[il-talk] FW: Seeking Blind & Low Vision Participants for a Usability Study

[Ray Campbell]

Hi All:

The following message is asking for participants who are blind or visually
impaired for a usability study.  This is part of implementing the 21st
Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA).  The person I
received this from is the wife of the first vice president of the Glen Ellyn
Lions club of which I am a member, so I'm confident it's all on the up and
up.

They're looking for up to 30 people who are blind or visually impaired from
the Chicago area.  I've got a message into Jessica to find out if there is
compensation for study participants, as is often the case with research like
this.  I'll let you all know what I find out.

If you are interested, please contact Jessica directly.  Please forward this
information onto others whom you think may be interested.  For those who are
deafblind reading this, the phone numbers given are all voice numbers.

Thanks,


Ray Campbell
ray1530 at wowway.com
Skype Name: ray650315

Check out my blog at farmers-boy.livejournal.com
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-----Original Message-----
From: Jessica Buttimer [mailto:jbuttimer at usercentric.com] 
Sent: Monday, June 03, 2013 12:16 AM
To: Ray Campbell (ray1530 at wowway.com)
Cc: Kirsten Jerch
Subject: Seeking Blind & Low Vision Participants for a Usability Study

Hi Ray!

 

This is Jess, Al Buttimer's wife.  I hope this email finds you and Karen
doing well.  

 

I believe Al mentioned that I was interested in connecting with you to find
willing individuals who are blind or have low vision to participate in a
usability study.  I'm hoping you can help me, and my colleague Kirsten
Jerch, find about 30 or more such individuals in the Chicagoland area.

 

First, a bit of background.  

 

The FCC has a fairly new regulation, called the CVAA, which stands for
Communications and Video Accessibility Act.  In short, it states that
technology used for video and communications must be accessible and usable
for those with impairments.  By October 2013, companies must have documented
their efforts to meet this requirement.  If you are interested, the FCC has
somewhat complicated language about this at:
http://transition.fcc.gov/cgb/dro/cvaa.html

 

I am a usability consultant with GfK Custom Research (http://www.gfk.com).
One of our clients, Microsoft, has asked us to help them meet the usability
portion of the FCC requirement.  Starting in mid-June, we will conduct a
number of usability tests with individuals who are blind or have low vision
and use either Skype or Lync to communicate with others.

 

Essentially, we will ask the individual come to our research facility in
downtown Chicago for a 90-minute interview.  Each interview will be
one-on-one, as in one participant speaks with one interviewer.  We will ask
how they use Skype or Lync, the assistive technologies they use, and then
ask them to complete a series of tasks using either Skype or Lync with a
given assistive technology.

 

Do you think you can help us find willing participants?  Or, perhaps you can
connect us with organizations where we can advertise the opportunity?

 

We are particularly concerned about finding qualifying participants who use
Lync - do you happen to know anyone that uses that instant messaging tool to
communicate?  Lync is primarily used in business or government.

 

We also welcome any suggestions you have for making the experience of
participating easy and not intimidating.

 

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.  We are very excited to be a
part of improving communications tools for those with visual impairments!

 

Take Care,

 

--

Jessica Buttimer, M.S.

Senior Research Director | User Experience

Consumer Experiences

GfK Custom Research, LLC

1815 South Meyers Road, Suite 1000

Oakbrook Terrace | IL | 60181 | USA

T +1 630 320 3909 | M +1 630 508 5606

www.gfk.com/ux