Literature Reviews

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

• Technology to Reduce Social Isolation and Loneliness

  Ron Baecker, Kate Sellen, Sarah Crosskey, Veronique Boscart, Barbara Barbosa Neves (2014) — Proceedings of the 16th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers & Accessibility (ASSETS)

  This paper reports on a multi-year iterative research programme (from 2009 onward) investigating how technology can reduce social isolation and loneliness among older adults in various settings. The researchers from the University of Toronto, OCAD Un…

  • aging
  • social isolation
  • loneliness
  • communication technology
  • long-term care
  • chronic pain
  • inclusive design
  • tangible interaction
  • older adults

• FluxMarker: Enhancing Tactile Graphics with Dynamic Tactile Markers

  Ryo Suzuki, Abigale Stangl, Mark D. Gross, Tom Yeh (2017) — Proceedings of the 19th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS '17)

  This paper presents FluxMarker, an inexpensive and scalable system that adds dynamic, movable tactile markers on top of static raised-line tactile graphics. Traditional embossed tactile graphics are static and cannot represent changing data, while ex…

  • tactile graphics
  • visual impairment
  • blindness
  • data physicalization
  • haptic technology
  • tangible interaction
  • education
  • data visualization

• Tangibles + Programming + Audio Stories = Fun

  Varsha Koushik, Shaun K. Kane (2017) — Proceedings of the 19th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS '17)

  This poster introduces Story Blocks, a tangible programming toolkit designed to make block-based programming accessible to blind and visually impaired users. Block-based programming languages like Scratch and Blockly are popular tools for teaching ch…

  • programming education
  • blindness
  • visual impairment
  • tangible interaction
  • children
  • inclusive design
  • STEM accessibility
  • block-based programming

• CymaSense: A Novel Audio-Visual Therapeutic Tool for People on the Autism Spectrum

  John McGowan, Grégory Leplâtre, Iain McGregor (2017) — Proceedings of the 19th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS '17)

  This paper presents CymaSense, an interactive multimodal tool that generates real-time 3D visual representations of sound based on Cymatics — the study of visible patterns created by sound vibrations in physical media like water or metal plates. The …

  • autism spectrum disorder
  • music therapy
  • assistive technology
  • multimodal interaction
  • sensory processing
  • tangible interaction
  • audio-visual
  • communication
  • neurodiversity

• AMI: An Adaptable Music Interface to Support the Varying Needs of People with Dementia

  P. Frazer Seymour, Justin Matejka, Geoff Foulds, Ihor Petelycky, Fraser Anderson (2017) — Proceedings of the 19th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS '17)

  This paper presents AMI (Adaptable Music Interface), a tangible, modular music player designed to be reconfigured by caregivers to match the changing needs and preferences of individuals with dementia. Over 46 million people worldwide live with demen…

  • dementia
  • tangible interaction
  • music accessibility
  • personalization
  • aging
  • modular design
  • assistive technology
  • cognitive accessibility

• BrailleBlocks: Braille Toys for Cross-Ability Collaboration

  Vinitha Gadiraju (2019) — Proceedings of the 21st International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2019)

  This student research abstract presents BrailleBlocks, a tangible learning system designed to help blind or visually impaired children learn Braille collaboratively with their sighted parents. Braille literacy in the United States is critically low —…

  • braille
  • blind
  • education
  • children
  • tangible interaction
  • cross-ability collaboration
  • game-based learning
  • computer vision
  • braille literacy

• RoboGraphics: Dynamic Tactile Graphics Powered by Mobile Robots

  Darren Guinness, Annika Muehlbradt, Daniel Szafir, Shaun K. Kane (2019) — Proceedings of the 21st International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2019)

  This paper introduces RoboGraphics, a novel approach to creating dynamic tactile graphics by combining a touchscreen tablet, static laser-cut tactile overlays, and small mobile robots (Ozobot Bit 2.0, approximately one cubic inch, ~$60 each). Traditi…

  • tactile graphics
  • robotics
  • blind
  • tangible interaction
  • data visualization
  • education
  • haptic technology
  • low-cost accessibility
  • dynamic display

• A Demonstration of Molder: An Accessible Design Tool for Tactile Maps

  Lei Shi, Yuhang Zhao, Elizabeth Kupferstein, Shiri Azenkot (2019) — Proceedings of the 21st International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2019)

  This demonstration paper presents Molder, an accessible design tool that enables teachers of the visually impaired (TVIs) and orientation and mobility (O&M) specialists to create 3D printed tactile maps without requiring professional 3D modeling skil…

  • tactile maps
  • tactile graphics
  • 3D printing
  • visual impairment
  • orientation and mobility
  • tangible interaction
  • design tools
  • accessible authoring
  • braille

• TIP-Toy: a tactile, open-source computational toolkit to support learning across visual abilities

  Giulia Barbareschi, Enrico Costanza, Catherine Holloway (2020) — Proceedings of the 22nd International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2020)

  This paper presents TIP-Toy (Tactile Inclusive Programming Toy), an open-source educational programming toolkit using physical blocks and music output, designed for children ages 6-11 with mixed visual abilities — from full sight to total blindness. …

  • visual accessibility
  • STEM education
  • tangible interaction
  • blindness and low vision
  • inclusive design
  • education accessibility
  • music accessibility
  • computer science
  • digital fabrication

• The TalkingBox.: Revealing Strengths of Adults with Severe Cognitive Disabilities

  Filip Bircanin, Laurianne Sitbon, Bernd Ploderer, Andrew Azaabanye Bayor, Michael Esteban, Stewart Koplick, Margot Brereton (2020) — Proceedings of the 22nd International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2020)

  This paper presents a case study of TalkingBox, a tangible communication device co-designed with Chris (pseudonym), a young adult with a severe cognitive disability, and his support network at a community day centre in Brisbane, Australia. Chris is m…

  • intellectual disability
  • augmentative and alternative communication
  • tangible interaction
  • co-design
  • participatory design
  • cognitive accessibility
  • empowerment
  • social interaction