Bill Fischer Portfolio

What is I-See-U?

I-See-U is a blueprint for Accessible and Universal Design Authored by professor Bill Fischer. It supports and facilitates Design Citizenship through research and practice. It integrates Inclusive, Socio-Emotional, Entertaining, and Universal design principles, to move people, society, and culture beyond reaction to action.

My universal design blueprint progresses beyond the technical requirements for the accommodation of persons with disabilities or deficiencies and towards their full participation in the ongoing social fabric of the world in which we all live. Universal design aims for people of all abilities to experience rich media together, at the same time, in the same place, on the same information-channel.

Universal design is, at its core, a UX discipline.

Universal Color The Fischer Universal Color System

The Fischer Universal Color System can be leveraged by designers to create rich experiences for persons with (and without) low vision, light sensitivity, scotopic sensitivity, glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, and color-blindness.


Definition of the Fischer Universal Color System color space.
The Fischer Universal Color Chart with deficiency simulations.
Graphics created using the system.
Color-blind simualation

Universal Graphic Design Case Study: Thematic Maps

In this Substack article I deconstructed a published CDC map, then rebuilt it using universal design principles from my I-See-U blueprint. You can read the full study here (external link).


Original Map
Redesign
Original with colorblind simulation
Redesign with colorblind simulation

Universal Audio-Video Case studies: Integrated Captions


This reel of animation and video includes out-takes from six different KCAD student projects that were part of The EPIC Project. They were tasked with referencing the methodology outlined in My I-See-U blueprint to develop creative methods for integrating captions organically. 

The goal being, a rich experience for both deaf and fully-sensed persons that can be experienced together.

Faculty collaborators were myself, Susan Bonner, and Mike Dollar.

Universal Interactive Media Case study: Games

This case study was created by me and presented at three international conferences, including the Meaningful Games Conference at MSU. It integrates 22 accessibility features without using add-ons like captions and audio descriptions.  See the entire presentation here (external link).


Data outlining the disabilities that will be accommodated.
One of many wireframes outlining oraganically integrated accessibility features.
Journey map outlining adaptive game-play difficulty .
Example of overlayed high production value graphics.

EPIC Project Field Testing and Reporting

21 field tests were executed and reports created as part of The EPIC Project (a collaborative initiative by faculty, students, teachers, and field experts to imagine, create, and test innovative educational media). See all of the field test reports here (external link).

Students at the Grand Rapids Public Museum School testing the Simuli VR app. They are experiencing what it's like to have episodes of severe anxiety, OCD, and dyslexia in school situations.
On-site at the Grand Rapids Public Museum testing the app for the AR-infused LARP game called Old Streets Adventure.
Students testing the EPIC Project and Digital Learning Center websites, under my supervision, with the Grand Rapids Assoc. for the Blind and Visually Impaired, using various screenreader software.
Low-fidelity testing of the Journey to Mars mixed reality virtual field trip concept with student collaborators from the Innocademy school

A.I. / A.R. / Wearables are Disrupting UX and Accessible Design.

My (I-See-U) universal design blueprint is perfectly positioned to facilitate A.I. enabled wearables such as smart glasses with built-in cameras, microphones, speakers, and video displays. These could profoundly transform our lives, and that may be especially true for disabled persons. The I-See-U blueprint for universal design's pre-integration of accessibility will be well positioned because after-the-fact add-ons like audio descriptions, edited captions, and screen-reader extensions won't be viable in these real-time domains.

Imagine these scenarios:

Shown here: Meta Aria Gen 2 Smart Glasses