The Kindle Evaluation:
Question: “ Did you enjoy reading with the Kindle2”
Answer: “ yes…….but, there were some challenges”
Technology often offers the hope of easier, faster access to information. People with aphasia frequently experience disappointment as they attempt to use technology. There seem to be too many features, too much visual distraction or too many steps to go through. Design simplicity or universal access approaches will help everyone to be able to use technology.
The Kindle2 appeared to be an accessible technology. When CVAG first discussed the Kindle2, we were impressed by the apparent ease of use and the text to speech option. Even so, we made sure our approach to using the Kindle 2 would provide customized coaching support. We planned from the start to provide Aphasia Friendly strategies so that the technology didn’t create a barrier to the ultimate goal: enjoying reading.
Kindle Coaches assisted each Kindle test driver to construct a personal action plan. The aphasia friendly plans listed Kindle2 operational goals and provided space to list personal reading topics. The test driver was asked to predict the frequency of weekly practice. Kindle coaches assisted test drivers to complete the action plan using multi-modality communication techniques. (our evaluation can be downloaded here)
We wondered if using the Kindle2 was enjoyable and if our approach was beneficial. Before the test drive, we asked test drivers to rate their confidence in enjoying this new technology. (1=Not confident to 5 = very confident) The follow up question was “What are you afraid of ?” Kindle Coaches asked this open-ended question to provide an opportunity to listen and define ways support to the test driver.
After the two week trial period was over, the test driver was asked to rate the appearance, ease of use, speech feature (as a reading support), voice quality and effectiveness of the Kindle. (Was it an effective way to read and get books?) And finally, we wanted to know if they enjoyed TRYING the kindle.
The coaches have worked with 5 group members and are in the process of working with a 6th. Below is our preliminary data for 4 of our group members.
Some observations can be made from looking at this table: All the test drivers express a strong interest in continuing to use the Kindle2. They feel more confident in their ability to use the kindle2. All test drivers met or exceeded their planned Kindle2 practice time. They enjoyed the process of test driving the Kindle2 with the support of the Kindle Coaches.
These test drivers rated Kindle2’s text to speech feature as being “OK”. They all were initially excited about being able to see the text and hear it read. Seeing and hearing the text supports comprehension of written information. The Kindle Coaches demonstrated ways to modify the rate of speech and we taught ways to use the space bar to pause the oral reading. Two specific complaints were consistently heard from our test drivers: speech should be linked to text with highlighting and the voice quality must be improved before it is useful. Test drivers appreciated audiobooks for the natural sounding voice, but they indicated that having text available would be useful.
Test driver ratings and comments regarding the Kindle2′s appearance and ease of navigation were generally positive. They all stated that the screen was very clear and the size of the device was excellent. The “rave reviews” came when we browsed Amazon for the possible books, magazines and newspapers for purchase. Each test driver also expressed strong positive statements concerning the ease of downloading selected reading material.
In our next article we will talk more about what we learned about browsing and book selection. We will provide a little more description of the kind of “work” reading was for our test drivers.
In subsequent articles we will talk about the cost-benefit of our kindle experience. We will include some suggestions for future design features for the Kindle2.
