Augmenting icons for deaf computer users

Abstract

Tooltips (TTs) can be used to make icons more understandable to users. However, text-based tooltips will not assist users with print disabilities. Four types of TTs to assist deaf and hearing impaired users were implemented: Sign Language, Picture (an enlarged icon and text explanation of the function), Human Mouth and Digital Lips (the last two to assist in lip reading). An evaluation of 16 TTs of each type with 15 deaf users found that the Sign Language and Picture TTs were very positively rated on satisfaction and understanding and would be used again, but that Human Mouth and Digital Lips were of no assistance in their current implementation to deaf users in lip reading the names of icons.