Categories of User Impairment

Abstract

This work presents a novel classification scheme for human impairments and aims at being as small as possible while simultaneously representing the vast diversity of users with impairments with sufficient accuracy. The scheme is based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health of the WHO and consists of in total 21 impairment categories which are broadly grouped into the four main areas cognition, senses, voice, and movement. The classification scheme is of generic nature and can thus be applied to the design of human artifacts and environments in general, as it considers the plain interaction of the human body with its surroundings in multiple modalities. Simulation of user impairment is a primary application area.