This seems to raise a wider set of issues:

'...each Branch has ... aids that can be used if required...'

The 'if required' seems to me to be the key point here.

A large screen is not cost issue these days - and good for anyone - but touchscreens are (currently) more costly.

Physical aids which can plug in to USB and just run are fine - unless they require special drivers/software.

Windows accessibility aids come with the system, and can be used by virtually anyone (and they do), but other dedicated software costs to buy and costs to maintian/upgrade.

And users who want dedicated software seem to want the one they know (and probably already have at home), with their own settings, not the one we provide, with standard settings (unless we can store that for them on the network)

Electrically height adjustable desks are good, but expensive, and seem to go up, but not sufficently down to cater for children, with or without a disability. Lap trays with a beanbag underside (£10-£20 each) seem to be good for wheelchair users.

Does anybody have any figures of use of assistive technology (not just touchsreen) by the target audiences (visual, physical and learning impairments, etc.), and the views of the users as to its suitability.

Costs per seat to deploy?

And the level of staff support and customer training needed?

Deployment is one thing - take up and 'fitness for purpose' is another.

What then is the actual user requirement - or non-user, if we're doing this to get them in.

I'd be interested in some hard metrics for all this.

Regards

JU

John Usher 
ICT Manager 
Library and Heritage Services 
Islington Council 
Central Library 
2 Fieldway Crescent 
LONDON N5 1PF 

Tel: 020 7527 6920 
Mobile: 07825 098 223 
Fax: 020 7527 6926 
Alternative contact: Michelle Gannon - 020 7527 6907 

www.islington.gov.uk 


How to get to Central Library:  http://www.islington.gov.uk/Education/Libraries/Local/Central.asp 



-----Original Message-----
From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Christine Dyson
Sent: 25 May 2011 10:19
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [LIS-PUB-LIBS] FW: Touch screen public PC provision

Thank you to colleagues who have responded to my request for information on availability of touch screens as part of public PC provision. Your comments have been helpful. 
As promised below are the responses I received.
 
Thanks again
Chris
Bradford Libraries
 
Based on admittedly limited experience, the problem is not the touch screen, but the applications they may access. If they are not specifically designed for touch use, they can be hell to use!

Having recently installed RFID kiosks (touch screens), once you turn off the user interface to access the system admin, you are into pure Windows. The supplier engineers (being experienced) whizz through that - I open the front of the cabinet and plug in a USB keyboard and mouse...

 

So is your target customer accessing special apps in the school via the touch screen?

I assume the school is using Windows 7 which from what I have seen, does have some superb Touch Screen facilities.  We don't have that facility here at the moment, but it is one which I have flagged up for the next time we refresh our Public Computers.  We have 135 Public Computers using XP in 10 Libraries, but each Branch has one PC with a 22" Screen, large keyboard, Supernova and Guide software, trackballs plus other aids that can be used if required. 

For touchscreen technology, Windows 7 is good, but has a huge way to go before it can rival an iPad in my opinion.  Within 5 years, a separate keyboard/mouse will be a thing of the past

 

We do provide Supernova on at least one PC in each branch, as well as making sure the standard Windows accessibility tools are enabled.  To be frank though, Supernova is such a complicated programme to use and gets asked for so rarely we have real difficulties in keeping staff trained to use it and able to support customers when they do use it that I am wondering if that is actually the right approach.


We have also recently purchased a number of standard accessibility kits from Keytools that includes a BigKeys large keyboard, lightweight laptop-style mini keyboard, a large trackball mouse and High Visibility Stickers.  I will be conducting an audit to try and establish which elements are most used and we therefore need to provide more widely around libraries.  However early indications are showing that the large trackball mouse are particularly useful for our Surf's Up internet and PC taster sessions for older customers and we have already ordered more.

 We are also conducting some customer focus groups over the summer, to ask for views on our current IT provision and we will have a group specifically looking at assistive technology, others focusing on our general public PC build and configuration and yet more on the accessibility and usability of our online offerings, so I am, hoping for further insights from that exercise.

 

We have also recently had a request about touch screens, in relation to dyslexia in this case, so I would be very interested in your summary of responses.

 We only have 7 branches and provide height adjustable chairs and one dedicated Special Needs height adjustable desk per branch. Each library also has a touch screen computer, monster key board, large tracker ball mouse, JAWS software, and 2 of our branches have screen magnifiers. 


________________________________

From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Christine Dyson
Sent: 20 May 2011 11:03
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Touch screen public PC provision


Hello
 
We have had a request from a customer to provide a touch screen computer as part of our public PC provision. The customer has a son with Down syndrome and he has this facility at school which is apparently aiding his development greatly. I have read a few articles that do seem to support this.
 
I would appreciate knowing what provision public library authorities make other than more mainstream provision for people with disabilities e.g. desking, chairs, Supernova software, large font keypads.....
 
At present we provide just the above and whilst I am conscious that we have 31 libraries so would need to consider possible multiple provision and if we did provide touch screens we might get requests from other customers asking for different, enhanced provision ......I would like to give this request due consideration.
 
Any thoughts as well as examples of practice would be welcomed.
 
I will collate answers and feedback.
 
Thank you
 
Christine Dyson 

Acting Principal Libraries Officer: Information

Department of Regeneration and Culture – making great places

 

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City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council – Floor 8, Central Library, Prince's Way, Bradford BD1 1NN  

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