Hardware checklist

Controls and latches should be reachable and operable with one hand and minimal dexterity.

Users with little or no use of their hands or with limited reach can have difficulty accessing and manipulating some controls. System controls which are located at the rear of the system cannot be operated by a user in a wheel chair or with limited reach. A user with limited dexterity cannot use latches or controls which require a tight grasping or twisting motion to activate them. A user with one hand cannot open laptop computers which require two latches to be released simultaneously.

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The following techniques are the minimum required to meet Checkpoint 1.1 from the IBM Hardware Accessibility Checklist:

• Controls shall be operable with, and media shall be inserted or removed with, one hand and shall not require tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist. The force required to activate controls shall be 5 lbs. (22.2 N) maximum.
• Products which are freestanding, non-portable, and intended to be used in one location and which have operable controls or media access should comply with the following guidelines from the Final Section 508 standards:
  1. The position of any operable control or any media access shall be determined with respect to a vertical plane, which is 48 inches in length, centered on the operable control, and at the maximum protrusion of the product within the 48 inch length.

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  2. Any operable control or media access which is 10 inches or less behind the reference plane, should be between 15 and 54 inches above the floor.
  3. Any operable control or media access which is more than 10 inches and not more than 24 inches behind the reference plane, should be between 15 and 46 inches above the floor.
  4. Operable controls or media access should not be more than 24 inches behind the reference plane.

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The above techniques are required; the following techniques are recommended to enhance accessibility.

• Locate controls or media access on the front of the system for easy reach.
• Use controls and latches which require light pressure such as:
  • Pushbuttons
  • Concave buttons to assist mouth stick or head stick users.
  • Up/down control buttons
  • Concave rocker switches
  • Sliding controls
• The force required to activate the control should be no more than 10 to 20 ounces for finger activation and 10 to 80 ounces for palm activation.
• Avoid controls which require a twisting motion or a push and twist motion.
• Avoid push-pull controls.
• Avoid controls which are required to be held down for a period of time.
• The Telecommunications Industry Association provides recommendations for force for a variety of controls in their "Resource Guide for Accessible Design of Consumer Electronics".
• When appropriate include a comment for this checkpoint which indicates it is the responsibility of customers to assure that rack mounted components meet their employees limitations.

Test the hardware to ensure that it complies with accessibility requirements.

Tools

You will need the following tools to test this checkpoint:

• Force or torque gauge.
• Measuring tape

Techniques