Literature Reviews

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

• Finger Dance: A Sound Game for Blind People

  Daniel Miller, Aaron Parecki, Sarah A. Douglas (2007) — Proceedings of the 9th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (Assets '07)

  This paper from the University of Oregon presents Finger Dance, an original audio-based rhythm-action game designed specifically for visually impaired players. The authors take a different approach from the usual sensory substitution strategy (replac…

  • audio game
  • game accessibility
  • blindness
  • rhythm-action game
  • sensory substitution
  • inclusive design
  • human-centred design
  • MIDI
  • accessible gaming

• Observing Sara: A Case Study of a Blind Person's Interactions with Technology

  Kristen Shinohara, Josh Tenenberg (2007) — Proceedings of the 9th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (Assets '07)

  This paper from the University of Washington, Tacoma presents a rich, in-depth case study of Sara, a congenitally blind college student, observed and interviewed across multiple sessions as she interacts with a wide range of technologies in her home.…

  • blindness
  • assistive technology
  • case study
  • technology biographies
  • workarounds
  • screen readers
  • JAWS
  • braille
  • stigma
  • qualitative research
  • inclusive design
  • disability identity

• Understanding Emotion through Multimedia: Comparison between Hearing-Impaired People and People with Hearing Abilities

  Rumi Hiraga, Nobuko Kato (2006) — Proceedings of the 8th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (Assets '06)

  This paper investigates how hearing-impaired and normal-hearing people recognise emotions conveyed through drum performances and accompanying visual stimuli. The research is part of a larger project to build a "performance enhancement machine" (PEM) …

  • hearing impairment
  • music accessibility
  • emotion recognition
  • multimodal
  • music visualisation
  • drum performance
  • inclusive design

• Using Think Aloud Protocol with Blind Users: A Case for Inclusive Usability Evaluation Methods

  Sambhavi Chandrashekar, Tony Stockman, Deborah Fels, Rachel Benedyk (2006) — Proceedings of the 8th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (Assets '06)

  This paper examines whether the Think Aloud Protocol (TAP), one of the most widely used usability evaluation methods, can be effectively applied when testing with blind screen reader users. The study involved six vision-impaired students evaluating a…

  • usability testing
  • think aloud protocol
  • blind users
  • screen readers
  • research methods
  • inclusive design
  • cognitive load
  • user research

• Universal Designs versus Assistive Technologies: Research Agendas and Practical Applications

  Chris Law, Julie Jacko, Bill Peterson, Jim Tobias (2005) — Proceedings of the 7th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (Assets '05)

  This panel paper frames the tensions between Universal Design (UD) and Assistive Technology (AT) approaches to making Information and Computing Technologies (ICT) accessible. The panel brought together perspectives from academia (Julie Jacko, Chris L…

  • universal design
  • assistive technology
  • accessibility policy
  • inclusive design
  • ICT accessibility
  • organizational accessibility

• Designing for Dynamic Diversity: Interfaces for Older People

  Peter Gregor, Alan F. Newell, Mary Zajicek (2002) — Proceedings of the Fifth International ACM Conference on Assistive Technologies (Assets '02)

  This paper argues that mainstream interface design fails older people by assuming a static, "typical" user who is young, fit, and male. The authors identify three broad groups of older computer users: fit older people who do not consider themselves d…

  • aging
  • inclusive design
  • user-centered design
  • universal design
  • older adults
  • visual impairment
  • cognitive accessibility
  • web accessibility
  • design methodology
  • usability

• Investigating the Applicability of User Models for Motion-Impaired Users

  Simeon Keates, John Clarkson, Peter Robinson (2000) — Proceedings of the Fourth International ACM Conference on Assistive Technologies (Assets '00)

  This paper from the University of Cambridge investigates whether the Model Human Processor (MHP) — a foundational user model from Card, Moran, and Newell's "The Psychology of Human-Computer Interaction" — accurately describes how motion-impaired user…

  • motor impairment
  • user modeling
  • universal access
  • human-computer interaction
  • cerebral palsy
  • input devices
  • usability testing
  • inclusive design

• Expanded Interactions: Broadening Human-Centered Computing

  Richard A. Foulds, Arthur W. Joyce (1998) — Proceedings of the Third International ACM Conference on Assistive Technologies (Assets '98)

  This paper reports on the preliminary results of an NSF-sponsored invitational workshop titled "Expanded Interaction: Broadening Human-Centered Computing," held at the Winterthur Museum and A.I. duPont Institute in Wilmington, Delaware in May 1997. A…

  • human-centered computing
  • universal design
  • universal access
  • multimodal interaction
  • inclusive design
  • disability
  • research agenda
  • human-computer interaction

• "Composability": Widening Participation in Music Making for People with Disabilities via Music Software and Controller Solutions

  Tim Anderson, Clare Smith (1996) — Proceedings of the Second Annual ACM Conference on Assistive Technologies (Assets '96)

  This paper from the Drake Music Project and University of York discusses enabling visually impaired and physically disabled people to compose and perform music through adapted software and controller solutions. The Drake Music Project (DMP), a UK cha…

  • music accessibility
  • creative arts
  • MIDI
  • adaptive technology
  • physical disability
  • visual impairment
  • education
  • switch access
  • inclusive design

• Sudoku Access: A Sudoku Game for People with Motor Disabilities

  Stéphane Norte, Fernando G. Lobo (2008) — Proceedings of the 10th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (Assets '08)

  This paper from the University of Algarve, Portugal presents Sudoku Access, an accessible version of the Sudoku puzzle game designed for people with motor disabilities. The system provides two alternative input methods: switch-based scanning and spee…

  • game accessibility
  • motor disability
  • scanning input
  • speech recognition
  • switch access
  • educational games
  • inclusive design
  • cerebral palsy
  • spina bifida