Trace Center Cell Phone Reference Design 1 descriptive text version July 14, 1999 Attached for general information is a reference design that we are working on at the Trace Center for a cellular telephone. This design meets all of the specifications in the FCC/ Access Board Guidelines. This design is intended to show how a single phone can be designed so that it would be cross-disability accessible as well as usable and attractive to mass market customers. This design uses only technologies that are already found in today's cell phones (although the software in the telephones today may not currently be written to use these technologies in an accessible fashion). The only exception to this is hearing aid compatibility with digital wireless phones. This design assumes that industry will develop a solution to this problem in conjunction with ANSI C63 and that that solution would be incorporated into this design. The cost to implement these features is nominal. Basically, it involves the addition of a single button to the key pad on the front of the phone and changing the software instructions that tell the phone how to behave. (A design which does not require the addition of the extra button is also possible.) All of the technologies described and used in this phone are already present in other cell phones today. Most of them are in low cost phones. A couple technologies are currently only found in mid-range phones today, but we expect these technologies to be available in the inexpensive phones shortly (except where there are marketing reasons for companies to reserve some features for higher end phones for product differentiation rather than cost reasons). You should find the following pages attached: 1. A brief description of the Reference Design 1 cell phone which meets all of the FCC guidelines. 2. Notes as to how the access features on page 1 are actually related to a standard product feature that would be desirable by mass market users. 3. A table listing each of the FCC guidelines, how the guideline is met in the proposed reference design, and a comment about cost of implementation. You will note, that in almost all the cases, there are already cell phones on the market that either provide the capability or have the technology necessary to provide the capability. All that would be necessary would be to change the software in the phone that governs its behavior. Additional and related information to this and other reference designs will be at http://www.trace.wisc.edu/world/telecomm/ Note: This reference design is a project of the Trace Research and Development Center and was funded in part by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research of the Department of Education under grant numbers H133E50002, H133A60030, and H133E980008. The opinions contained in this course are those of the grantee and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of Education. ONE phone design that meets all of the FCC proposed access requirements (Trace Center Reference Design 1) An illustration shows a rough sketch of a standard size cell phone that meets all of the proposed FCC access requirements. A matrix display is shown just below the earpiece and a series of buttons and a keypad are displayed below. Directly below the screen, a green diamond-shaped button is positioned on the front face of the phone near the left side with up and down triangular shaped buttons to the right. A circular button is positioned to the right of the up/down buttons. The second row of buttons includes four rounded rectangle shaped function keys. Below this is a raised ridge that separates the function keys from the standard 12 button number pad. The five key includes a tactile nib and each number pad button is a six sided polygon. A second tactile ridge is included below the number pad and a single round button is positioned on the left side of the front face near the bottom of the phone. The left side of the phone includes two additional function keys positioned near the middle of the phone with a headphone jack near the top. The top of the phone includes an infrared port and retractable antenna. The following list of features and descriptions point to specific parts of the phone illustration. * Connector (line points to a connector on the base of the phone) No more fumbling with connector - it can be positioned and inserted purely by touch. You can also connect a keyboard to make programming easier or to send faster text (and TTY) messages. (Keypad on phone can also be used to type text messages.) * Speakerphone function (optional) (line points to the phone earpiece) Facilitates use by people who have difficulty handling the phone * EZ button (Line points to the green diamond button) The EZ button allows you to have the label for any key read to you as well as the contents of the display and all menus and features of the phone.( Useful if you cannot see well, are blind, or if you have trouble reading the text on the phone for any reason.) Spoken words are displayed on screen in large type as well. * Matrix display (line points to matrix display) Allows use of graphics and multiline text messages including TTY conversations * Easy to feel keys (line points to telephone number pad) And a nib on the 5 key and ridge above and below the number keys makes eyes-free dialing easy. (Because of keypad edges, all keys are tactiley different.) Keys are dished as well to make it easy to use a mouthstick or other device to dial. * Headset jack (line points to headset jack at top of left side of phone) Allows connection of neckloops, silhouettes, Assistive Listening Devices, TTY's and headsets * Volume range (line points to the phone earpiece) Meets FCC specifications for those who are hard of hearing (phone is hearing aid compatible) * Infrared (IR) Port (line points to infrared port at the top of the phone) Allows wireless connection of computers and assistive technologies (sidebar) Other Accessibility Features of the Reference Design: * One Button Feature allows you to program the phone so that it will automatically dial just one number (or a small list of numbers) when any button on the keypad is pushed. {Useful for people for whom a standard cell phone is too complicated or for an emergency phone for anyone in the family, young or old.} Cover plate which creates a "one button" phone is available on request. * You can program your phone using the built-in mode or use your personal computer or any Internet browser for a simple, "fill out the information on the screen," way to program the phone. For those who cannot remember numbers easily, you can dial pre-stored numbers by typing a person's name or nickname on the keypad. * For those who cannot remember numbers easily, you can dial pre-stored numbers by typing a person's name or nickname on the keypad. * Voice dialing on selected models. You can just say the person's name or nickname to dial them. * Messaging -You can send and receive digital and TTY messages at any time using the keypad or attachable keyboard. * Special mode allows all functions performed by buttons on side or back to be performed from the buttons and menus on the front of the phone for those who use a headstick or dowel. * Operation of the entire phone is possible from just 3 buttons or from just a single button for those with very severe movement disabilities. (end sidebar) How the same features would be useful in the mass market (Trace Center Reference Design 1) This page includes an illustration of the previous page (phone description and sidebar) with 12 blue ovals containing text from the list below. Each oval has a line drawn to an area of the page layout that shows the relationship between the accessibility features and the mass market features. * One button phone for easy use by kids or grandparents. Can leave phone with babysitter after setting to dial just one or a couple numbers. (line points to one button feature) * Much easier to program phone numbers, features, etc. (line points to phone programming by computer or internet browser description) * Headsets, hands free or car use (lines point to speakerphone and headset jack features) * Dial without looking at the keyboard (line points to easy to feel keys description) * Read small, seldom used labels without reading glasses. Read message or page while driving. (line points to EZ button description) * Easier to correctly connect charger and accessories. Optional keyboard makes typing of longer messages easier (e. g. hotel room email) (line points to connector description) * Send and receive text messages (line points to messaging feature) * Voice Dialing (line points to voice dialing description) * Dial by simply typing a name (line points to description of name or nickname feature) * Text messaging or paging (line points to description of name or nickname feature) * Use phone in noisy environments (crowds, subway, airport, etc.) (line points to description of volume range) * Wireless connection to computer (modem) (line points to description of infrared port) (linearized table) How Trace Center Reference Design #1 addresses each of the FCC Guideline:s Column headings: FCC Guideline: FCC Guideline Met? How the requirements are met: Cost & Ease of Implementation: (If a company had been doing this as a matter of course. e.g. does not include cost of acquainting engineers with access.) SUBPART C -- REQUIREMENTS FOR ACCESSIBILITY AND USABILITY Sec. 1193.41 Input, control, and mechanical functions. FCC Guideline: (a) Operable without vision. FCC Guideline met? yes How the requirements are met: Tactile keys and landmarks All input and functions accessible via voice output Cost & Ease of Implementation: - All needed electronics for digitized speech already in today's digital phones; Need only small additions to software and sometimes additional memory (~100k) which will cost little in phones tomorrow. Memory is already available today in many phones (used for digital voice recording). - (This reference design uses spelled speech for transmitted text - voice synthesis will be possible in near future but is not quite practical today for inexpensive phones. Voice synthesis using network facilities is practical today - but is not proposed here.) FCC Guideline: (b) Operable with low vision and limited or no hearing. FCC Guideline met? yes How the requirements are met: -Matrix Display - the labels of all buttons can be shown in large print prior to activating them. Cost & Ease of Implementation: Many newer cell phones already use matrix displays. Many have large print displays as standard or as a user setting. FCC Guideline: (c) Operable with little or no color perception. FCC Guideline met? yes How the requirements are met: All color coded buttons and indicator lights distinguishable by other means (shape, label) Cost & Ease of Implementation: - Not a problem in most phones today. Any use of color just has to also be accompanied with a text label - as is true on all phone keys today. FCC Guideline: (d) Operable without hearing. FCC Guideline met? yes How the requirements are met: Vibration ringer alert. Also buttons have tactile feel of activation (i.e. do not rely on auditory beeps). Visual indication of line status. Cost & Ease of Implementation: - Vibrator is standard in many cell phones. (Not in lower cost phones mostly due to marketing rather than cost.) Visual indication of line status is software only. FCC Guideline: (e) Operable with limited manual dexterity. FCC Guideline met? yes How the requirements are met: EZ Access* - buttons can be selected in 2 steps - press desired button then confirm with EZ Button; Dished keys easy to press; Also optional 1-Button mode ; Connection of customized external keyboard. Cost & Ease of Implementation: - Software only for confirm and 1 button access features. (Less than 2k memory.) - Dished keys is no cost, just a different key shape. - Keyboard connection can be via Infrared or the connector on bottom (Based on industry standard ANSI/TIA/EIA-688) FCC Guideline: (f) Operable with limited reach and strength. FCC Guideline met? yes How the requirements are met: Buttons easy to press down; One button mode. Optional Speakerphone is easier for people who cannot place phone to ear; Optional Voice Dialing is faster for some. Cost & Ease of Implementation: - Light button pressure is standard on many phones. Optional speakerphone and voice dialing features are increasingly common - and cost for these features is dropping precipitously. (Speakerphone and voice dialing not required for access in this design). FCC Guideline: (g) Operable without time-dependent controls. FCC Guideline met? yes How the requirements are met: Time-outs can be modified via preferences menu Cost & Ease of Implementation: - Menu option. (easily implemented in software) FCC Guideline: (h) Operable without speech. FCC Guideline met? yes How the requirements are met: Speech input of commands not required; Text communication modes available. Cost & Ease of Implementation: - Ability to control phone without requiring speech is standard on most all phones. - Text communication is common on digital phones and will be standard soon. FCC Guideline: (i) Operable with limited cognitive skills. FCC Guideline met? yes How the requirements are met: EZ Access - all functions accessible via speech output; Also one-button / single number dialing with optional cover plate; Infrared port - allows user programming via simplified step-by-step computer interface Cost & Ease of Implementation: - Speech output of all printed text is already covered above (first item). - One button dialing and single number dialing is software only. - Optional cover plate would cost a bit but is not needed for access. - IR port is standard on many cell phones Sec. 1193.43 Output, display, and control functions. FCC Guideline: (a) Availability of visual information. FCC Guideline met? yes How the requirements are met: EZ Access - all functions and displayed text available via speech Cost & Ease of Implementation: - Cost covered above. FCC Guideline: (b) Availability of visual information for low vision users. FCC Guideline met? yes How the requirements are met: Matrix Display - all functions and messages shown in large print on display Cost & Ease of Implementation: - A small addition to software to have the phone display the words when it speaks them as discussed above. FCC Guideline: (c) Access to moving text. FCC Guideline met? yes How the requirements are met: Arrow buttons - text can be paused or stepped through using arrow buttons - configurable via preferences menu Cost & Ease of Implementation: - Preferences menu option (easily implemented in software) FCC Guideline: (d) Availability of auditory information. FCC Guideline met? yes How the requirements are met: Ringing tones, beeps shown on display (and vibrating ringer). TTY messages shown on display. Speech to Text available via relay services. VCO supported. Cost & Ease of Implementation: - Using the Lucent solution strategy (or final standard), TTY codes can be decoded in digital phones using software. A little additional software would allow TTY text to be displayed. - All other sounds made by the phone can be visually displayed as well using existing displays. FCC Guideline: (e) Availability of auditory information for people who are hard of hearing. FCC Guideline met? yes How the requirements are met: Full FCC volume range. Cost & Ease of Implementation: - Cell phones already exist that meet the FCC specified levels FCC Guideline: (f) Prevention of visually-induced seizures. FCC Guideline met? yes How the requirements are met: Flashing lights all within acceptable flash frequencies. Cost & Ease of Implementation: - No cost. Not a problem on most phones today. FCC Guideline: (g) Availability of audio cutoff. FCC Guideline met? yes How the requirements are met: Headset being placed in jack cuts off the speaker Cost & Ease of Implementation: - Standard industry practice. FCC Guideline: (h) Non-interference with hearing technologies. FCC Guideline met? yes How the requirements are met: Per Standards group ANSI C63 Cost & Ease of Implementation: - Already being addressed by industry. FCC Guideline: (i) Hearing aid coupling. FCC Guideline met? yes How the requirements are met: Hearing aid t-coil compatibility Cost & Ease of Implementation: - Already common in many phones including world's smallest mass market cell phone. SUB D - COMPATIBILITY Sec. 1193.51 Compatibility. FCC Guideline: (a) External electronic access to all information and control mechanisms. FCC Guideline met? yes How the requirements are met: Infrared port allows activation of all features remotely. Cost & Ease of Implementation: - Already common in many cell phones (including Nokia's most popular model). Only software protocol needs to be added. FCC Guideline: (b) Connection point for external audio processing devices. FCC Guideline met? yes How the requirements are met: Standard subminiature headset jack connects to external auditory processing devices Cost & Ease of Implementation: - Hardware for this is already used by most cell phone companies for connection of headsets (including world's smallest mass market cell phone). - No cost to use standard signal levels. FCC Guideline: (c) Compatibility of controls with prosthetics. FCC Guideline met? yes How the requirements are met: Keys do not require contact with human body to work. Dished keys make it easier to press keys for people with limited manipulation. Cost & Ease of Implementation: - Not aware of any phones that fail this guideline today (though there probably is one). - Most (non-cell) phones also have dished keys like the old touchtone phones. FCC Guideline: (d) TTY connectability. FCC Guideline met? yes How the requirements are met: Headset jack is a TTY connector Cost & Ease of Implementation: - Headset jack already used as TTY connector today for some TTYs. (see also next item) FCC Guideline: (e) TTY signal compatibility. FCC Guideline met? yes How the requirements are met: Phone can send and receive TTY signals. Cost & Ease of Implementation: - One of 3 industry proposed all software solutions is used. (which work with today's phones.) * Note: The access package above can be implemented with or without a separate green diamond "EZ" button. Implementation with the button is preferable. The cost for the extra button is in the cents range if done as part of the overall original keyboard design.