November 28, 2005

East Meets West Around Universal Design

"Usability" is the term common among designers of digital information and information interfaces who are interested in Universal Design. Universal Design arises from disability culture in which human variability is definitive and, increasingly, a source of pride and inspiration. Disability culture and its products such as Universal Design interact with values and artifacts produced by other cultures where non-disability is the dominant cultural norm and the rewarded bodily status.

It is instructive to observe to emergence of conversations such as the one at UI Garden where a threefold self-aware conversation takes place between UD, Eastern and Western cultures.



UI Garden shows promise as an important node in the dissemination and evolution of Universal Design. One can imagine the site multiplying its effectiveness through the inclusion of more contributors of the stature of Eleanor Lisney bringing a Disability Studies perspective and the addition of voices indigenous to the various disability communities from both East and West.

Even now the solution focused, business-oriented discussion has direct applicability for those pursuing Universal Design in the travel and hospitality industry. The quetions that can be explored in this East/West nexus could not be more relevant to tourism professionals.

I recommend watching UI Garden grow.

Selected Articles:

November Editor's Commentary>
http://www.uigarden.net/english/?q=lisney

Practicing Usability in Hong Kong
http://www.uigarden.net/english/practicing-usability-in-hong-kong

Posted by rollingrains at November 28, 2005 01:26 AM