Richard Ladner, author of our cover story, was recognized with the 2014 SIGCHI Social Impact Award for his research in
and contributions toward making
computing more accessible. In this
issue, he challenges HCI researchers
and practitioners in accessibility
and inclusive design to incorporate
persons with varying abilities and
disabilities on their design and
development teams. He describes
this type of true engagement by users
as design for user empowerment.
The cover story illustrates by examples
how users are empowered to solve
their own accessibility problems.
The implications of this approach
include scalability and new approaches
to innovation. As Ladner writes, if
one billion people in the world have
a significant disability, it only makes
sense to see the challenge as one of
empowerment and user creativity.
We are grateful and appreciative
of Viktoria Modesta, a multimedia
artist, DJ, and “bionic woman” who
graces this issue’s cover. Her futuristic,
in collaboration with Sophie de Oliveira
Barata, director of the Alternative Limb
Project. Based in the U. K., this project
provides unique prosthetics to blend in
with the body or stand out as a unique
piece of art, reflecting the wearer’s
imagination, personality, and interests.
Wearers are involved in all stages of the
process, from conception of ideas to the
final work. An alternative-style limb
can help to break down social barriers,
delight the eye, and provide an unusual
talking point. We encourage you to
learn more about their fantastic work at
www.thealternativelimbproject.com.
Given the dates of the CHI
conference this year, this is our
“CHI issue.” It is jam-filled with
HCI topics and shows the incredible
diversity of interests and pursuits of
the SIGCHI community. In line with
focusing on human abilities, this issue
presents a special topic on HCI and
Sports edited by Stina Nylander and
Jakob Tholander. We also have new
additions to our regular contributors.
We would like to welcome our newest
columnist, Uday Gajendar, the director
of UX at CloudPhysics. Uday has been
a regular Interactions blogger and
agreed to shift from bits to atoms
in our print magazine! We also
welcome two new forum editors:
Mikael Wiberg introduces his new
forum Interaction and Architecture,
and Daniela Rosner debuts her new
forum Design as Inquiry.
Things are always changing at
Interactions. As we have new forums
we have departing forums. We would like
to acknowledge and thank the fantastic
work over the years by Eva Hornecker,
our dedicated editor for Let’s Get
Physical, a forum on tangible computing.
Research on tangible, embodied, and
embedded computing has no doubt
benefited from Eva’s work on this forum.
Maybe you are reading this while
momentarily taking a break from
sessions at CHI 2015 in Seoul or
enjoying your CHI sabbatical this
year! Regardless, we ask that you
stay connected with us at Interactions
through print, online, or all things
social media.
Ron Wakkary and Erik Stolterman
eic@interactions.acm.org
Our cover story illustrates
how users are empowered
to solve their own
accessibility problems.
Recognition and
Empowerment
DOI: 10.1145/2737649 COPYRIGHT HELD BY AUTHORS
INTERACTIONS.ACM.ORG MARCH–APRIL 2015 INTERACTIONS 5
WELCOME
Ron Wakkary Erik Stolterman