(2) Universal Design in Technologies: Other Technologies

SLU Global

Equitable Use: SLU Global is useful and accessible for all people. However, there are no zoom or large text features to help users with vision impairments.
Flexibility in Use: There is not much flexibility to SLU Global. It is how it is, and that’s what you must work with while navigating the site.

Simple & Intuitive Use: SLU Global is pretty simple and approachable. It has a very neat layout that makes finding everything very easy through the menu bar on the right ride of the screen. There is a lot to SLU Global, but it’s not difficult to get a grasp for getting around the site.

Perceptible Information: This website is very clean and legible, but there is little to no sight of other modes of perceptible information. Only once you open up a different tab “announcements”, “messages”, “grades”, etc. is there an icon along with it that MAY assist in showing what each one is for.

Tolerance for Error: There is a spell check feature when you put in text for an assignment on SLU Global. Apart from that there isn’t much tolerance for error on this website. I can’t find many fail-safe features.
Low Physical Effort: SLU Global provides low physical effort. Unless you type up your assignment on the website as opposed to uploading it, there is really no need for typing. All you need to do is use your mouse to navigate the website.

Size/Space for Approach: Much like the rest of these, they’re only as approachable as the computer/desk is.

Prezi

Universal Design: This program is pretty easily accessible for any person. There are features to zoom in and increase text size for people with vision impairments. Additionally, it is easy to access any pictures and videos right from the Prezi itself. With every label there is an image to draw understanding from. The site itself is very clean and legible and it is very easy to construct a Prezi as there are tutorials on the website as well. There is also a spell check to help minimize errors.

Podcasting

Universal Design: Podcasts are a little bit different than the rest of these technologies in terms of its universal design. It is difficult for a person with a hearing impairment to use podcasts, as usually there is not a visual or textual aid to accompany it. However, creating and listening to a podcast are both very simple. As long as you have access to a microphone, it’s easy to turn on a recording software and speak. This being said, a podcast is not necessarily well designed for someone with a speech impediment or disorder.

Citation For Universal Design: Collaco, L. (2012).  Universal Design [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from SLU Global