

You can download the updated PDF here:
http://wiki.fluidproject.org/download/attachments/42009249/Forces-and-motion-01-jh.pdf?api=v2

- Jon.

On Thu, Dec 11, 2014 at 10:34 PM, Jonathan Hung <jhung at ocadu.ca> wrote:
>
> The original message was not delivered because the PDF attachment was too
> big. Here is a link to the PDF instead:
>
> http://wiki.fluidproject.org/download/attachments/42009249/Forces-and-motion-01-jh.pdf?api=v2
>
> I apologize if you receive duplicate messages.
>
> The original message follows:
>
>
> Hi everyone,
>
> I have created some early designs for keyboard interaction, and for
> non-visual interaction for the Net Force simulation under "Forces and
> Motion Basics" (link to Forces and Motion Basics at PhET
> <http://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/forces-and-motion-basics/latest/forces-and-motion-basics_en.html>
> ).
>
> *Keyboard Interaction*
> Attached to this email is a PDF containing a visual walk through the Net
> Force simulation using a switch or keyboard only. Note: at this time the
> PDF is completely visual and lacks appropriate accessible text descriptions.
>
> *Non-Visual Interaction*
> In addition to the keyboard interaction, I have begun sketching out what a
> non-visual interaction for the same simulation. The results can be found on
> this wiki page:
> wiki.fluidproject.org/display/fluid/PhET+Forces+and+Motion+Simulation+Design
>
> In exploring non-visual interaction, two significant issues have come up:
>
> 1. Non-visual users will require an up-front description of the scene so
> the user understands their context. Currently the simulation does not have
> a description for this purpose.
>
> 2. Additional descriptions need to accompany non-interactive objects. For
> example, in the simulation the cart is never interacted with directly, but
> the cart contains crucial information to the understanding of the
> simulation: where is it located? has it moved, and in which direction? how
> fast is it going? how many people are pulling on it? what is the net force?
>
> A sighted user can discern this information from all the visual cues, and
> somehow this information needs to be conveyed to a non-sighted user.
>
> *"Braking" the Cart*
> A possible solution is to make the cart part of the tab order, and upon
> focusing, provide relevant information to the user. However, this breaks
> the established interaction pattern of the simulation where only
> interactive items can get tab focus. The cart lacks any interactive parts -
> so it may make sense to add some interactivity to the cart itself.
>
> One possible idea (and this may not be a good idea) is to remove the
> Play/Pause button that controls the simulation currently. Instead, we add a
> brake on the cart that controls its movement. So upon focusing the cart, a
> summary of the cart's status can be given to the user, and the user can
> apply / remove the brakes on the cart to stop and start the simulation.
>
> *What now?*
>
> The designs are in an early state and we're just beginning to uncover some
> issues we have not considered before. I would love some feedback from the
> community regarding the designs and the issues outlined in this email.
>
> Thanks in advance for any feedback.
>
> - Jon.
>
>
>
> --
>
> *JONATHAN HUNG*
>
> INCLUSIVE DESIGNER, IDRC
>
>
>
> *T:* 416 977 6000 x3951
>
> *F:* 416 977 9844
>
> *E:* jhung at ocadu.ca
>
>
>
> *OCAD UNIVERSITY*
>
> Inclusive Design Research Centre
>
> 205 Richmond Street W, Toronto, ON, M5V 1V3
>
>
>
> www.ocadu.ca
>
> www.idrc.ocad.ca
>


-- 

*JONATHAN HUNG*

INCLUSIVE DESIGNER, IDRC



*T:* 416 977 6000 x3951

*F:* 416 977 9844

*E:* jhung at ocadu.ca



*OCAD UNIVERSITY*

Inclusive Design Research Centre

205 Richmond Street W, Toronto, ON, M5V 1V3



www.ocadu.ca

www.idrc.ocad.ca
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