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Blind-friendly vending machine

Technology[1]
Technology[1]Communication [2]Disability [3]Information technology [4]Transport [5]Norway [6]
Forskning.no [7]
With audio feedback and simple gestures on a touch screen, ticket vending machines can now also be used
by the blind and the visually impaired.

Norwegian State Railways (NSB) has been getting a lot of criticism because their ticket vending machines
are unsuitable for the visually impaired. The lack of physical buttons on the touch screen makes it
impossible for blind people to navigate, which means they need help to use the vending machine.

This also applies to other vending machine solutions like the one the public transport authority uses.

Developed a prototype

Five of the University College’s former students have now developed a prototype that makes the ticket
vending machines available for the strongly visually impaired and the blind.

NSB has declined to develop the concept and for the time being they have no plans for making their vending
machines available to the blind.

“After using vending machines on the train stations for several years, NSB has not yet made any
improvements for the blind,” explains Tek Beng Tan, a former student at the Bachelor’s Programme in
Applied Computer Technology.

He indicates that other cities in Europe e.g. Barcelona, are ahead on this area.

Making selections with simple gestures

After frequent testing, the students found the best prototype and called it Swipe8. This prototype has a voice
synthesis and is based on making simple gestures on the screen.

The concept uses gestures instead of pointing and touching and is based on the user’s single directional
stroke on the screen.

Each of the directions represents a selection. What is unique with this solution is that it is insignificant where
the gesture starts on the screen.

“This is a whole new way of thinking in connection with self-service vending machines. The solution we
reached is both time-effective and user-friendly for all and it is easy to produce,” says Anders Johansen, who
was responsible for the testing in the student project.

He hopes their technology may be a starting point for further development.

In April an article on their work, written by Professor and supervisor Frode Eika Sandnes, with the students
as co- authors, will be published in the international journal Universal Access in the Information Society.

Working with solutions

NSB points out that they strive to make the best possible solutions for all and that a lot of work has been put
into making the vending machines more user-friendly for the visually impaired.

Åge-Christoffer Lundeby, the head of communication in NSB, says that they have increased the contrast on
the screens and removed disturbing elements to improve readability.

“Unfortunately, with touch screen technology you must to a certain extent be able to see in order to use the
vending machines.”

-----------------------------------------------

Read this article in Norwegian at forskning.no [8]

Kjersti Maageng Nordås from Jessheim totally understands that NSB?s ticket vending machine is hard
to use for visually impaired. She adds that the vending machine is often out of use when it?s cold outside.
(Photo: HiOA) [9]
Tek Beng Tan and Anders Johansen received the highest grade for their research-based project
assignment about ticket vending machines and universal design. (Photo: HiOA) [10]
The user is able to make selections by simple directional stroke gestures. [11]
Kjersti Maageng Nordås from Jessheim totally understands that NSB?s ticket vending machine is hard
to use for visually impaired. She adds that the vending machine is often out of use when it?s cold outside.
(Photo: HiOA) [12]

Fact box

The work has been carried out by five former students at the Bachelor’s Programme in Applied Computer
Technology at Oslo University College (now a part of Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied
Sciences) during the spring 2010. The developers of the Swipe8 prototype are Anders Johansen, Edvin Sulic,
Eirik Vesterhus, Eirik Rud Iversen and Tek Beng Tan.

Professor Frode Eika Sandnes at Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences supervised the
students.

Eleven visually impaired test persons from the Norwegian Association of the Blind participated in the user-
testing. In addition, several informal tests were made with students at Oslo University College. The article
"Making touch-based kiosks accessible to blind users through simple gestures" will be published in April
2012.

The solution we reached is both time-effective and user-friendly for all and it is easy to produce.
Anders Johansen

Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences [13]

Sandnes m..fl.: Making touch-based kiosks accessible to blind users through simple gestures, Universal
Access in the Information Society 2012, Online First, doi: 10.1007/s10209-011-0258-4. [14]
 Sonja Balci [15]
March 17, 2012 - 05:23
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[3] http://sciencenordic.com/disability
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[5] http://sciencenordic.com/transport
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[8] http://www.forskning.no/artikler/2012/mars/315466
[9] http://sciencenordic.com/sites/default/files/jessheim_togstasjon_695.jpg
[10] http://sciencenordic.com/sites/default/files/tan_johansen_695_1.jpg
[11] http://sciencenordic.com/sites/default/files/Audiokiosk_proper-695.jpg
[12] http://sciencenordic.com/sites/default/files/jessheim_togstasjon_695_0.jpg
[13] http://sciencenordic.com/partner/oslo-and-akershus-university-college-applied-sciences
[14] http://www.springerlink.com/content/rk7508288x846ptq/
[15] http://sciencenordic.com/content/sonja-balci