2. Potential Barriers and User Requirements

Contents: Potential barriers, requirements.

Potential barriers for people with mobility, movement and physical impairments:

• Uneven or slippery surfaces, slopes and long distances.
• Stairs, steps and other obstacles, as well as a lack of or faulty alternatives (ramps, lifts, etc.).
• A lack of automatic door openers, or doors that are stiff or narrow.
• Objects, devices and controls that are out of reach or require physical contact rather than voice commands.
• A computer mouse as the only option for operation.
• Missing or incomplete keyboard support for websites, web browsers and authoring tools.
• Small buttons, controls, etc.
• Insufficient time limits for answering questions or completing tasks, e.g. filling in online forms.
• Inconsistent, unpredictable and overly complicated navigation mechanisms and page functions.

Physical barriers, in particular, can pose challenges for those affected. However, people with motor impairments may also encounter various digital barriers when interacting with devices such as computers or smartphones. A website may only be usable via a mouse or keyboard (and not via voice commands). There is a high risk of fatigue when using assistive technology. Physical interaction with hardware devices and voice-activated software can also present challenges. People with motor impairments can, depending on their needs, use specialised hardware and software, e.g.:

• Ergonomic or specially designed keyboard or mouse;
• Trackball mouse, joystick or other pointing devices;
• Mouth stick, head stick and other aids to assist with typing;
• Adaptive switches operated by the foot, shoulder, head or other movements;
• Speech recognition software, eye-tracking and other approaches to hands-free interaction.

When people with motor impairments use a keyboard, websites must support keyboard shortcuts and controls to enable them to navigate and activate the functions on offer. Sometimes, pressing keys simultaneously – such as for certain special characters and keyboard shortcuts – can be difficult. Consequently, these are often performed one after the other. Typing, clicking or other interactions may take longer. Therefore, sufficient time should be allowed, for example, for completing tasks.

Small areas (buttons, controls, etc.) can cause difficulties if, for example, the person’s hands are shaking. This can lead to errors when typing or clicking, which is why clickable areas should be made large. Furthermore, users should have the option to correct errors, for example when filling in forms.