Accessibility aids for users of electronic devices

• US 9,261,961 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2013
• Issued: 02/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nook Digital, LLC (f/k/a Barnesandnoble.com LLC) (Bahwan CyberTek Pvt Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Nook Digital, LLC (f/k/a Barnesandnoble.com LLC) (Bahwan CyberTek Pvt Ltd.)
• Inventors: Smith, Ian C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Kent
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROSARIO, NELSON M
• Application Number:
  US13/912,976
• Publication Number:
  US 20130328809A1
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-178, 340/407.2, 434113-117
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04809 Textured surface identifying touch areas, e.g. overlay structure for a virtual keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0487 using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/003 using tactile presentation of the information, e.g. Braille displays
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/007 using both tactile and audible presentation of the information

Abstract

A screen protector is provided with tactile aids for vision-impaired users. The screen protector can be placed on the display screen of a computing device to enhance the out-of-box experience for vision-impaired users and/or guide the user during subsequent use of the device. For example, the screen protector can be configured to be tactilely-informative about how to activate accessibility features of the device and/or how to proceed with initial set-up and configuration of the device. The screen protector may include, for example, braille instructions for activating the accessibility mode and/or a raised or embossed tactile aid that identifies the location of a UI control feature that can be engaged to initiate the accessibility mode or other desired function. Once the user has engaged the accessibility mode, the user may receive verbal instructions and cues going forward so as to allow the user to successfully use the device.

Claims

1. An accessibility system, comprising:

a screen protector for protecting a display screen of a computing device and having one or more tactile aids configured to facilitate use of the computing device by a vision-impaired user;

wherein the one or more tactile aids include a braille message, the message including information on how to at least one of;

remove the screen protector from the computing device;

turn on the computing device;

activate accessibility features of the computing device, the accessibility features intended to assist visually-impaired users; and

connect peripheral devices that will assist the vision-impaired user in use of the device; and

wherein the one or more tactile aids further include a raised directional element that runs from proximate to the braille message to a location associated with a user interface control feature of the device.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the braille message includes information on how to remove the screen protector from the computing device.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the braille message includes information on how to turn on the computing device.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the braille message includes information on how to activate accessibility features of the computing device.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the braille message includes information on how to connect peripheral devices that will assist the vision-impaired user in use of the device.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the raised directional element that identifies a location of a user interface control feature of the device comprises an arrow.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the raised directional element includes a raised line that runs from proximate to a braille message to a location of a user interface control feature of the device.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the screen protector further includes printed instructions for sighted users that are readable through the one or more tactile aids.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the screen protector is removable from the computing device.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the screen protector is configured to only cover a portion of the display screen of the computing device.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising the computing device, wherein the accessibility features of the computing device include a simplified user interface mode that presents selectable content in a list format, wherein that selectable content is presented in a non-list format when the device is not in the simplified user interface mode.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the simplified user interface mode is further configured to aurally present items in the list in response to a user swipe gesture.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the simplified user interface mode is further configured to disable panning.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the selectable content in list format comprises user-defined items.

15. A system, comprising:

a mobile computing device having a display screen; and

a screen protector disposed on and for protecting the display screen and having one or more tactile aids configured to facilitate use of the computing device by a vision-impaired user;

wherein the one or more tactile aids include a braille message, the message including information on how to at least one of;

activate accessibility features of the computing device, the accessibility features intended to assist visually-impaired users; and

connect peripheral devices that will assist the vision-impaired user in use of the device; and

wherein the one or more tactile aids further include a raised directional element that runs from proximate to the braille message to a location associated with a user interface control feature of the device.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the braille message further includes information on how to at least one of remove the screen protector from the computing device, and turn on the computing device.

17. A system, comprising:

a mobile computing device having a touch screen display and configured with accessibility features including a simplified user interface mode that presents selectable content in a list format, wherein that selectable content is presented in a non-list format when the device is not in the simplified user interface mode; and

a screen protector disposed on and for protecting the display and having one or more tactile aids configured to tactilely indicate how to activate accessibility features of the computing device when setting the device up for the first time, wherein the one or more tactile aids include a braille message and a raised line that runs from proximate to the braille message to a location of a user interface control feature of the device.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the simplified user interface mode is further configured to aurally present items in the list in response to a user swipe gesture on the display.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the braille message includes information on how to at least one of:

remove the screen protector from the computing device;

locate a specified user interface control feature of the computing device;

activate accessibility features of the computing device; and

connect peripheral devices that will assist the vision-impaired user in use of the device.