1.1 Ensure that all operable parts are reachable by people of all heights and people sitting in a wheelchair or buggy
Contents
The operable parts include such things as buttons and keypads, input slots for cards or money and dispensers for returned money and cards. Users should be able to access all of these from whatever position and orientation they find themselves in naturally when using the telephone. Preferably, this should be a single position which does not require the person to reorientate themself during operation.
Access to operable parts
Ensure that all operable parts are within reach.
Rationale
Users who are extremely short or who sit in a wheelchair have substantially less reach than average sized users who are standing up. If they have to overstretch to reach things, they may risk injury or, in extreme cases, may not be able to operate the telephone or collect their outputs. Whilst tall users can extend their reach by stooping, this could be embarrassing for extremely tall users who may find themselves having to bend or crouch a long way.
Provide a clear access path
Ensure easy access to the device for people using wheelchairs, buggies or mobility devices.
Wheelchair users may find it awkward to reorientate themselves during use if this involves swivelling in a confined or crowded space.
A wheelchair user requires a corridor of 0.9m in width to access a device and a minimum of 1.5m to make a complete turn comfortably.
Directions and Techniques
Refer to anthropometrical data
Refer to appropriate physical design guidelines or building accessibility guidelines which give minimum and maximum heights and reach distances. The United Nations have a useful set of anthropometrical data covering ranges of height and reach when standing or sitting in a wheelchair, plus required path and turning space dimensions for wheelchairs.
Common reach zones
Ensure that users of all heights can reach all operable parts. The comfortable range is between 1.2m and 0.9m. The maximum acceptable reach height for wheelchair users is 1.4m.
How you could check for this:
Self-test early prototypes
Designers can run simple reach tests themselves at the initial design or prototype stage. Using a mock-up with the controls placed in their intended positions based on appropriate physical design guidelines, you can simulate short and tall people and wheelchair users by sitting in a chair, standing on a raised area or kneeling down. Whilst this will not be a replacement for proper testing with real user's, it will give some insight into what it is like to be reaching for controls from the users perspective and will help reveal any serious problems in the layout before further work is carried out. If standing on something, you should make sure it is sufficiently strong and stable and take care to avoid the possibility of injuries caused by falling off it.
Include user data in the design
If you are designing using a CAD package, it may be possible to include various simulated users as elements in the design, based on human anthropometrical data.
Test with real users
During development, you should test the prototype in a realistic situation with real people, particularly people who routinely use wheelchairs or motorised buggies.
About user testing