Exercise: Accessibility

8.2. Exercise: Accessibility#

Question 1

A school is designing an automatic door system for students, staff, and visitors. The door should be usable by people with different mobility, vision, hearing, and cognitive needs.

Determine specialist requirements that could influence the design and functions of this mechatronic system.

In your answer, consider:

  • Physical access

  • Vision

  • Hearing

  • Cognitive load

  • Safety

  • Feedback to the user

Solution

Physical access

  • The door control should be reachable from a seated position, such as by a wheelchair user.

  • The button or sensor should not require high force to operate.

  • The door should open wide enough for wheelchairs, walkers, or mobility aids.

  • The door should remain open long enough for slower users to pass through safely.

Vision

  • Controls should use high-contrast colours and clear symbols.

  • Any labels should use large, readable text.

  • The system could provide audio feedback to show that the door has been activated.

  • The door area should be well lit.

Hearing

  • The system should not rely only on sound.

  • Visual feedback, such as an indicator light, should show when the door is opening, closing, locked, or in fault mode.

Cognitive load

  • The interface should be simple and predictable.

  • The control should have a clear purpose, such as a single labelled button that says Press to Open.

  • Symbols should be familiar and easy to understand.

  • The system should avoid unnecessary steps.

Safety

  • Sensors should detect if a person is in the doorway.

  • The door should stop or reopen if an obstruction is detected.

  • The system should fail safely during a power loss.

  • An emergency release or manual override should be available.

Feedback to the user

  • A light, sound, or movement should confirm that the system has received the user’s input.

  • The door state should be clear, such as opening, closing, locked, or fault.

  • Feedback should be available in more than one form, such as visual and audio feedback.

Question 2

A powered wheelchair uses a joystick to control movement. The wheelchair is being redesigned for users who may have limited hand strength, tremors, or reduced fine motor control.

Identify specialist requirements that could influence the joystick design and the control behaviour of the wheelchair.

Solution

Solution is locked

Question 3

A hospital bed uses motors to raise and lower the backrest, leg rest, and bed height. The bed is controlled by a handheld remote.

Determine specialist requirements that could influence the design of the remote control for patients with disability.

Solution

Solution is locked

Question 4

Choose one of the following mechatronic systems:

  • Automatic door

  • Powered wheelchair

  • Hospital bed

  • Robotic arm for assisted living

  • Smart medication dispenser

Create a short requirements list for a user with one or more disabilities.

Your list should include at least:

  • Three user needs

  • Three design requirements

  • Two safety requirements

  • Two feedback requirements

Solution

Solution is locked