Welcome to 21 Days of Observation
Day 21 | The Accessibility Features in Cellphone
When there is nothing to do today, I accidentally turned on the phone’s accessibility settings via voice assistant. As the image shows above, there is a tool called “TalkBack”. It’s a screen reader for the blind and visually impaired, allowing users to interact with the device by voice feedback. It also provides detailed instructions and…
Day 20 | AccessNow Map
Today I find an online map called ‘AccessNow’. It is not a normal map such as google map. It is the map that provides information about accessibility. Users can input the names of places to search for accessibility features nearby, such as accessible parking, accessible washroom, alternative entrance, ASL, Wheels-User-friendly Elevator, automatic door, Moreover, people…
Day 19 | Web Accessibility Initiative
Web Accessibility Initiative is a website that provides strategies, standards, and resources for web designers to make their webs accessible for all people. Web designers can get inspirations from here and have a clearer recognition of what kind of website is accessible to all by checking accessibility principles. Except for designing, people can also find…
Day 18 | Accessibility Setting in Chrome
I just notice that chrome also has an accessibility setting. On the one hand, it connects with computer system preference, making subtitles and texts having different sizes, colours, and backgrounds. On the other hand, users can add more accessibility features such as a colour enhancer, high contrast, long description in the context menu, notebook web…
Day 17 | Accessibility setting in Mac
In the system preference of Mac, there is a setting called ‘Accessibility’. It divided into five main parts: General, vision, media, hearing, and interacting. Taking vision as an example, VoiceOver can describe the items on computer screens and provide controls through the use of the keyboard. Zoom can make the screen larger or smaller. The…
Day 16 | Language Setting in Google
Google chrome, as one of the most popular browsers in the world, has tens of thousands of audiences and users around the world. Therefore, providing different language services is necessary. As the image shows above, chrome allows users to add languages that they need, and order languages based on their preference. Also, if paying more…
Day 15 | Broadcasting Accessibility Fund
I find a webpage called ‘Broadcasting Accessibility Fund’. It was established to ensure that persons with disabilities are provided with practical and technical means to access broadcasting content, such as mobile phones, television, and computer. This fund will provide grants for creative accessibility designs in Canada. I think the existence of the fund is a…
Day 14 | IT Help Desk of UTSC
On the fourth floor of the BV building of UTSC, there is an IT Help Desk. Usually, there will be one or two staff there for helping to solve some technical problems. But sometimes the waiting line is too long, and sometimes there is no staff. What can students do when facing such situations? The…
Day 13 | The Multilingual Encyclopedia
The encyclopedia is something people would read when they have some problems or doubts. Nowadays, with the development of technology and the internet, people are used to checking their mobile devices when facing problems. Therefore, the encyclopedia turns paper into electronic. Wikipedia is one of the most well-known and popular online encyclopedia. Since it has…
Day 12 | Wheel-Trans Priority Line
I took the bus in Pape station this morning, and I find out that there is a blue poster on wall, showing a string of numbers. It is the wheel-trans priority line. If someone needs help when taking public transportation, he or she can call this number to look for help.
Day 11 | Automatic Sliding Door
The photo shows the front gate of Canada Service Centre. The left gate and right gate are revolving doors. And the gate in middle is a larger sliding door. It is a wheelchair-friendly design. Wheelchair users can push the button on wall to let the door automatically open. This design is widely used in Great…
Day 10 | The Poster on TTC Subway
There is a poster on the TTC Line 2 Subway car. I saw it today when I was coming home. The poster shows a slogan and a paragraph of the brief introduction of TTC’s accessible design. The slogan says, “We’re making it easier for everyone to get everywhere”. The paragraph mentions their new accessible, low-floor…
Day 9 | USB Cable for Public Use in Centennial College
The cafeteria is one of the most crowded places in Centennial College. Students like to spend their leisure time here during break time. Today I noticed a new media screen hanging on the wall. It shows a bunch of interesting videos and some advertisements. But what draws my attention isn’t the screen, but the cables…
Day 8 | The Accessible Design Course in Humber College
Today I accidentally open the website of Humber College in Toronto. There is a course called Making Accessible media: Accessible design in digital media. The webpage shows detailed information about this course, including its teaching ideas and the contents of the course. At the bottom of this webpage, there show various interactive accessibility features. The…
Day 7 | The Elevator in Scarborough Town Centre Bus Station
Today, when I go through the Scarborough Town Centre, I find a new elevator (or not new elevator) in the bus station. It has two push-button board. One is in a normal place like other elevators, another one is on the left side of the waiting area. This design could make it easier for wheelchair…
Day 6 | Liftable Door of TTC Bus
It is not hard to find out that, in the TTC bus, the floor of the front door can be lifted and become a slop for people who need it to get on. Except for the hidden slop footway, I find out that the distance between the floor of the carriage and the ground is…
Day 5 | The Audio Jack on Presto Recharge Machine
Presto card is one of the necessities of life for people living in Toronto. Recharge machines are everywhere in this city, so it is very convenient for people to recharge their cards. However, not everybody can see the screen or read the words. Today when I load my Presto card, I suddenly find out that…
Day 4 | Sharing Chargers in Library
Today when I sit on the sharing table on the second floor of Centennial College, I find a small placard on the table. It gives clear instructions about how to get a laptop power charger on campus. I was so surprised when I saw this. As a student who lives far from campus, sometimes I…
Day 3 | The TV inside the Elevator
When I was walking into the elevator of the condo I live in this morning, I suddenly noticed that the small television hanging on the wall is not a general screen which simply shows something. It is actually a touch screen TV. At the top of the screen, there is a bar showing the time,…
Day 2 | The Garbage Can in the Cafeteria
The cafeteria of Centennial College is the place where the crowds gather. After class, students usually spend their leisure time there since they can study, discuss or play with a portion of food and drinks. As a result, the cafeteria might be the place in Centennial college where makes most waste each day. In order…
Day 1 | Hand Sanitizer in Service Canada Centre
I went to get my SIN number at Service Canada Centre this afternoon. When I waited in line, I find out that there is a box of hand sanitizer beside the waiting line. Service Canada Centre is a public place where many people handle their affairs. To keep comparatively good sanitation and healthy situation, positioning…
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