Lesson 3:
HARRY'S NOT THE ONLY WIZARD....
INNOVATIVE AND UNIVERSAL DESIGN

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Mission 3 helps YOUthful wizards-in-training to:

1. Explain the similarities and differences (with examples) between products and places that are innovative, universally-designed, or both.

2. Analyze example technological innovations to separate those that are universally-designed from the merely COOL new hi-tech stuff.

WORD BANK:

CONTENT HEADINGS:
Witches' Hi-Tech Innovations Pre-Quiz
An Innovation, A Universal Design...or Both?
The Home Automation Test Plot
          A Refrigerated RANGE?
          A Robotic Vacuum Called Roomba?
Innovative Assistive Technologies
          UD IT
          Ah, Mobility (Freedom) Machines!
Just For Fun: Techno Toys >n Toons for Tekkie Teens!

IMAGES:
Innovation self-captioned cartoon
Polara Refrigerated Range (Whirlpool Corp.) + link
Roomba vacuum cleaner
E-Z Access Solution: Voting Tablet (Trace Center) + link
Moving Innovations: I-bot, Galileo, new Japanese personal transport, Segway HT + links
The Great Bugoff (Bio-Bugs)
Jenny, from AMy Life as a Teenage Robot@ cartoon (Nickelodeon)
Legally Blond ad with Cell Phone
Home pinball machines

LINKS: Polara Refrigerated range (both web-connected and un-)
www.whirlpool.com

Accessible voting tablet by TRACE Center at University of Wisconsin.
http://trace.wisc.edu/handouts/EZ_vote_flyer/everyone_votes_brochure.pdf.htm

The versatile iBot stands rider to eye level and climbs up/down stairs
www.independencenow.com/ibot/index.html

The Galileo power chair from Israel, with streaming video demonstrations
www.galileo-mobility.com

Segway Human Transporter for an easy, fast Awalk@ around campus, town, golf course, open country...
www.segway.com

Fujitsu Zoom machine?

Robot Jenny from Nickelodeon
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Life_as_a_Teenage_Robot.com

Accessible website of Harry Potter's author (vision and hearing impairment)
www.jkrowling.com

QUOTABLE QUOTES:

1. ...One prickly, ticked-off teenager: Seething with resentment and occasionally wallowing in self pity... (Rowling).
2. Design has to deal with the constraints of science and art, with money and manufacturing, use and wear, form and functionBall are often in direct conflict. Thus, all designers always compromise.... (Petroski).
3. Universal Design must be cost effective or it will never happen (Tobias).
4. Public awareness of the importance of design for all ages is greater than ever. After the 2000 election...Overnight, Achad@ became a part of everyday conversation (Mueller).

LESSON 3 LEARNING ACTIVITY CHOICES:

1. INNOVATIVE, UNIVERSAL DESIGN, OR BOTH? While reading the lesson, teens were directed to decide individually which of all the innovations introduced were also universally-designed. Guides can tally the votes for each item (make sure those CHADS aren't hanging!) so small groups can discuss only those voted >most likely to be UD.

   In the after-vote discussions, give each person a chance to try to change others' minds by clever debating tactics (based on specific, factual data, of course). If some innovations are unresolved as the debate ends, the truly diligent teen will head for the library or the Net to find support for his/her case. But we don't insist on home surf workBit's THEIR decision.....

2. A. A CELL PHONE COLLABORATION Class or youth group members should bring in the widest variety of cell phones they can assemble, to evaluate for universal usability. A good start would be to prepare two lists for each cell phone manufacturer and model: Advertised (desirable) Features vs. Usability IssuesBfrom both novice and veteran users.

   B. On a separate sheet, compare each cell to the UD Principles (some principles may not apply to this innovation). Don't forget to include the 'perks' and accessories of these Ahip TVs@: such as camera, PDA, 'video' screen, game player, hands-free use, carrying case, etc. (Although costs and rate plans ARE important purchase decision points, please limit THIS time to design, preferably of the Universal type. Later, you might discuss costs (and how YOU'LL work to pay for them) with your parents.

   C. In small groups, focus on cell phone usability by people of ALL ages and abilities. Who would NOT be able to use the various models and featuresBand why not? Debate which phone is most universally-designed using your best, most specific, factual reasons (but natch!).

3. AN ALTERNATE PRODUCT COMPARISON: COMPUTER KEYPADS Using the same method as in No. 2 above, compare the KEYPADS for a variety of computers (including laptops, notebooks, and even PDAs) for universal usability by EVERYONE. Note: If Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) comes up, just mention it, but DON'T jump OFF the track.

   Limit this discussion to everything ELSE about universally-usable keypads. Save your human factors and ergonomics questions for Lesson 4 (coming soon to your local BIG screen......). In the meantime, here's the scoop in a paragraph:

   In today's computerized workplace, YOU may be a good candidate for Carpal Tunnel SyndromeBit's easy to get from INTENSIVE use of computer keyboards that do not fit their users properly. Keypads that are universally- or ergonomically-designed can help you avoid getting CTS.