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Haptic Interface in Access Control

Thuresson, Simon LU and Svensson, Cajsa LU (2025) MMKM10 20242
Innovation
Abstract
The switch from mechanical buttons to touch based buttons on numerical keypads did not consider that some of the discoverability of the input keys vanished, especially for people with visual impairments. The mechanical buttons provided something that a screen cannot: tactile feedback. This project explores and finds a solution to the accessibility gap that touch screens impose.
Firstly, research was made to gain information and knowledge about haptics, vibration motors, touch based surfaces and standards for accessibility.
User tests were created and individuals with and without visual impairments were interviewed and observed during interaction with screen-based and traditional button keypads. A quantitative survey was also conducted... (More)
The switch from mechanical buttons to touch based buttons on numerical keypads did not consider that some of the discoverability of the input keys vanished, especially for people with visual impairments. The mechanical buttons provided something that a screen cannot: tactile feedback. This project explores and finds a solution to the accessibility gap that touch screens impose.
Firstly, research was made to gain information and knowledge about haptics, vibration motors, touch based surfaces and standards for accessibility.
User tests were created and individuals with and without visual impairments were interviewed and observed during interaction with screen-based and traditional button keypads. A quantitative survey was also conducted with 152 respondents. The discoveries in the form of user needs laid the foundation for ideation and concept development.
Physical and digital prototyping was conducted with focus on hardware and software respectively. Several concepts were defined which were validated by user testing with four individuals with severe visual impairments. The concept which utilized a physical guide in the form of a physical grid in combination with pressure sensitive haptic touch-based buttons was the most intuitive, comfortable and successful.
The final concept implements the physical guide with added markings around no.5 combined with a pressure sensitive interface which provides the feeling of a physical button using haptics. The design of the final mid-fidelity prototype utilizes dimensions and shape language of Axis’ latest touch-based numerical input keypad for access control. (Less)
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author
Thuresson, Simon LU and Svensson, Cajsa LU
supervisor
organization
course
MMKM10 20242
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
haptic, keypad, universal design, feedback, usability, accessibility
language
English
id
9184421
date added to LUP
2025-02-10 10:16:19
date last changed
2025-02-10 10:16:19
@misc{9184421,
  abstract     = {{The switch from mechanical buttons to touch based buttons on numerical keypads did not consider that some of the discoverability of the input keys vanished, especially for people with visual impairments. The mechanical buttons provided something that a screen cannot: tactile feedback. This project explores and finds a solution to the accessibility gap that touch screens impose.
Firstly, research was made to gain information and knowledge about haptics, vibration motors, touch based surfaces and standards for accessibility.
User tests were created and individuals with and without visual impairments were interviewed and observed during interaction with screen-based and traditional button keypads. A quantitative survey was also conducted with 152 respondents. The discoveries in the form of user needs laid the foundation for ideation and concept development. 
Physical and digital prototyping was conducted with focus on hardware and software respectively. Several concepts were defined which were validated by user testing with four individuals with severe visual impairments. The concept which utilized a physical guide in the form of a physical grid in combination with pressure sensitive haptic touch-based buttons was the most intuitive, comfortable and successful.
The final concept implements the physical guide with added markings around no.5 combined with a pressure sensitive interface which provides the feeling of a physical button using haptics. The design of the final mid-fidelity prototype utilizes dimensions and shape language of Axis’ latest touch-based numerical input keypad for access control.}},
  author       = {{Thuresson, Simon and Svensson, Cajsa}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Haptic Interface in Access Control}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}