Simple Alternate Web Applications

This project seeks to create a very simple, applications for use by individuals who are older, for individuals with cognitive disabilities, and for anyone that finds current Web content and applications too complicated for them to effectively use. Although most of Raising the Floor is focused on tools that take Web content and transform or represent it in a form that is more accessible, this project focuses on actually creating easier to user Web Applications.  This is done because it just isn't possible to transform a complex Web application into a simple one automatically.  Our technologies just aren't good enough to do that.  As a result, we cannot provide access for people with cognitive, language, and learning disabilities to many basic Web apps. 

What does a Simple Alternative Web App look like?

Simple alternative web application should be as simple and obvious to use as possible. The interface should be simple and self-cuing enough that simply knowing that they would like to do should be enough for them to see immediately how they could do it.

• Ideally, it should take no instruction to use, even for someone who has never used a program of this type before.
• Ideally it could be used by someone who has never used a computer before. 

This task is particularly challenging because so many things that programmers take for granted are not necessarily true for this population. Windows and modes, menus and hierarchies, icons that ‘launch’ programs or features, pages that disappear, etc can prove to be completely foreign and baffling.

And one can't count on users ‘figuring it out’ or ‘learning the system over time’. What the users learn one day is often forgotten the next. Although some of these users may be able to remember complicated recipes and procedures that they learned earlier in their lives, they may not be able to remember something that they learned (or were taught) today when tomorrow comes.

Because the target population will have differing levels of skill and because some individuals will be able to learn over time and add small amounts of complexity, the programs often would benefit from being designed in a layered fashion. That is it would have one mode or version that is ultra simple. Then, there would be another mode or version that is almost identical, but adds a couple extra features or capabilities. And another layer after that, that adds a little more complexity and capability.  These modes should all be as consistent and identical as possible to facilitate progression up and down the levels.  It should be noted that some individuals may also regress (e.g. from level 3 to level 2 to level 1) over time.

First Simple App

The first project in this area is called the Easy-One Communicator.   It will provide a simple integrated program for doing email, chat, phone (including text and video) and picture exchange.  This project is being presented as an RtF Challenge. 

• For more details on the challenge and its requirements, please visit the Easy-One Communicator RtF Challenge Web Page.

Get Involved

If you're interested in contributing to this area in general, please send an email to Contribution@RaisingTheFloor.net with [SimpleApps] in the subject line.

If you're interested in the Easy-One application or challenge, please send an email to Contribution@RaisingTheFloor.net with [Easy-One] in the subject line.