Evolution of User Interfaces for the Visually Impaired

Author: Umakant Mishra

Abstract:

Physically or mentally challenged people cannot use a computer in the same way a normal people can. For example, persons with disability in hands cannot use a standard keyboard or mouse efficiently. Persons having visual disability cannot benefit from a standard display screen. People having locomotor challenge, visual disability or hearing problem etc. cannot interact with a computer like a normal person. So it is necessary to design the computers, interfacing devices and software interfaces with special features, which can be used by the people with physical challenges.

There are many input/output devices like mouse, keyboard, pointers, and touch screens etc. to improve the human computer interaction. But it is a challenge for the inventors and manufacturers to build such devices for people with physical challenges. One of the major difficulties for the inventors is to visualize the difficulties of a visually impaired person and invent such special devices that would assist them as desired. Similarly it is challenging for the manufacturers to build these special equipments, as there are not enough customers for these products for a commercial viability.

This article analyses different types of visual disabilities, different assistive technologies for different types of visual disabilities, guidelines for developing user interfaces for the visually impaired, software products available for assisting the visually impaired, and Inventions made on such adaptive technologies. The objective is to analyze and explore various assistive technologies for the visually impaired users, and throw some light on the possibility of future improvements of such devices and/or interfaces.

Keywords: TRIZ, Innovation, Inventive Problem Solving, Invention, Software Patents, GUI, Software inventions, Graphical User Interface, GUI design, GUI elements, assistive technologies, adaptive interfaces, speech recognition, VRS, Visual disabilities, Karaoke, speech synthesis, Braille,

Mishra, Umakant, Evolution of User Interfaces for the Visually Impaired (May 1, 2014). Available at SSRN:http://ssrn.com/abstract=2431689

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262116475_Evolution_of_User_Interfaces_for_the_Visually_Impaired

http://works.bepress.com/umakant_mishra/125

Methods of Implementing Sustainable Development

While economic growth, industrialization and urbanization are generally perceived as development they are unsustainable as long as they are not completely in harmony with the social and environmental conditions. Hence the focus is not moving from economic growth sustainable economic growth, business to sustainable business and urbanization to sustainable urbanization etc. The term “sustainable” adds social and environmental obligations and opportunities in order to build healthy ecosystems and strong communities.

Sustainability gives high importance to natural resources and ecological functions because they cannot be replaced by any manmade substitutes. Man made resources can support it or replace to some extent but not completely. Hence the first and foremost objectives of sustainability are to preserve the natural resources and make no further damage to the environment. While it is not possible to attain “total sustainability” or sustainability from all aspects it still remains as an ideal objective.

One of the key implementation is by using the solar energy. Solar energy is free, renewable and causes no pollution. Solar energy is encouraged everywhere whether in sustainable urbanization or sustainable buildings or sustainable transportation. However, many technologies are yet to come regarding utilization of solar energy for various purposes like lighting, heating, cooling, running vehicles and other purposes. The future will see more and more sustainability programs in every organization and in every sector. 

Is Anti-Virus a Necessary Evil? Using TRIZ Ideality and Contradictions to find out what is Necessary and what is Evil

Author: Umakant Mishra

Abstract:

While everybody is becoming more and more dependent on computers there are some unscrupulous people who continuously try to misuse the technology and get illegal and illegitimate benefit out of this sophisticated environment. Today the Internet is like a busy street or open market place where you find almost everything you want. As there are some obvious risks when you stand or move in a busy street such as you are likely to be pick pocketed or cheated or even knocked out by a rash driving vehicle. Similar threats loom over the head of a user when he is exposed to the Internet. There are viruses, malware, spyware, spam, hackers and other malefic forces who not only damage the computer system of innocent computer users but also do more dangerous things like stealing their confidential data or stealing their identity to make bank transactions on their behalf.

An anti-virus program is generally considered as a remedy to all the above problems. The anti-virus program (including anti-spyware, internet guard etc.) not only detects the malware in your system but also guards the computer system from external attacks while you are surfing the Internet. It is supposed to detect if a spyware is stealing your passwords or a hacker is making an inward connection to squeeze your PC. But is the current age anti-virus program really giving a remedy to all these problems? Many people think that an anti-virus program along with its siblings like anti-spyware, anti-adware, internet guard etc. create a lot of burden on the user. While the computer users cannot afford to avoid using anti-virus programs most user feel it as a necessary evil.

Keywords: Software Innovation, computer virus, anti-virus, anti-virus software, computer vulnerability, computer security, anti-virus design, inoculation, virus scanning, virus detection, viral attacks, virus database, virus problems, anti-virus problems

This paper was first published in the TRIZ featured Articles of Altshuller Institute of TRIZ studies (USA) during Aug 2013, currently available on the web at http://www.aitriz.org/triz-articles/triz-features/628-anti-virus.

Mishra, Umakant, Is Anti-Virus a Necessary Evil? (May 8, 2014).  Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2434470

http://works.bepress.com/umakant_mishra/124

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262116257_Is_Anti-Virus_a_Necessary_Evil_Using_TRIZ_Ideality_and_Contradictions_to_find_out_what_is_Necessary_and_what_is_Evil

Critical Considerations for Developing MIS for NGOs

Author: Kailash Chandra Dash and Umakant Mishra

Abstract:

Although Information Systems and Information Technology (IS & IT) has become a major driving force for many of the current day organizations, the NGOs have not been able to utilize the benefits up to a satisfactory level. Most organizations use standard office tools to manage huge amount for field data and never feel the need for a central repository of data. While many people argue that an NGO should not spend too much money on information management, it is a fact that organizing the information requires more of a mindset and an organized behavior than a huge financial investment.

Keywords: NGO, Voluntary Organization, Non profit Organization, MIS, Management Information Systems,

Dash, Kailash Chandra and Mishra, Umakant, Critical Considerations for Developing MIS for NGOs (March 26, 2014). Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2416294 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2416294

http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2416294

http://arxiv.org/abs/1403.7344

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/261098284_Critical_Considerations_for_Developing_MIS_for_NGOs

http://viXra.org/abs/1403.0940

http://works.bepress.com/umakant_mishra/123

Understanding Secrets of Sustainability through TRIZ Philosophy

Author: Umakant Mishra

Abstract:

After creating the weapons that can destroy the world, the next challenge of man is not to win an enemy but to survive the disasters. The modern man realizes that the worst challenges to face are the manmade disasters. While the nature has given us a well-disposed atmosphere to grow we are spoiling the natural resources through various anti-environmental activities. Our partial knowledge on development has taken us through a so-called development, which is neither eco-friendly nor sustainable. It is therefore important to control our own activities and behavior to minimize their negative effects on other adjacent systems and environment.

Any system or process or practice can become unsustainable because of internal conflicts or contradictions. Gain of one group of people causes trouble to another group of people (say, by unfair trading). Improvement in transportation (say, running of vehicles) pollutes air and environment. Growth of urbanization causes deforestation and global warming. It is necessary to overcome these contradictions to achieve sustainability.

The concept of sustainability is very similar to TRIZ concept of Ideality. An ideal or sustainable system should have all desired (positive) features and no harmful (negative) features. A sustainable system is ideal and an ideal system is sustainable. Both the concepts can be applied to anything, such as, a product, a process, a practice, a structure, a system or an organization. 

Keywords:

Economic sustainability, Environmental Sustainability, Total Sustainability, TRIZ for Society, Co-systems, Super-system, Subsystems, Contradiction, Ideality, Ideal Final Result (IFR), Solving Contradictions

Umakant Mishra, Understanding Secrets of Sustainability Through TRIZ Philosophy (April 7, 2014). Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2421392 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2421392

http://works.bepress.com/umakant_mishra/122

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262104418_Understanding_Secrets_of_Sustainability_through_TRIZ_Philosophy

Designing an MIS Database for Selection and Recruitment

Author: Umakant Mishra

Abstract:

Selection and recruitment is a key HR function and it is often necessary to maintain at least a small database of all the candidates who have been invited in past interviews. This information may be considered as a part of HR MIS and may be maintained by HR department along with other HR MIS such as employee information, transfers, performance appraisals, trainings etc.

This recruitment MIS database includes all the candidates after the preliminary scrutiny is over. When the candidates go through different stages of interviews, the MIS also captures all their interview results. Maintaining this information not only helps the HR manager but also helps other senior managers to find the short listed/ interviewed candidates quickly from the database.

As this MIS data contains confidential information, such as, salary negotiations etc., the access to this data should be restricted only to few senior managers. The MIS administrator may assign read/write access to different data/reports based on the role and responsibility of the manger in the organization.

Keywords: information systems, management information system, MIS database, recruitment database, employee database, database design, database structure, software design, MIS design

Mishra, Umakant, Designing an MIS Database for Selection and Recruitment (September 13, 2013). Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2325533 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2325533

http://ssrn.com/abstract=2325533

http://works.bepress.com/umakant_mishra/121

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262103972_Designing_an_MIS_database_for_selection_and_recruitment

How to Implement Access Rights in an MIS Project

Author: Umakant Mishra

Abstract:

The MIS data is critical to an organization and should be protected from misuse by wrong persons. Although The MIS data is typically meant for the senior managers each MIS report may not be required by every manager. The access to MIS data is determined by the role of an individual in the organization and controlled by the MIS administrator accordingly. The access is generally determined by the following parameters, (a) the type of user (such as staff or manager etc.), (b) the type of data (whether general data or managerial data), (c) level of access (read/ write/ admin access) and (d) special access allocated by MIS admin. By combining all the above four parameters, each individual user can be allocated exact specific rights required to access the MIS.

Keywords: information systems, management information system, computer security, data security, access rights, MIS security, data protection, access level

Mishra, Umakant, How to Implement Access Rights in an MIS Project (August 24, 2013). Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2315570 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2315570

http://ssrn.com/abstract=2315570

http://arxiv.org/abs/1309.5393

http://works.bepress.com/umakant_mishra/120

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/256926173_How_to_Implement_Access_Rights_in_an_MIS_Project