Win big with an accessible user interface design (and save the planet)
If you're a student with cool ideas about accessible user interfaces - using speech recognition or synthesis, for example - consider the special award at the Imagine Cup.
At this year's competition, Microsoft is calling on young programmers, artists and technologists around the world to "imagine a world where technology enables a sustainable environment." And there's an Interface Design challenge to create user interfaces that are unique and forward-thinking, including the special award if your UI solution targets accessibility users and makes the best use of at least 2 features from the following list:
- Microsoft Accessibility Architecture
- (UI Automation, Magnification APIs)
- Windows Vista Accessibility Parameters
- (e.g. high contrast, show sounds)
- Windows Vista Features in the Ease of Access Control Panel
- Microsoft Speech Technologies
- (speech recognition, synthesis)
- Internet Explorer accessibility
- (e.g. zoom, personal style sheets)
This is a great opportunity to explore the future. I see accessibility technology as a stealth engine of mainstream progress. When you look behind the kimono of accessibility, there's some really exciting stuff in the platform - speech, magnification, the automation APIs. And these components are becoming powerful enablers of user interface advances across much broader scenarios.
How? The fundamental design challenge. Addressing accessibility requirements means thinking about user interactions in a different way. It means considering different modalities of input and output; separating content from presentation; and putting user interactions in an intentional context. And, interestingly, these kinds of considerations are becoming fundamental to the increasing demands of today's digital lifestyle. We're not just expecting more in terms of content and the functionality, we are interacting with a greater number of devices in very different environments - and the UI challenges that arise can often be met by solutions that leverage accessibility platforms or technologies.
And ('and'...! like you needed 'and'...) in addition to the cool factor, you get to multiply the noble and worthy feelings of making a real difference in people's lives with the total kudos of saving the environment.
Due date for online submissions is May 2, 2008. Detailed guidelines here. And let me know if you make a submission, I'd love to hear about it.
