technicians to make the accessible ICT systems they design and manufacture

more useable by disabled and older people.

A wide range of application areas and technologies are covered - from

household appliances and transport to biometrics and information displays.

"Guidelines for the design of accessible ICT systems" are divided into four

sections:

User groups provides demographic information and details about the types of

disabilities that designers need to consider, including impairments such as

visual, hearing, deaf and blind, physical, cognitive and language, and to

cater also for older people. There are direct web links to each area.

Application areas are the everyday situations and environments where

accessibility should be a major consideration.

The technology section refers to specific technological systems such as

radio frequency identification (RFID)and smart media and how accessibility

issues can be addressed within these.

Related aspects are the more general areas and everyday situations that

people with disabilities and older people will encounter, where

accessibility is again an issue.

The information contained in the Guidelines document, and more in-depth detail, 

can be found at www.tiresias.org/guidelines

Tiresias, which is the RNIB scientific research unit's website, also offers

in-depth information on more than 2,000 devices, some 1,000 agencies for

blind and partially sighted people, current and future research across 33

countries, and more than 100 scientific and technological reports on topics

ranging from smart cards and biometrics to Braille and tactile data.

Dr John Gill, Chief Scientist at the RNIB, who produced the Guidelines, said

that the greater enjoyment of life of people with disabilities and older

people lay in the hands of our engineers and technicians.

"They are the people who design and make ICT systems and we urge them to

look at the recommendations contained in Guidelines and to give some thought

on how greater improvements can be made", he said.

"The need to do so grows apace as, added to the several millions ofBritons

with disabilities, we have to help the increasing number of older people".

Dr Gill said that people with disabilities had very varied needs and

aspirations. When designing systems for use by the general public it was

important for engineers and technicians to have an understanding of the

implications of different impairments. For instance eight percent of the

male population had difficulties in distinguishing red and green, and many

foreign visitors may prefer information in their own language.

"The number of people with impairments will increase as life expectancy

increases", said Dr Gill. "Among older people it is common to have a

combination of impairments which can result in problems in using information

and communication technology systems".

Copies of the Guidelines document can be obtained from

Dr Gill at: RNIB, 105, Judd  Street, London WC1H 9NE