Sunday, November 29, 2009

The Computer Lab:


P1020417

The computer lab is now the most common element of a modern photography classroom. For the most part, our computer lab is adequately accessible– although there are various desk and table sizes, some of which are too tall for a student in a wheelchair.

As far as stands go, The Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design handbook provides the following chart (p. A15) for desk heights, according to wheelchair type and work type:

Our students will be doing "light, detailed work" on computers and would therefore require a range from 29" to 34" tall. The easiest way to achieve these heights is by having desks that have adjustable height on the fly. In an ideal world my computer lab would consist of motorized desks, such as this one, which has a simple two-button control center at the front for immediate adjustment:
Again, the computer lab is much easier to accommodate than a traditional darkroom. But, I strongly believe it should exist as a tool in addition to the darkroom and not as a shortcut.

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