Universal and ecological design in media accessibility : finding common ground
Hermosa Ramírez, Irene (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Traducció i d'Interpretació i d'Estudis de l'Àsia Oriental)

Date:	2023
Abstract:	This article cross-checks universal design and ecological design in the context of media accessibility (with an emphasis on audio description, captions, audio subtitling, sign language interpreting, touch tours), aiming to identify practices that adhere to both design approaches. Following a literature review, a theoretical commentary is presented. Therein, each of the seven universal design principles (Connell et al. in The principles of universal design, 1997. https://projects. ncsu. edu/design/cud/about_ud/udprinciplestext. htm) is assessed in the light of ecological design. Three different outcomes are found when connecting universal design and ecological design principles: (1) certain universal design principles overlap with ecological design principles; (2) others are divergent with ecological design principles and (3) some are complementary, that is, they are unrelated but may be reconcilable. Universal design principles one and two (equitable use and flexibility in use) are harmonious with principles of ecological design in several ways. Principles three (simple and intuitive use), four (perceptible information) and seven (appropriate size and space) remain seemingly unrelated to ecological design principles, though they could be reconciled if certain changes were undertaken. Principles five (low physical effort) and six (appropriate size and space for approach and use) of universal design could be antagonistic with ecological design in some regards.
Grants:	Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca 2021-SGR-00077
Note:	Altres ajuts: acords transformatius de la UAB
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Universal design ; Ecological design ; Design principles ; Media accessibility
Published in:	Universal Access in the Information Society, 14 December 2023, ISSN 1615-5297

DOI: 10.1007/s10209-023-01077-9

8 p, 623.0 KB

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