| Companies are required by law to provide equal | | | | Shape should be used like color to group buttons by |
| employment opportunities for workers with disabilities. | | | | function. The shapes work both tactilely and visually. |
| Manufacturers should design custom silicone keypads | | | | Users can tell by touch what function keys have and |
| with accessibility in mind because if they don't they | | | | red-green colorblind users can judge function by shape |
| may be losing customers who employ disabled | | | | rather than color. |
| workers. Accessibility features often help people other | | | | Tactile design assists low vision or blind operators. |
| than the disabled. | | | | Sighted operators can work without having to look at |
| Visual Design Considerations | | | | the controls, which saves time and allows a machine |
| Custom silicone keypads have three distinct color | | | | to be operated more quickly. |
| areas: the key label, the rest of the key and the area | | | | Other Design Considerations |
| around the key. These should be three distinct, | | | | A high snap ratio will give keys on custom silicone |
| contrasting colors so buttons and their symbols stand | | | | keypads a solid click that can be both felt and heard. |
| out clearly. Buttons should be colored by function | | | | This immediate feedback benefits users who may not |
| groups, with red indicating actions such as stop or | | | | be able to get visual or other feedback from a device. |
| cancel and green used for go or enter. | | | | It is another aid allowing operators to use the controls |
| A large, clear font should be used for labels. Lettering | | | | without looking. |
| should be large and bold for easy readability. The | | | | Visually impaired users may have difficulty when |
| display should not be cluttered with text irrelevant to | | | | custom silicone keypads have multiple uses for each |
| the equipment's function. Button labels should be simple. | | | | key. A key press might do different things depending |
| "STOP" is more effective than a wordy label like | | | | on which mode the machine is in, but unless there is |
| "Press Here to Disengage Motor Function." | | | | some auditory or tactile feedback a visually impaired |
| Readability helps users with low vision but also | | | | operator might be mistaken about what operating |
| operators working on low light environments. | | | | mode is currently active. |
| Tactile Design Considerations | | | | Users should not be required to press the same key |
| Keys on custom silicone keypads should be raised | | | | multiple times in quick succession nor should long key |
| above the surrounding surface rather than flush. This | | | | presses be necessary. These both limit usability by |
| allows users to locate keys by touch. Reference | | | | operators with motor impairments. |
| bumps such as those found in the 5 key of telephone | | | | Devices with accessible controls often are easier to |
| keypads or on the F-J or D-K keys of computer | | | | use for everyone. Don't think of accessibility as helping |
| keyboards orient users so they don't press the wrong | | | | the disabled. Think of it as increasing the usability of |
| buttons. | | | | your control system. |