VAALID · Accessibility and Usability Validation Framework for AAL Interaction Design process

VAALID project aims at creating new tools and methods that facilitate and streamline the process of creation, design, construction and deployment of technological solutions in the context of AAL assuring that they are accessible and usable for senior citizens. <br/>The main objective of the project is to develop a 3D-Immersive Simulation Platform for computer aided design and validation of User-Interaction subsystems that improve and optimise the accessibility features of Ambient Assisted Living services for the social inclusion and independent living. <br/>The results of the project will support the design of the Human Interaction aspects of an AAL solution in all the stages of a user centred design methodology, putting in practice the guidelines for the verification and validation of the accessibility and usability facets. The VAALID system will be a productivity tool that will be used across all the stages of the User Centre Design cycle. The simulation environment is composed by software and hardware components that constitute a physical ensemble that in conjunction allow the ICT designer to implement actual Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality scenarios of AAL. It will be used to verify interaction designs and validate the accessibility of the AAL products by means of immersing the users in 3D virtual spaces. The ICT designer will be able to evaluate the suitability of the proposed solutions with a significant reduction of the global design and development cost. <br/>The use of the VAALID tools will help the European industrial players, ICT companies specialized in Human Factors and User Interaction design, Research and Academia in streamlining their respective business with regard to products and services for the Independent Living and Inclusion, creating new market opportunities. <br/>Project result will be evaluated during 6 months in two pilot sites with up to 100 users.The initial conditions and framework for the effective exploitation of the results will be set up.