Designing wearable technologies for users with disabilities: Accessibility, usability, and connectivity factors

TLDR

Wearable devices and smart‑home technologies offer opportunities but also pose challenges for users with disabilities, requiring that they be both usable and inclusive. The article aims to explore how inclusive design principles can influence future wearable device development for users with disabilities. The authors reviewed relevant literature on representative applications and existing technologies to capture inclusivity dimensions, then used these findings to examine the impact of inclusive design. Observations suggest that involving people with disabilities in design leads to products that enhance accessibility, independence, and community participation.

Abstract

The increasing availability of wearable devices (wearables), "smart" home, and other next-generation wirelessly connected devices for work, home, and leisure presents opportunities and challenges for users with disabilities. As augmentative tools for engagement, control, and information, these technologies should not only be usable, but also be accessible and inclusive for people with disabilities. In order to better capture the dimensions of inclusivity of wearable devices, the authors have conducted a review of pertinent literature with respect to a range of representative applications and examples of currently available technologies. Drawing on the findings of the review, the aim of this article is to explore the potential impact of inclusive design principles on future device development for users with disabilities. These observations can help designers incorporate inclusive perspectives into the development process. Such an approach, where people with disabilities constitute an integral part of the development process, will yield products and services that can facilitate increased accessibility, independence, and community participation.