Consumer Appliance and Electronics Accessibility Initiative

Consumer Electronics Accessibility Initiative
The purpose of this initiative is to identify consumer electronics that are usable by blind individuals and to raise awareness regarding accessibility issues relevant to common home appliances and electronic equipment.

Categories will include home theater systems, MP3 players, stoves, dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, and others.

The lack of accessible and usable features on household appliances grows more severe every day. An example of this is the disturbing increase in the number of dishwashers with flat, inaccessible controls. Until now, dishwashers were among the more accessible home appliances. These accessibility issues may prevent even the most motivated blind person from confidently purchasing and using household appliances. It is essential that blind people are able to continue to lead full, productive, and independent lives. For this reason, the Jernigan Institute has begun this Consumer Electronic Accessibility Initiative.

In 1990 the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) established the International Braille and Technology Center for the Blind (IBTC) to address nonvisual access of computing hardware and software. To further this mission, the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute launched the Consumer Electronics Accessibility Initiative with the Accessible Home Showcase at the 2005 NFB National Convention.

Check out the features of those appliances and other electronic devices that were shown at our Accessible Home list, which will be expanded as additional examples of usable appliances and electronic devices are identified:

Explanation of Accessible Home Showcase list

Many thanks to our industry partners for their contributions to this initiative: Whirlpool, Fisher and Paykel, Maytag, General Electric, Independent Living Aids, Panasonic, Rio Audio, C. Crane Company, Inc., Action Talking Products, and Talking Thermostats

Learn more about the critical accessibility issues in consumer electronics, the products affected, and recommendations to help alleviate the problems.

While this list is not comprehensive, it clarifies our top priorities.

Read the following Braille Monitor articles for more information regarding the accessibility problems in consumer electronics:

Please note: When using the word "usable," we mean that through a sequence of steps or additional modifications, a blind person can successfully use a specific product. This does not mean that the product is totally accessible. Totally accessible usually means that all functions of the device are available to the blind user nonvisually. Although full accessibility is always the goal, for many blind individuals the immediate problem remains finding appliances that can be operated. It is the goal of this project to encourage manufacturers to incorporate full accessibility whenever possible and to appreciate the market value of doing so.

As we receive information on usable consumer electronics, we will continue to update the Accessible Home list. If you have any comments or recommendations of items that might be added to the list, please contact:

Accessible Home Showcase List

This list consists of devices that were demonstrated at the 2005 National Convention of the National Federation of the Blind held in Louisville, Kentucky.

For more current information about the listed products, contact the manufacturer.

Please note: When using the words "accessible" and "usable" we mean that through a sequence of steps or additional modifications, a blind person can successfully use a specific product.

As we receive information on usable consumer electronics, we will continue to update the Accessible Home Product List.

Laundry Equipment

Washing machines

The control panel of this device provides the user with audible and tactile feedback. The pointer of the knob is distinguishable by touch, and one can mark using Braille if desired. If one didn't desire to mark the unit, one can hear the accompanying clicking sound as one is rotating the various control knobs.

This appliance features several buttons that are distinguishable by touch. The user can orient to the different functions that each control represents either through Braille or memorization. Although the unit is menu driven, it has pre-sets for the various clothing options, which do not require the user to reset. If the user desires to do so the pre-sets can be modified by memorizing the various choices. If one becomes disoriented while navigating the settings, one can always press the clear button and return to the pre-set state. One key feature is that control buttons emit audible tones as one is pressing them.

Furthermore, as one is navigating up or down the menus settings, there is a clear and distinct sequence of tones to inform the user when the end of the selection menu is reached.

This unit features a pointer on the control knob for setting the wash cycle that is indiscernible by touch alone. However, as one is rotating the control knob in order to set the wash cycle, there is tactual feedback. A series of clicks orients the user to make a selection. All of the other control knobs are distinguishable by touch and audible clicks.

Dryers

This unit features a control knob and pointer distinguishable by touch. The user can set the unit to the appropriate dryer settings. Another feature is that one can make modifications to presets through menus. With some memorization, the user can independently manipulate the buttons, which are also distinguishable by touch.

This unit consists of control knobs that are distinguishable by touch. As one turns the control knobs, there is an audible click. For additional modifications, one can add Braille for ease of use but it is not a necessity.

This unit is similar to its washing machine counterpart (see above).

Kitchen Appliances

Ranges

This unit consists of textured buttons for setting oven temperature and timer. As one is pressing the buttons, there are corresponding tones.

Dishwashers

This unit uses push buttons, which are clearly detectable by touch. Buttons are arranged such that one can make necessary selections to settings such as temperature, drying, or wash cycles.

Microwaves

This microwave is specially modified with a clear male voice to talk you through all the operating functions. It has a built-in turntable for heating evenly and features a speaking countdown timer that can be used independently from the microwave to provide accurate timing for any purpose.

This microwave features buttons that are distinguishable through touch.

Telephones

Telephone models with caller ID that are offered by Panasonic will identify the phone number and name of the caller (if available) via speech.

Personal electronics

MP3 players

This player represents the category of chip-based players. This means that there are clearly defined buttons that perform a specific task such as previous/next item or volume up/down. This functionality is in contrast to hard-drive based MP3 players, which are generally menu driven.

These MP3 players consist of a click-wheel for moving up and down menu selections. The menus are laid out such that when the user is moving within the selection menu, one can consistently navigate to the top or bottom of the menu. This is in contrast to other menu designs that return to the beginning of the menu once one has reached the end. With this design, the user has no way of knowing where they are in a menu.

Each of these MP3 players when adding songs via the PC, is treated as an additional hard drive. This eliminates the need for a special software application.

Radios

Specifically designed for talk radio, news, sports, and weather, control buttons are fully accessible by blind individuals. With the built-in weather band you can listen to the NOAA weather station for current local conditions. A special weather alert feature sounds an alarm to notify you of weather emergency updates. This feature even works while you are listening to AM or FM. This alarm will even sound at night and wake you up if there is an alert. In fact there are three weather alert functions that you can select: flashing light and no alarm, NOAA audio, or flashing light and siren. This radio operates with the supplied AC cord or may be operated for up to 250 hours on four D cells (not supplied). There is a carry handle lip built into the rear panel.

All of the radios functions are available via logically positioned controls and buttons. The radio is provided with both print and cassette manuals.

Environment

Thermostats

This talking thermostat can be activated by voice, manually, or clapping of the hands. The user can set time, date, and program temperature schedules for different times of day or week.

This is a digital thermostat with audio playback that uses human recorded speech. Features include voicing of time, indoor temperature, temperature setting, and programming instructions so blind and visually impaired users can precisely and easily manage their indoor comfort.

When you press the day/time, weekend, or weekday schedule buttons, voice prompts guide the user in making appropriate settings. As the user is pressing the up or down buttons, there is voice output of the display. There are two models--one offers heating and cooling control for conventional gas or oil electric systems and another for heat pump systems. Instructions are in MP3 and Wave file formats and can be listened to using a CD player or computer. A text file is also included that can be listened to using JAWS or any other text-to-speech software.

Be sure to check back as we continue to add product to this list. If you have any comments or recommendations of items that might be added to the list, please contact:

Updated on ... November 19, 2006