Simulation Exercise
Assistive Technology
Spring 2002
Prof. Jen Mankoff
GSI: Hesham Kamel
Choose a functional limitation of some sort and spend an hour or two without
using that function. Write down your thoughts on the experience.
Do not put yourself in personal danger, and do not do things that
might potentially endanger others. This might include but is not limited
to, for example, wearing a blindfold while operating heavy machinery.
Use common sense and be safe.
Some questions to consider:
- Did other people assume you had other limitations as well?
- How did your experience differ from that of someone who has been dealing
with this limitation for many years?
- How did/could technology affect your experience, both positively and
negatively?
- How does the social/political/economic and physical environment impact
your experience of this limitation?
- Many of these functional limitations are associated with multiple
disabilities. For example, reading may be an issue for blind people or people
with some cognitive disabilities. What disabilities does the functional limitation
you choose relate to?
- In what situations might a person without a disability experience
the same functional limitations? Could they benefit from the same technologies?
Some possible functional limitations to select from (feel free to come up
with your own):
- speech: spend a day without speaking any words (other sounds optional)
- grasping: spend a day without using one or both of your handy opposable
thumbs (optionally also fingers)
- reading: try not to read anything. Make a note of all occasions when
you want to or do read. Also don't do things that assume reading (e.g. driving).
- comprehension: Go to a lecture in a foreign language or about a topic
you know very little of. Take a paper in that language/topic area and spend
time translating it until you think you understand it.
- steps: don't walk up steps, curbs, etc. Get help climbing into things
(e.g. cars).
- radio, tv, etc: doen't use electronics unless they provide written
subtitles. Get a friend to put on headphones and tell you with writing and
gestures what's being said. Ask shopkeepers and other strangers to write everything
down.
Please turn in 2-3 pages, formatted nicely
, describing your experiences and answering the questions given at the beginning
of this assignment. Also let us know what functional limitation you chose,
why you chose it, how you simulated the limitation and compensated for it,
and how long you conducted the simulation for. Please tell us if you have
prior experience with that or a different disability.
Due Monday, January 28th. Turn in a hard copy at the beginning of class
and email a .pdf or word file to Hesham (hesham@eecs.berkeley.edu)