Ensure that the remote control can be used by people with limited vision

Rationale

People with vision impairments may have difficulty reading labels that are not in large, clear type contrasted well against the background. Glare is a particular problem for people with some types of vision impairment, so light reflected off the buttons themselves or off any other part of the control can make it more difficult to read the labels. People with colour vision deficiency may have problems with particular label/ background colour combinations.

Buttons could be a little bigger and so could symbols.

Guidelines survey respondent.

Directions and techniques

Make visual markings as clear as possible (high priority)

For maximum readability, markings should be:

  • Large: use the maximum print size possible given the available space and adequate spacing;
  • Legible: sans serif, bold type is recommended;
  • Contrasted to the colour of the background (dark on light or light on dark);
  • Durable.

Red markings on a green background or green on red should be avoided as they are likely to be particularly difficult to read for people with colour vision deficiency.

Avoid materials that cause glare

Surfaces should be made from unreflective materials. The use of glossy materials such as chrome, metallic or shiny plastic anywhere on the control can contribute to glare, making markings difficult to read.


Figure 8. Two alternative versions of the same remote control. Glare from the shiny version may cause problems for some people.

Figure 8. Two alternative versions of the same remote control. Glare from the shiny version may cause problems for some people.

How you could test for this

To find out whether the markings are sufficiently clear, it is necessary to run user tests with people with vision impairments in a range of lighting conditions. These lighting conditions should cover the full range of typical domestic situations users are likely to encounter. Include bright daylight and restricted daylight from various angles and a range of artificial lighting conditions.

It can also be useful to collect feedback from customers who have been using the remote control for a period of time. This can be done within general long term user trials encompassing the whole process of setting up, learning and using the equipment.