Embedded Systems for People with Special Needs: Insights from a Real Case

In this paper we report on some insights derived from our experience in the development of an embedded system. A real-world embedded system implementing a smart home is used as an example. The target audience of this system includes people with special needs, such as impaired or elderly people. A description of the user testing phase is also provided. A series of difficulties related to the accessibility to the system for people with special needs were identified. These difficulties suggest the necessity to enforce the training on accessibility techniques for software engineers.