KOGS5750 COG1: Emerging Technologies and Standards for Inclusive and Accessible Design (JSS31) (3 cr)

This course bridges the fundamentals of sensory, perceptual, cognitive and physical capabilities with a growing technological toolbox to create devices and services that work for individuals with and without disabilities. This topic becomes even more important with the implementation of the EU Web Accessibility Directive and the European Accessibility Act, and similar requirements in a growing number of countries. To build inclusive and accessible technologies that work for a broad range of human abilities and disabilities requires understanding of how people sense and perceive information, how information design (and complexity) impacts the ability to understand information, and how physical (or virtual) interface design impacts a user’s ability to operate it. Emerging technologies, such as cloud-based cognitive computing, multi-modal interfaces, sensors, and IoT provide a rich set of tools that can augment, or offer new modes of, interaction with our environment, devices, systems, and services. This course will include lecture, hands on demonstrations, and exercises to understand the challenges and new opportunities for inclusive and accessible design.

Students who successfully complete the course will be able to understand how to apply fundamental principles in inclusive and accessible design to guide creation of new applications or systems, and how they can begin to apply this knowledge in their work and research. Crucial to this is understanding the role guidelines and technical standards play in defining legal requirements for accessibility. Knowledge of these fundamentals will increase the probability of creating highly usable and accessible products for a broad audience, including those with disabilities. Motivated students can use successful completion as a basis for further study or research in the field of inclusive design and accessibility.

Students should have a background in cognitive science, information systems, computer science or related discipline; or approval of instructors.