Literature Reviews

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

• What do Blind and Low-Vision People Really Want from Assistive Smart Devices? Comparison of the Literature with a Focus Study

  Bhanuka Gamage, Thanh-Toan Do, Nicholas Seow Chiang Price, Arthur Lowery, Kim Marriott (2023) — Proceedings of the 25th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS '23)

  This paper investigates whether the tasks and devices explored by researchers developing AI-based assistive smart devices actually align with what blind and low-vision (BLV) people want. The authors conducted a three-part study combining a scoping li…

  • blind and low vision
  • assistive technology
  • smart devices
  • computer vision
  • wearable technology
  • user needs
  • scoping review

• An Autoethnographic Case Study of Generative Artificial Intelligence's Utility for Accessibility

  Kate S. Glazko, Momona Yamagami, Aashaka Desai, Kelly Avery Mack, Venkatesh Potluri, Xuhai Xu, Jennifer Mankoff (2023) — Proceedings of the 25th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS '23)

  This paper presents an autoethnographic case study in which seven accessibility researchers—both with and without disabilities—explored generative artificial intelligence (GAI) tools over a three-month period to assess their potential for supporting …

  • generative AI
  • accessibility
  • autoethnography
  • assistive technology
  • disability
  • ChatGPT
  • large language models

• Watch Your Language: Using Smartwatches to Support Communication

  Humphrey Curtis, Timothy Neate (2023) — ASSETS '23: Proceedings of the 25th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility

  This paper presents the first participatory design and evaluation of AAC smartwatch applications co-designed directly with people who have complex communication needs (CCNs), specifically people living with aphasia — an acquired language impairment m…

  • augmentative and alternative communication
  • AAC
  • smartwatch
  • aphasia
  • wearable technology
  • participatory design
  • total communication
  • non-verbal communication

• AdaptiveSound: An Interactive Feedback-Loop System to Improve Sound Recognition for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Users

  Hang Do, Quan Dang, Jeremy Zhengqi Huang, Dhruv Jain (2023) — ASSETS '23: Proceedings of the 25th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility

  This paper introduces AdaptiveSound, the first feedback-loop sound recognition system designed for deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) users. Sound recognition tools help DHH people become aware of environmental sounds ranging from safety-critical alerts …

  • deaf and hard of hearing
  • sound recognition
  • human-in-the-loop
  • machine learning
  • incremental learning
  • sound awareness
  • personalization
  • mobile accessibility

• The Sem-Lex Benchmark: Modeling ASL Signs and their Phonemes

  Lee Kezar, Jesse Thomason, Naomi Caselli, Zed Sehyr, Elana Pontecorvo (2023) — ASSETS '23: Proceedings of the 25th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility

  This paper introduces the Sem-Lex Benchmark, the largest curated dataset of its kind for American Sign Language (ASL) isolated sign recognition, containing over 84,000 videos of isolated sign productions from 41 deaf ASL signers. The dataset addresse…

  • sign language recognition
  • American Sign Language
  • machine learning
  • phonology
  • dataset
  • deaf accessibility
  • computer vision
  • benchmark

• Tackling the Lack of a Practical Guide in Disability-Centered Research

  Emma J. McDonnell, Kelly Avery Mack, Kathrin Gerling, Katta Spiel, Cynthia L. Bennett, Robin N. Brewer, Rua Mae Williams, Garreth W. Tigwell (2023) — ASSETS '23: Proceedings of the 25th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility

  This workshop paper proposes a structured effort to develop a practical guide for conducting disability-centered accessibility research. The authors — a team of eight researchers across multiple institutions, several of whom are disabled scholars — a…

  • disability justice
  • research methods
  • participatory design
  • power dynamics
  • disability studies
  • research ethics
  • positionality

• "If I'm supposed to be the facilitator, I should be the host": Understanding the Accessibility of Videoconferencing for Blind and Low Vision Meeting Facilitators

  Taslima Akter, Yoonha Cha, Isabela Figueira, Stacy M. Branham, Anne Marie Piper (2023) — ASSETS '23: Proceedings of the 25th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility

  This paper investigates how blind and low vision (BLV) professionals facilitate meetings using videoconferencing tools like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet, and the unique accessibility challenges they face in leadership roles. While prior res…

  • blind and low vision
  • videoconferencing
  • remote work
  • screen readers
  • workplace accessibility
  • career advancement
  • interdependence
  • meeting facilitation

• Exploring Community-Driven Descriptions for Making Livestreams Accessible

  Daniel Killough, Amy Pavel (2023) — ASSETS '23: Proceedings of the 25th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility

  This paper investigates the feasibility of using livestream community members — sighted viewers who are domain experts in the content being streamed — to provide real-time descriptions that make livestreams accessible to viewers with visual impairmen…

  • audio description
  • livestreaming
  • blind and low vision
  • crowdsourcing
  • video accessibility
  • community sourcing
  • screen readers

• Blending Accessibility in UI Framework Documentation to Build Awareness

  Maulishree Pandey, Tao Dong (2023) — ASSETS '23: Proceedings of the 25th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility

  This paper introduces the Blended Approach (BA), a novel framework for integrating accessibility information throughout UI framework documentation rather than confining it to a single dedicated accessibility page. The authors argue that the widesprea…

  • developer education
  • documentation
  • accessibility awareness
  • UI frameworks
  • Flutter
  • software development

• A Diary Study in Social Virtual Reality: Impact of Avatars with Disability Signifiers on the Social Experiences of People with Disabilities

  Kexin Zhang, Elmira Deldari, Yaxing Yao, Yuhang Zhao (2023) — ASSETS '23: Proceedings of the 25th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility

  This paper presents a two-week diary study exploring how avatars with disability signifiers (DS) affect the social experiences of people with disabilities (PWD) in social virtual reality platforms, specifically VRChat. Disability signifiers are visua…

  • social virtual reality
  • disability signifiers
  • avatars
  • harassment
  • identity expression
  • disability disclosure
  • VRChat
  • diary study