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INCOBS is a German web portal for blind and visually impaired people (www.incobs.de) that provides information about assistive technologies and professional equipment at the workplace. The information is based on comparative market analyses and product tests comparing the usability, accessibility and functionalities offered.
For the integration and vocational rehabilitation of blind and visually impaired people, the use of modern information and communication technologies is very important.
The quality of assistive technology and the accessibility of hard- and software together determine whether the blind and visually impaired can use computers and software, the Internet, mobile phones, or other technologies.
In the vocational context, fitting the workplace with the most suitable assistive technologies is indispensable for an efficient work environment and in turn, improve the professional options for people with visual impairments.
However, the employers, the employees concerned, and even experts generally know too little about this context. What is lacking is information about the specific opportunities for the blind and visually impaired at the workplace. Often, there is uncertainty which assistive device or software is most suitable for the tasks concerned; how competing products differ regarding their functionality or quality; and what criteria should govern the purchase of assistive technology at the workplace.
INCOBS supports the creation and fitting of computer-assisted work places for the blind and visually impaired. The provision of neutral and timely information about assistive technology improves the accessibility to modern information technology and makes its use more effective. INCOBS has the following aims:
Support the creation and continued maintenance of workplaces: For people with visual impairments to be able to meet the demands of their job, the workplace installation must be well chosen and customized to individual requirements. INCOBS supports users, employers and consultants in the choice of suitable assistive devices and workplace technologies.
Ensure participation in advanced technologies: INCOBS’ aim is to point out the opportunities for integration offered by advanced technologies as they emerge. At the same time, it is important to highlight the drawbacks and potential new barriers to accessibility that these technologies bring about, both in order to improve their accessibility and to mitigate their negative effects.
Support accessibility: INCOBS offers information and support to developers of conventional information technology in order to improve the accessibility of their products.
INCOBS provides market surveys for all important groups of assistive devices. The individual devices are compared against a range of suitable functional and quality criteria. This kind of baseline information creates market transparency, demonstrates the current state of technology, and greatly reduces the burden of time-consuming research and individual inquiries.
INCOBS carries out comparative product tests of assistive devices and workplace technologies, such as video magnifiers, braille displays, screen readers or screen magnifying software. For each product group we develop suitable test instruments on the basis of user requirements and workplace profiles. The tests are then carried out with blind and visually impaired users. The results provide an easy-to-use overview of the relative performance and comparative strengths and weaknesses of the devices, and show suitable areas and cases of deployment.
In the evaluation of workplace technologies such as screens, laptops, mobile phones or voice recorders, the focus is on the accessibility and usability for people with visual impairments. On the whole, there are few products that could be considered fully accessible; our aim is instead to identify those products that offer the closest match to the requirements of the respective target group.
Apart from the 'office standard' MS Office, many other applications are deployed in the workplace. A share of these applications can be rendered usable for blind and visually impaired users after a suitable customisation of the interface to screen readers and magnifying software. INCOBS carries out as-is analyses and provides information regarding the adaptability of applications as well as realistic case examples.
The web portal www.incobs.de is the centre piece of our information and public relations strategy. It offers all test results, market surveys, profiles of assistive devices, and checklists for product selection. In addition, the portal provides a list of relevant organisations and informs on advice and funding options with regard to assistive technologies. All information is provided free of charge. The information is targeted at different groups, such as end users, consultants, employers, and funding bodies. It meets the current criteria for accessible web sites.
INCOBS results are also disseminated through brochures and leaflets, contributions to print media as well as radio and television, and a presence at relevant trade fairs.
INCOBS offers seminars about the installation of workplaces for visually impaired people. The target audience are facilitators active in advising, training or employing people with disabilities. The seminars inform about the most important aspects of the technical and organisational framework required for the installation of workplaces.
INCOBS closely co-operates with self-help groups and organisations of the disabled to make sure that the relevant user requirements are properly addressed.
Today, most assistive devices and technologies are marketed internationally. To ensure the most effective dissemination of product information, a multilingual European portal similar to INCOBS would be sensible.
DIAS GmbH (www.dias.de), the company behind the INCOBS portal, is therefore looking for partners active in the area of accessibility and assistive technologies who would like to apply for a joint European-funded project with the aim to establish such a Europe-wide portal.
The exact shape of a EU project still needs to be defined. In establishing an information portal about assistive technologies on the European level, INCOBS can serve as a tried-and-tested model on the national level. This model will have to be significantly modified to be applicable on the European scale.
If you are interested in participating or would like further information, please contact:
DIAS GmbH, Project: INCOBS
Heike Clauss
Schulterblatt 36
20357 Hamburg, Germany
E-mail: clauss@dias.de
Phone: +49 (0)40 43187515
Last update: 10.11.2009 | © 2006 - 2009 DIAS GmbH | Imprint
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