Evaluation of an experimental mainstream cellular phone feature to allow use by individuals with moderate to severe cognitive disabilities

Abstract

This proof-of-concept study evaluated the ability of individuals with moderate to severe cognitive impairments to use a mainstream cellular phone that was programmed with two new experimental interfaces (Flip and Picture modes). Success in placing a call was measured following a brief demonstration or instruction in phone use and again after a brief distraction. Sixteen individuals with Mini-Mental State Examination scores ranging from 6 to 19 (mean = 12.31, SD = 4.39) participated. The success rate using the Standard dialing mode was 12.5% during the instruction phase and 6.3% in the carryover phase. The Flip mode resulted in a 100% success rate for both the Instruction and Carryover phases; the Picture mode resulted in a 100% success rate in the Instruction phase and 81.3% success rate during Carryover phase. A potential application of this work is that mainstream cellular phones could be designed to include a simple feature that would make them usable by people with moderate to severe cognitive disabilities.

Accessibility to electronic communication for people with cognitive disabilities: a systematic search and review of empirical evidence

“…Slightly more than half of the articles (15 out of 29) reported studies that were carried out in two countries only. According to cognitive theories, social factors may be of relevance to the design of accessible interfaces for electronic communication for people with cognitive disabilities [49].…”

“…When they had to open the mobile phone and touch the correct picture (picture mode), the participants were completely successful before distraction and slightly less successful after distraction. Finally, when they had to dial a 10-digit number and press the send button (standard mode), the success rate was low [29]. Second, in a comparison of Windows CE and a specially designed palmtop computer interface (see description in Sect.…”