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The Elektron Machinedrum and Accessibility

Monday, February 14, 2011

In web design, content must be made accessible so that it is usable by people with disabilities. All of us will have some type of disability at some point in our life, either long term or short. So designing products and services to be accessible is beneficial to us all. In the following review, I examine the Elektron Machinedrum’s level of accessibility.

Last semester I gave a PowerPoint presentation on the accessibility of the Machinedrum for my Designing User Experience II class. The class focuses on web usability, including users with disabilities. Picture me standing in front of the class, PowerPoint projected on the screen, Machinedrum in one hand, mini guitar amplifier clipped to my belt, explaining the basic techniques of creating a pattern from the point of view of a person with no eyesight. The presentation went well and the findings from my research I feel are worth posting.

The Machinedrum and the General Public

For the general public, the Machinedrum is an extremely flexible instrument. In my setup it takes center stage. It’s a powerful drum machine that also controls and syncs external modules through midi commands, processes external sounds, and plays back programmed songs and patterns. It is great in a live situation and sounds like nothing else out there.

Pros

• Provides an alternative to producing music on a computer
• Popular TR-style sequencer
• Full midi capabilities
• Large array of programmable features
• Individual outputs
• Tough construction
• Buttons and knobs are clearly labeled

Cons

• Very few retailers in the US
• High price tag
• Red LCD is small and hard on the eyes
• Some screen information is unclear

The Machinedrum and Individuals with Disabilities

There are many human conditions that are disabling. The main types of disabilities considered in this inspection are visual and mobility.

Visual conditions include color deficiencies and low vision or blindness. Also consider a situation where someone may be operating the machinedrum in a low lighted place such as a bar or someones’ basement. Mobility conditions include tremors, paralysis, wearing a cast and stiff joints among many others.

Pros

• Buttons and knobs are large
• Buttons are springy
• Patterns can be programmed in grid record mode
• Solid, well built and can take rough handling
• External midi controllers such as drum pads can be used

Cons

• Data Entry and volume knobs are stiff
• Function key combinations require two hands
• Edges are hard and corners are sharp
• AC adaptor connection is unstable
• Navigating and interacting with menus is difficult

Color Deficiencies

Individuals with color deficiencies perceive the difference in some colors differently than the majority of the population. When labeling a control panel for example, the colors used must be suitable for these individuals.

Examples of the Machinedrum interface as seen by people with color deficiencies

Examples of the Machinedrum LCD display as seen by people with color deficiencies

Blindness

Pros

• Hands-on controls
• Logical layout
• Pattern mode is simple
• Sounds are edited individually
• Some functions have shortcuts using the Function key
• Comes with preset sounds and patterns
• Can use midi controllers
• Headphone jack

Cons

• Advanced functions are located within menus and require the use of the LCD screen
• LEDs are used to indicate bank group, sound selection, scale length, record mode, etc.

Improvements for Blindness

• Provide braille numbers or raised surfaces under drum keys
• While sequencer is stopped, provide audible cues when keys are pressed to indicate song or pattern mode, record mode, current bank group, and in which parameter menu the user is currently in
• Provide an undo button for live recording