Technology

Hold that door….! Opportunities to Improve Accessibility are Closer Than You Think

Have you ever thought about how long an elevator’s doors ought to stay open? I have thought about this several times over the past few years and just wrote a long overdue email to property management in my condo.

Beyond the uncluttered views of this lakeside condo, I chose to move here for single-floor living and easy-to-access amenities (if visiting, you can pick up dinner, wine, and chocolate right downstairs!) because I was afraid of how multiple sclerosis (MS) might rear its head. Having had four attacks in as many years, the last one inviting me to walk with a 15-year old baby-stroller for support (the stroller came with cargo space and I was happier to look liked I’d misplaced a child more than that I needed a walker 🤔), I had definitely noticed that the elevator doors closed very quickly but never thought to do anything about it.

That was until I came to know a fellow resident who experiences MS more severely than I do. My friend – let’s call her Jean, rolls in a wheelchair or scooter. Several months ago, we chatted about the challenge she faced because of the quick-closing elevator doors. I decided that I would write to our board to request they be slowed down. Since then, I have noted many times when I would have benefitted from extra time. Any time I have heavy shopping bags, or new planters for the patio that I have to set down while I’m waiting for the elevator, I need more time to be able to pick them up and get to the available car. I have also spoken with a few residents who agreed that it would be helpful.

Today, I decided to start investigating what we are dealing with and what, if anything is legislated.

First, I timed the door:
a) 2.4 seconds to open
b) 2.5 seconds fully open
c) 2.8 seconds to close

Then, I measured the distance from the elevator call button in my hallway to the furthest elevator. Over 12 feet (3.66 m).

Have a look at just how quick it is…

I started to investigate regulations that should inform what we do. I keep hearing about accessibility legislation so didn’t think it would be very difficult.

Not so fast.

Yes, we have the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, established in 2006 and as of today, adopted by 183 nations, one of which is Canada.

But what do we have in my country of Canada, my province of Ontario, and my city of Toronto to help guide us? After all, jurisdiction matters if you want to look to legislation as a lever. From a building code perspective, the provinces determine what we must do for safety but touch lightly on accessibility. One recent change, for example, is that sensors must not only detect what is between the doors, they must detect an approaching object. I could find no mention of door opening time. The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act is slowly building standards to which organizations with over 50 people must adhere. Accessibility, it seems, is left to the cities to guide and these guidelines vary. In a condo, you are at the mercy of the condo board.

Here’s some of what I found:

The U.S. Americans with Disabilities Act standards of 2010 state that elevator doors must be open for a minimum of 5 seconds. It offers a formula to augment that duration based on the distance one would need to travel to reach the door after pressing a call button. In this case, 8 seconds would be warranted. Brock University and the City of London (Ontario) stipulate 8 seconds without regard to distance.

The City of Toronto’s 2021 Accessibility Design Guidelines have simpler guidance: “Have a minimum period of 5 seconds before the doors start to close if it is a hall call, and 3 seconds if it is a car call.” The hall call assumes that 2 seconds will enable you to cover whatever the distance is to the elevator. It also does not clarify if this is from the start of the doors opening or from the doors being fully open.

I’m curious to see what action will be taken. Torontonians are known for being impatient and often in a rush so I expect that there will be some resistance to making a shift. In fact, the city worker I spoke to suggested the sensors should take care of it because they would sense a body or wheelchair in the way of the doors. So not good enough! Why should someone have to sense doors closing on them as a matter of course?

Many changes have been made to improve accessibility that benefit far more than folks in wheelchairs. Take the curb cuts I talked about with Peter Shankman in episode 19 of the Happy Space Podcast, for example.

I invite you to notice what is inaccessible in your world and consider what small steps you might take to open the world up a little for those who face barriers.

I’ll keep you posted on what the board says by updating this post when I have an answer and also by sharing it in my monthly missive, “the museletter”. Sign up here to stay in the know.

In the meantime, go be an ally. We will all benefit.

How to find more productive places to work from home

(This post is sponsored by Samsung Canada and Staples Canada. All opinions – and the cat – are my own.)

With more people working and studying from home because of the pandemic, our home study spaces can be seriously under pressure. Nothing is more stressful than having everyone dive into the office for the coveted, quiet spot in the house at the same time.

I’ve got three tips for you to take the pressure off! Better understanding what each person has to do should help you expand the variety of suitable places to work in your home and help confirm the need for any additional furniture or technology to support you.

Step One – Complete a task audit.

Take some time to think through each person’s commitments and specifically what kinds of activities they will undertake. It can be helpful to think through these tasks in three categories:

a) Consumption – Taking in new information by reading, listening, or watching.

b) Creation – Making new works on a computer or with paper, music, food, or other materials

c) Collaboration – Working with others

Prepare an inventory of all tasks including such activities such as attending online classes, reviewing notes, drawing, colouring, podcasting, writing on a whiteboard, reading, and meeting with others (virtually or socially distanced), and of course, mind wandering.

For each task, identify the technology or materials that will support you in accomplishing your task. Technology is always innovating and often the improvements can drive a significant productivity boost. Samsung Canada sent me two products in their lineup to try out.

A more powerful tablet

It used to be that tablets were ideal for consuming information but a challenge when it came to creating. Since my first tablet, about ten years ago, tablets have evolved dramatically. I remember feeling so liberated by the tablet which I could use while reclining after a car accident left me unable to sit at my desk for the second half of the day. But there was a lot I couldn’t do.

The brand new Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ with its 12.4-inch display (and its smaller 11-inch sister, the Galaxy Tab S7) combines the power of a pc with the portability of a tablet. To be released in Canada on September 18th, 2020 both tablets will be available just as classes are starting across the country.

Both versions come with an “S” pen, which Samsung also refers to as a “magic wand”. That made me curious! Since high school, I have enjoyed hand-writing my notes but so far haven’t tried an electronic solution that felt as comfortable as writing in a regular paper notebook. Not only do old habits die hard, there are studies that show handwriting improves memory retention(1) in part because there is more time to think while writing than typing. And if you’re sharing your notes, you can convert your writing text for easier readability.

Latency, the delay for the image to show up while writing, has been reduced to a hard-to-notice 9 ms – and the haptic of friction and sound while writing now means that taking notes on a tablet provides an experience which closely mirrors the feeling of writing on paper. It feels good.

What about the magic? The “S” pen includes sensors that detect motion enabling shortcuts for your workflow and a click button which offers remote control for your camera and presentations.

Enjoy a better, brighter screen

Have you ever been working on a laptop outside and been frustrated because it was difficult to see the screen? Samsung has brought the QLED technology pioneered in its television lineup to laptops for a portable cinematic viewing quality.

QLED stands for quantum dot LED (light-emitting diode). According to CNET, “Quantum dots are microscopic nanocrystals that glow a specific wavelength (i.e. color) when given energy.”(2) It’s this extra light that gives the screen a brightness boost making it easy to see in the most illuminated rooms. An “Outdoor Mode” kicks the light up even further with a function key.
First introduced in May 2020, the Galaxy Book Ion is a beautifully crafted, sleek and slim, less-than-a-kilogram light laptop with a battery that will carry you through your day and then some. The extra bright screen and easy portability open up more workspace possibilities.

Step Two – Pick a posture.

Comfort is a key ingredient for maximum productivity and performance. If we are uncomfortable, it is a real-time distraction and what I call “energy thief” and can also be the beginnings of a long-term injury. Paying attention to the ergonomics of each environment for each person cannot be overlooked and one size does not fit all. That said, there are more options than you might think for working effectively. Here are some thoughts to consider.

a) Sitting

Student desk, chair and office supplies — Photo: Staples Canada

Let’s tackle the most obvious work posture first. Whether at a desk or a table, make sure your wrists are flat when using your keyboard. This might mean raising the chair. If your feet are now dangling, add a footrest. A footrest not only supports your legs, it helps keep you sitting properly with your lower back against the back of the chair. If you are not feeling the chair back when fully in the seat, add a pillow or lumbar support. Note that women have deeper curves in their lumbar area of the spine and will likely need more support than men.

If you’re using a computer for longer than an hour, invest in a separate wireless keyboard and mouse, as well as a laptop stand to place the screen at a more comfortable viewing height and distance. Your neck will thank you.

Staples Canada has many affordable chair and desk options to choose from. If you’ve been struggling to make do, it could be time to create another workstation to keep everyone comfortable.

b) Standing
Create standing workstations to not only ease the pressure on your sitting stations and on your backs! When setting up a standing station, follow the guidance above with respect to flat wrists while keyboarding and placing the screen in the right place. An anti-fatigue mat (or what I use, a pair of cork-soled Birkenstocks) will keep you more comfortable, as will the use of a footrest to raise one leg, keeping your lower spine happy.

c) Moving
Research from Stanford University confirms that creativity increases significantly while you’re walking (3)…and shortly afterward, no matter whether it’s indoors or out. Think about what can be accomplished while walking. Voice recording your thoughts is a wonderful way to capture new ideas.

d) Reclining
Though reclining during the day has the air of appearing unprofessional to some, we may be compromising our most profound thinking in what I call “Mind Wandering” time. It’s also the perfect posture when you want to relax and take some pressure off your spine. Working from home, you’ve never been closer to a comfy sofa or your bed. Arianna Huffington, now chief of Thrive Global, and I agree, you should have places to relax and rest at work (4). It’s part of sustaining your performance. Be careful not to overdo it though and create an association with work in your bedroom as it might affect your ability to fall asleep. (5)

Step 3 – Respect preferences and privacy.

As human animals, we have different sensitivities to our surroundings and to be most productive these need to be respected. You might not feel bothered by visual stimulation (clutter), noise, or the energy of other people, but some in your family may be. In general, it is an act of love to cater to the most sensitive amongst you.

a) Organize your space to reduce visual stimulation.

Create order on your desk, behind workspaces (for the camera) and in front to avoid distractions. Desk organizers keep supplies handy and tidy. They also save space by storing items vertically thereby using a smaller footprint.

b) Make it easy to tidy up.

Use a rolling cart to help create an instant office in another room. This cart with three levels has ample storage for supplies, reference materials, and healthy snacks.

c) Curate your soundscape.
We have different preferences for sounds while we work. Some love the clamour of a coffee shop, something the free version Noisli provides, along with a variety of more soothing sounds like rain, streams, and a crackling fire. Other more recently developed sites such as the straight-forwardly named Sound of Colleagues provide recordings of all sorts of office noises to help cue you to get to work…or if you’re like me, remind me just why I wanted to work from home so much in the first place. Thank goodness there was no sound of nail clipping, something one of my colleagues used to do regularly. I wish I was kidding.

For many students and workers, it is necessary to mask other sounds. Making an investment in noise-canceling headphones is your best bet to eliminate unwanted sounds as you can keep your listening volume lower. For growing kids, headphones that cap the sound volume to 85 decibels are a help. In 2015, the World Health Organization pointed out that over 1.1 billion young people may be at risk of hearing loss because of “unsafe listening practices” (6), so when you use headphones, pay attention to safe volumes.

Step 4 – Cocreate a family schedule

With all these insights and options, avoid any last-minute conflicts by discussing your needs and preferred workspaces as part of a regular #hometeam meeting. I recommend once a week, on the weekend or at the start of the week. It is an appropriate time to review your commitments and work together to help each other achieve your objectives in the most comfortable and productive places to work.

For more tips, visit www.clarekumar.com/workfromhome
And if you want to work through any of this with a coach, it would be my pleasure to assist. Good luck on the journey.

Sources
1. The Benefits of Handwriting
http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/apr18/vol75/num07/The-Magic-of-Writing-Stuff-Down.aspx

2. Quantum Dots
https://www.cnet.com/news/quantum-dots-how-nanocrystals-can-make-lcd-tvs-better/

3. Boost Creativity While Walking
https://news.stanford.edu/2014/04/24/walking-vs-sitting-042414/

4. Rest and Recline at Work
https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/thrive-nap-room-coco-mat-arianna-huffington

5. Working in the Bedroom Might Challenge Your Sleep
http://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/healthy/getting/overcoming/tips”>

6. Teens at Risk of Hearing Loss
https://globalnews.ca/news/5307570/headphones-earbuds-hearing-loss/

Spring Clearing Series – Breathe easier with clean indoor air!

honeywell air purifier — The Honeywell HPA100 True HEPA Air Purifier with Allergen Remover cleans your indoor air which can often be more polluted than the air outside. This post is sponsored by Honeywell. As always, opinions are my own.

I had the pleasure of traveling to a few cities in Canada this spring to share ways to be more productive this season. Not only do we need to think about being productive in how we accomplish what we want to do, it pays to find solutions which are as effective and efficient as possible. I gathered a few ideas which provide one-stop shopping or deliver complete solutions for you, and in the next five blog posts, I’ll share the benefits of each one.

In my model for sustainable performance, Productivity CPR™, the P stands for Performance which is all about taking care of the human animal that is you.

Because it’s invisible, it’s easy to ignore the air that is all around us, but did you know that according to the Environmental Protection Agency reports that indoor air can often be 2-5 times, more polluted than outdoor air. ¹

Facing Fall – Seven strategies to boost your energy for the “Dark Half”

I know fall has technically just started, but I’m feeling it full force in the mornings. We are entering the dark half of the year, when light levels are lowest north of the equator. Light levels affect our melatonin production. In darkness, we produce more, making us sluggish and sleepy. It’s harder to get up, and once home at the end of the day, harder to go out.

When I worked in a corporate cubicle and travelled there by subway, I used to feel anxiety about the impending change of seasons as early as July 31st. Can you relate to what I’m talking about? I was never diagnosed, but I figured I had a solid case of SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder. In the mid-90’s, November in Toronto was in various shades of sombre gray – the depressing, not titillating kind. I committed to leaving the city, which I did for nine years.

During that time I was able to shift to work from home in a light-filled space, and with more flexibility in schedule to get outside in natural light, I now have nowhere near the anxiety I used to fear. It hasn’t turned into a love of winter, but I’m now able to appreciate the sun bouncing off the snow and the afternoon glow that penetrates further into my office.

1. Get enough sleep

Most people need between 7 and 9 hours per night. If you’re like me and suffer from “just one more thing” syndrome which prevents you from getting to bed early enough, consider setting an alarm for “bedtime”. With enough sleep and a consistent routine, you will likely not need a wake-up alarm in the morning. Here’s what the National Sleep Foundation has to say about how much sleep is ideal.

2. Spend time outside each day

If it’s not your natural urge to be outside in cold weather, you’ll want to find ways to boost your exposure to daylight. Walk part of the way to work, take part in an outdoor winter sport, park a little further from the mall entrance. If that’s difficult, consider using a now-widely available light lamp to amp up (ooh, catch that?) the quality and number of rays you’re receiving. If you’re considering purchasing one, you’ll want to read this list of things to consider.

3. Respect your energy levels

It takes more time and energy just getting around in cold winter, so it pays to be more selective in what you choose to invest your time and energy. I will be cutting back on activities which take me out in the evening when I would rather be winding down the day.

4. Supplement your Vitamin D

Even with natural light and a healthy diet, you are likely not getting enough Vitamin D, a key ingredient for our bodies for fighting inflammation and for repair. In fact, since the precursor to Vitamin D is synthesized on your skin, which requires your skin to be exposed to the sun when it is higher than 31.5 degrees in the sky (according to Dr. Michael Hollick), you can’t make it yourself in a good chunk of the year. Here is a guide to recommended dosing from the Mayo Clinic.

5. Limit carbohydrates and sugar

Watch the ratio of carbs to other foods. Carbs can make you sleepy and prone to talking yourself out of the exercise that will boost your endorphins and therefore your energy.

6. Dress warmly

It took moving to Montreal for me to concede that it was better to dress warmly than try to stay stylish in the cold. Good thing that coincided with the advent of down coats becoming fashionable and affordable, though I confess to having started with head-to-toe sheepskin. I had to wait for a bus to work, and nothing blocked the wind like that coat. If you are feeling cold, your body is under stress, you think less clearly and are ultimately less productive, never mind the fact feeling frozen is horribly uncomfortable.

7. Incorporate colour

Checking out stores for fall clothing and you’ll see the palette is decidedly more sombre, but who says your wardrobe has to be? I’ve had persimmon orange and radiant orchid down coats and I swear they energize not only me, but the people I meet. It’s as if your clothes are smiling. If you have a dark winter coat, add some pizzazz with a bright scarf and toque!

How do you keep your spirits up through fall and winter? I’d love to hear what you do.

Note: The information on this site is offered as an information resource only. It should not be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment.

This post was originally published on www.streamlife.ca and has been updated.

Hold that door….! Opportunities to Improve Accessibility are Closer Than You Think