Putting situational impairments in context: developing guidance for situational impairments and severely constraining situational impairments by examining parallel domains

Abstract

Mobile device use is omnipresent in everyday life spawning design to account for the increased complexity and diversity of “Situationally Induced Impairments and Disabilities (SIID)”. Although SIIDs frequently impact interactions, little research has attempted to provide generalizable guidance supporting users when these events occur. Situational impairment events may produce challenges similar to those faced by users with Health Induced Impairments and Disabilities. This study conducted an exhaustive literature review from Assistive Technology and Accessibility research and parallel domains, and found that existing guidance on designing for “impairments” can inform designing for “temporary” impairments created by the mobile interaction context. Guidance identified was validated by a panel of mobile interaction experts with a novel adaptation of the consensus-seeking approach known as the Delphi method. This research presents preliminary guidelines to support mobile interface designers and researchers to better recognize and effectively account for the new complexity present during mobile interaction.