How SNAPI works
The SNAPI reader is connected to a PC via a USB cable. The SNAPI card can be placed on top of the reader or inserted into the slot at the end of the reader.
If the SNAPI software is already pre-loaded onto the PC, it will automatically register that the SNAPI card has been inserted.
The PC display will then change to the presets that are saved on the SNAPI card. For example, black text on a white background can be changed to yellow text on a black background.
The SNAPI card offers multiple choices for being able to adapt the PC screen including: Font colour and type; background colour; language; mouse and keyboard settings; screen enhancement features, such as magnification; colour avoidances; speech, audio, kiosk, braille and biometric preferences. Some standard profiles have been developed to simplify card issuance.
The SNAPI set consists of a reader, a SNAPI card and software.
Application areas
In principle, the concept of adaptable user interfaces can be applied to a very wide range of terminals.
Transport
In England, from April 2008 all persons over 60 and people registered as disabled will be entitled to free use of buses after 9.30 am (Scotland and Wales already have similar systems in place). The Department of Transport have specified that the concession passes must be contactless smart cards in accordance to the ITSO specification. This specification already permits the coding of user requirements. In addition all new rail franchises are required to implement ITSO ticketing.
The coding on the card could be used to request larger characters on a screen, speech output from a visual display or more time to go through automatic gates. There is the potential of making real-time passenger information systems, at stations or on board the vehicle, accessible by people with visual impairments.
Finance
The EMV (Europay/Mastercard/Visa) specification for cards does not allow for coding according to EN 1332-4. However it would be possible, on multi-application cards, for the coding to be treated as a separate application. Thus terminals such as ATMs the user could choose for the display to have larger characters with a choice of colours for the text on an uncluttered background, and to use the keypad instead of the touchscreen.
In the foreseeable future there is likely to be a significant increase in non-contact payment systems for low value transactions. The SNAPI coding could permit users to select appropriate feedback; for instance someone who is deaf might want visual feedback to indicate a successful or failed transaction.
Television
In this application the user preference card would permit a special needs user to simply select their preferences (eg subtitles with a specified transparency or audio description), and re-set to default options for other members of the household. Such a system could also be beneficial in hotels so that the guest can easily obtain their preferred mode even though they were not familiar with that model of television set.
More sophistication could be incorporated when interactive television services (eg home shopping in a similar style to web-based services) become more widely available. The coding allows for facilities such as restructuring menus so that they can be selected by number rather than by highlighting the relevant item.
Since all integrated digital televisions in Europe must by law be fitted with a Common Interface (CI), and some set top boxes are also similarly fitted, the CI socket could provide the route for inserting a SNAPI card into digital TV receivers, via a simple card reader that fits into the CI slot.
Government and Local Government
For systems which are on-line, it may be possible to include the customer's account number on the card, and store the coding of the preferences in the network. For off-line systems, the coding will need to be on the card.
In libraries it is common to have internet access which can be used by people who do have internet access at home. Librarians do not always have the time or skills to reconfigure the computer terminal to suit each client (and to reset it before the next user). The SNAPI approach means that the user’s library card can quickly set the computer to the user’s needs and automatically reset the computer for the next user.
In sports centres it is common to hand over one’s membership card at the reception desk. The card is then inserted in a reader and the receptionist is given a display relating to that client’s booking. The SNAPI approach would permit a user to add a message to be displayed on the screen (eg “Please talk slowly and clearly”).
For access control, the card could provide additional feedback; for instance it could provide a visual signal to indicate that the door is now unlocked.
Hot Desking
In schools, universities and some offices, users are expected to use any available terminal. For these systems, the user will usually input their username and password to access the system. Therefore the coding could be stored in the network and activated as soon as the user has logged into the system.