The SSLIS Seminar | Beyond Standards and Automated Testing: Exploring User-Involved Methods to address Cognitive Accessibility in Human-Centered Design for Business Software and B2B Solutions

Beyond Standards and Automated Testing: Exploring User-Involved Methods to address Cognitive Accessibility in Human-Centered Design for Business Software and B2B Solutions — Jana-Sophie Effert

The presented project explores how people with cognitive accessibility needs can be meaningfully involved in the development of workplace technologies. Rather than focusing on accessibility of software products, the research investigates how user involvement in the development process itself can be realized under real-world industrial conditions. By bridging participatory design ideals with the constraints of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the work examines realistic approaches to user involvement and highlights contextual factors that arise, for example, in usability testing in workplace settings. Initial studies analyzed the structural conditions in SMEs; subsequent usability studies with two work-related technologies provided methodological reflections. The current focus lies on the perspectives of participants themselves, how they wish to engage in, and shape, their own involvement in technology development.

Short Bio: Jana-Sophie Effert is a research and teaching fellow and PhD candidate at the Department of Work, Inclusion and Technology at TU Dortmund University. With a background in psychology (B.Sc.) and a focus on human factors (M.Sc.), her research centers on the human-centered design of inclusive work systems. Focusing on neurodiversity and cognitive accessibility, she pays particular attention to involving people with cognitive accessibility needs in the development of business software to enhance participation in the workplace. 

Language: English
Chair: Nasrine Olson
Zoom https://hb-se.zoom.us/j/66891319632

Jana-Sophie Effert’s webpage: https://ait.reha.tu-dortmund.de/en/research-unit/team/jana-sophie-effert/

The SSLIS Seminar calendar: https://www.hb.se/en/the-swedish-school-of-library-and-information-science-sslis/about-the-swedish-school-of-library-and-information-science/news-and-events/events/