Feb 5, 2021 — Statement from Storm Interface following conference call with NFB on the use of personal phones as an accessible interface to Smart City terminals.
Statement for submission to the NFB, the Federal Access Board and Storm sales personnel.
Use of personal phones as an accessible interface
As a manufacturer of Accessible System Interface Devices, including Touchless Kiosk Interface Devices (TKI), Storm Interface are concerned that, following the NFB online conference (IKE Smart City Presentation), clarification is needed about the suitability of mobile phones as a primary (or sole) accessible interface to self-service and ICT systems.
Our concern centers around the needs of people with a diverse range of sensory, physical, dexterity, and cognitive impairments. Including, but certainly not limited to, those with sight impairments.
Use of a touchscreen smartphone as a primary system interface discriminates against the following groups: –
- The significant socio-demographic group without the financial resources to purchase an internet-enabled mobile phone or pay for a service plan to support prolonged internet connectivity and/or application downloads.
- Those visitors to the USA (and other travelers) without international phone service or a roaming capability across all 50 states.
- Those with phones not capable of maintaining battery charge during prolonged periods of use.
- And, most significantly, those with impaired dexterity including, but not limited to; palsy, neuropathy, tremor, missing or atrophied limbs or digits, muscular dystrophy, etc.
When proposing Storm’s Touchless Kiosk Interface (TKI) as an aid to accessibility it is our policy to promote TKI as part of a multi-technology accessible interface solution. It should only be promoted as an augmentation and supplement to tactilely discernible navigation and control of both audible content and visible content displayed on a screen. It cannot and should not be promoted or considered as a compliant accessible interface when used in isolation.
For more information visit Storm Interface
More Information
Media Releases
Reliable in all environments…
Storm’s range of secured, sealed and toughened data entry devices are field proven and laboratory tested.
Whether it’s data entry or industrial control, you need a keypad that’s reliable in all environments
Storm’s range of secured, sealed and toughened data entry devices are field proven and laboratory tested.
Unattended POS applications are now more popular than ever
In the wake of the pandemic, even more businesses are looking to ‘cashierless’ options for their future POS investment. However, it’s important to remember that your self-service solution MUST be usable by ALL customers, regardless of their physical ability.
Storm’s new products receive RNIB accreditation.
The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) have awarded their “Tried and Tested” accreditation to Storm’s new Microphone Array Module and Microphone Activation Sensor.
World Sight Day 2020
As a Corporate Partner of Orbis UK, Storm is proud to support their work on ‘World Sight Day’
