RE: Verifiable Claims use case update - International Travel with Guide Dog and Comfort Animals

To the RQTF

Firstly, I'll unfortunately be an apology for today's call as I wrap up my travels, but should be back on board next week. 

Secondly, I've been considering possible use cases as per our action item for this week, and had an idea that stemmed from an issue at a university campus which could be a broader use of verifiable credentials in smart cities. 

Stepping back from being disability-specific for a minute, verifiable credentials would be useful in a university campus context as access to buildings, library, computers, online databases etc could be determined based on credentials such as whether people visiting campuses have a degree from that university giving access to Alumni facilities or if they are a student which course and online access their credentials can provide, or any one of the professional staff, maintenance, academics etc.

Now looking at disability-specific, I was reflecting back on a university I used to attend which had an accessible campus map. While the map did technically provide an accessible way to navigate for people using wheelchairs, its practical implementation was almost impossible. Some of the 'accessible' routes included fire exits that set off alarms, security doors that opened only from the inside, elevators used for equipment where the buttons were too high, etc.

In a verifiable credential scenario, I'm thinking that disability-related credentials would mean that as a person began navigating around campus, in addition to the standard access outlined in the general scenario above, access to particular areas would change as the person is identified. For example, the door that only opens from the inside would identify the person in a wheelchair coming from outside and open the door on approach, the elevator that has buttons too high would have a touchscreen that then represents the buttons a lower level, etc. Likewise if a person was vision impaired and was using a cane, the identifiable credentials would provide more optimised path that didn't have low hanging tree branches, higher haptic elevator buttons, etc. Another scenario is that signage could be changed to be a sign language video for a person that is Deaf, or easier to read for a person with a print disability. Even the message itself could be changed depending on other credentials based on the person's need to be there.

Ideally a university campus or a city urban space should be accessible to everyone, but perhaps the ability for systems to verify a variety of credentials including disability-related requirements could optimise the surrounding environment to better meet the needs of that person. Again I'm not just thinking  of someone specifically enrolled at a campus, but anyone in any sort of urban environment can have their environment optimised for navigation and interaction based on a host of verifiable credential interactions taking place. 

Scott. 





Dr Scott Hollier 
Digital Access Specialist 
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-----Original Message-----
From: Joshue O Connor <joconnor@w3.org> 
Sent: Thursday, 16 January 2020 5:13 PM
To: RQTF <public-rqtf@w3.org>
Subject: Verifiable Claims use case update - International Travel with Guide Dog and Comfort Animals

Hi all,

Based on our conversation yesterday in RQTF/APA, I've updated the wiki with a new use case "International Transfer of Service Dogs and Comfort Animals". [1]

I expanded it to include comfort animal (for people with autism etc).

Thanks

Josh

[1]
https://www.w3.org/WAI/APA/task-forces/research-questions/wiki/Some_use_cases_for_verifiable_credentials#Use_Cases 


-- 
Emerging Web Technology Specialist/Accessibility (WAI/W3C)

Received on Wednesday, 22 January 2020 03:02:23 UTC