FINAL PROJECTRianne Links

BACKGROUNDCommunication in Multimedia Design

THE PROJECTWould there be any students interested in creating

Windows 8 apps for the children in our school?

Teacher of St. Gabriels Special School

THE PROJECT• Windows 8 tablet from Camara Ireland

• 4 children with physical disabilities

• Apps to help them learn

WHY?• Request from school

• Not enough relevant apps for Windows 8

• Interesting research

FOR WHO?• Children between 5-7

• Children with physical disabilities

• At the St. Gabriel Special School

WHERE?

HOW?

HOW?

THE APP• Fine motor skill development

• Sensory development

• Cause and Effect to encourage communication

DESIGN ASPECTS• Reward system: Motivates

• Difficulty: Not too easy, not too difficult

• Intuitive task: App has to be easy to use for users

Lovquist, E., Dreifaldt, U., 2006. The design of haptic exercise for post-stroke arm rehabilitation.

PROTOTYPES• Low fidelity: Sketches of app

• Medium fidelity: Prototype that runs in the browser, made with

the Axure prototyping software

• High fidelity: Working apps that can be used by the school

RESEARCH QUESTIONHow can a touch screen based technology be used in an

educational manner to support children with physical

disabilities between the ages of 5 and 7?

RESEARCH- Devided in 3 parts:

1. The way in which children interact with computers

2. The use of touch screen devices for children with physical

disabilities

3. The support of computers in primary education

USER RESEARCH• 2 days of observation in the classroom

• Interview with teacher of class: Niamh Cooke

• Testing of medium fidelity prototype with children

WHAT’S NEXT?• Guha, M & Druin, A & Fails, J., 2008. Designing with and for

children with special needs: an inclusionary model.

• Marco J. & Cerezo E. & Baldasarri, S & Mazzano, E & Read, J.,

2009. User-orientated Design and Tangible Interaction for

kindergarten children.

• Marti, O & Pollini, A & Rullo, A & Giusti, L. & Gronvall, E., 2009.

Creative Interactive Play for Disabled Children.

• Couse, L & chen, D, 2010. A tablet computer for young children?