Literature Reviews

Reviewed research papers, articles, and publications relevant to digital accessibility.

• An Adaptive Videos Enrichment System Based on Decision Trees for People with Sensory Disabilities

  José Francisco Saray Villamizar, Benoît Encelle, Yannick Prié, Pierre-Antoine Champin (2011) — Proceedings of the International Cross-Disciplinary Conference on Web Accessibility (W4A)

  This paper from the ACAV (Collaborative Annotation for Video Accessibility) project at the University of Lyon proposes an adaptive system that personalises how video accessibility descriptions are presented to users with sensory disabilities. The cor…

  • video accessibility
  • multimedia accessibility
  • machine learning
  • personalization
  • adaptive systems
  • audio description
  • sensory disabilities
  • decision trees
  • blind and low vision
  • deaf and hard of hearing

• Evaluating Accessibility-in-Use

  Markel Vigo, Simon Harper (2013) — Proceedings of the 10th International Cross-Disciplinary Conference on Web Accessibility (W4A)

  This paper introduces a novel method for evaluating web accessibility that goes beyond traditional guideline conformance testing. The authors argue that standards like WCAG 2.0 capture only about 53% of accessibility problems experienced by users, mi…

  • accessibility evaluation
  • user interaction
  • behavioural analysis
  • screen readers
  • blind and low vision
  • automated testing
  • conformance testing
  • user experience

• HoliBraille: Multipoint Vibrotactile Feedback on Mobile Devices

  Hugo Nicolau, Kyle Montague, Tiago Guerreiro, André Rodrigues, Vicki L. Hanson (2015) — Proceedings of the 12th International Web for All Conference (W4A)

  This paper introduces HoliBraille, a hardware prototype that enables both Braille input and output on standard mobile touchscreen devices using vibrotactile motors. The system attaches six small vibration motors to a 3D-printed case that fits over a …

  • braille
  • blind and low vision
  • haptic technology
  • mobile accessibility
  • vibrotactile feedback
  • deafblindness
  • assistive technology
  • multitouch

• Game Changer: Accessible Audio and Tactile Guidance for Board and Card Games

  Gabriella M. Johnson, Shaun K. Kane (2020) — Proceedings of the 17th International Web for All Conference (W4A)

  This paper presents Game Changer, an augmented workspace system that makes board and card games accessible to blind and visually impaired (BVI) players through a combination of audio descriptions and tactile modifications. The system uses an overhead…

  • game accessibility
  • blind and low vision
  • board games
  • tangible interaction
  • audio description
  • tactile accessibility
  • computer vision
  • assistive technology

• Accessing Passersby Proxemic Signals through a Head-Worn Camera: Opportunities and Limitations for the Blind

  Kyungjun Lee, Daisuke Sato, Saki Asakawa, Chieko Asakawa, Hernisa Kacorri (2021) — Proceedings of the 23rd International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS '21)

  This paper explores the potential and limitations of using head-worn cameras with computer vision to help blind people access proxemic signals — the spatial behaviour of nearby people that sighted individuals perceive visually, such as someone's pres…

  • blind and low vision
  • proxemics
  • wearable camera
  • smart glasses
  • pedestrian detection
  • computer vision
  • social interaction
  • social distancing
  • assistive technology

• Disability-first Dataset Creation: Lessons from Constructing a Dataset for Teachable Object Recognition with Blind and Low Vision Data Collectors

  Lida Theodorou, Daniela Massiceti, Luisa Zintgraf, Simone Stumpf, Cecily Morrison, Edward Cutrell, Matthew Tobias Harris, Katja Hofmann (2021) — Proceedings of the 23rd International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS '21)

  This paper presents a disability-first approach to constructing a machine learning dataset for teachable object recognition, developed through the ORBIT (Objects that Recognize Blind Individuals in Their environment) project. The authors argue that w…

  • disability-first design
  • dataset creation
  • teachable object recognition
  • blind and low vision
  • machine learning
  • data collection
  • participatory research
  • accessible mobile applications

• Slidecho: Flexible Non-Visual Exploration of Presentation Videos

  Yi-Hao Peng, Jeffrey P Bigham, Amy Pavel (2021) — Proceedings of the 23rd International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS '21)

  This paper presents Slidecho, a system that makes recorded presentation videos accessible to blind and visually impaired learners by automatically extracting slide content and synchronizing it with the presenter's speech. The core problem is that mos…

  • video accessibility
  • blind and low vision
  • audio description
  • presentations
  • screen reader
  • OCR
  • computer vision
  • educational technology
  • multimedia accessibility

• "That's in the eye of the beholder": Layers of Interpretation in Image Descriptions for Fictional Representations of People with Disabilities

  Emory James Edwards, Kyle Lewis Polster, Isabel Tuason, Emily Blank, Michael Gilbert, Stacy Branham (2021) — Proceedings of the 23rd International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS '21)

  This paper investigates how to create accurate and sensitive image descriptions for fictional representations of people with disabilities — a challenge that arises when real subjects cannot be consulted about their preferred identity terminology. The…

  • image accessibility
  • alt text
  • image descriptions
  • disability representation
  • design systems
  • ableism
  • blind and low vision
  • co-design
  • identity

• Opportunities for Supporting Self-efficacy Through Orientation & Mobility Training Technologies for Blind and Partially Sighted People

  Maryam Bandukda, Catherine Holloway, Aneesha Singh, Giulia Barbareschi, Nadia Berthouze (2021) — Proceedings of the 23rd International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS)

  This paper examines how orientation and mobility (O&M) training shapes the self-efficacy beliefs of blind and partially sighted (BPS) people and identifies opportunities for technology to better support O&M training. The researchers conducted semi-st…

  • orientation and mobility
  • blind and low vision
  • self-efficacy
  • assistive technology
  • navigation
  • training
  • rehabilitation
  • independent living
  • social support

• Interdependent Variables: Remotely Designing Tactile Graphics for an Accessible Workflow

  Lilian de Greef, Dominik Moritz, Cynthia Bennett (2021) — Proceedings of the 23rd International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS)

  This experience report documents how a team of blind and sighted colleagues at Apple created an accessible collaborative workflow for a data visualization research project. Rather than focusing on making end products accessible, the paper addresses t…

  • tactile graphics
  • blind and low vision
  • data visualization
  • collaboration
  • accessible workflow
  • remote work
  • interdependence
  • inclusive design