Literature Reviews

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

• Vocational Rehabilitation of Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder with Virtual Reality

  Lal Bozgeyikli, Evren Bozgeyikli, Andrew Raij, Redwan Alqasemi, Srinivas Katkoori, Rajiv Dubey (2017) — ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This paper presents VR4VR, a comprehensive virtual reality system designed to train individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder on transferable job skills. The system addresses a critical employment gap—while 66% of people with disabilities want employ…

  • virtual reality
  • autism spectrum disorder
  • vocational rehabilitation
  • job training
  • immersive technology
  • user-centered design

• Effects of Virtual Reality Properties on User Experience of Individuals with Autism

  Lal "Lila" Bozgeyikli, Evren Bozgeyikli, Andrew Raij, Redwan Alqasemi, Srinivas Katkoori, Rajiv Dubey (2018) — ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This study systematically examines how five virtual reality user interface attributes affect the experience of high-functioning individuals with autism spectrum disorder (HFASD). The research addresses a critical gap in VR design guidelines for autis…

  • autism spectrum disorder
  • virtual reality
  • user interface design
  • vocational training
  • user experience
  • cognitive accessibility

• Design of a Haptic-Gripper Virtual Reality System (Hg) for Analyzing Fine Motor Behaviors in Children with Autism

  Huan Zhao, Zhaobo Zheng, Amy Swanson, Amy Weitlauf, Zachary Warren, Nilanjan Sarkar (2018) — ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This paper presents Hg (Haptic-Gripper), a novel virtual reality system designed to assess and train fine motor skills in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). While research on ASD has extensively focused on social and communication deficits…

  • autism spectrum disorder
  • fine motor skills
  • haptic feedback
  • virtual reality
  • grip force
  • motor coordination
  • children
  • handwriting
  • assessment

• Project Star Catcher: A Novel Immersive Virtual Reality Experience for Upper Limb Rehabilitation

  Aviv Elor, Mircea Teodorescu, Sri Kurniawan (2018) — ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This paper presents Project Star Catcher (PSC), an immersive virtual reality game designed for upper limb rehabilitation in individuals with hemiparesis—weakness or partial paralysis affecting one side of the body, commonly resulting from stroke. The…

  • virtual reality
  • rehabilitation
  • stroke
  • hemiparesis
  • constraint-induced therapy
  • serious games
  • HTC Vive
  • upper limb
  • motor impairment
  • physical therapy

• Extraction of Emotional Information via Visual Scanning Patterns: A Feasibility Study of Participants with Schizophrenia and Neurotypical Individuals

  Joshua Wade, Heathman S. Nichols, Megan Ichinose, Dayi Bian, Esube Bekele, Matthew Snodgress, Ashwaq Zaini Amat, Eric Granholm, Sohee Park, Nilanjan Sarkar (2018) — ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This paper presents MASI-VR (Multimodal Adaptive Social Intervention in Virtual Reality), a gaze-sensitive social skills training system designed to improve emotion recognition in adults with schizophrenia (SZ). Emotion recognition impairment is a co…

  • schizophrenia
  • emotion recognition
  • eye tracking
  • virtual reality
  • social cognition
  • gaze-sensitive systems
  • social skills training
  • mental health

• Design of a Physiology-based Adaptive Virtual Reality Driving Platform for Individuals with ASD

  Dayi Bian, Joshua W. Wade, Lian Zhang, Amy Swanson, Medda Sarkar, Zachary Warren, Nilanjan Sarkar (2019) — ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This paper presents VDEAR (VR-based Driving Environment with Adaptive Response), a novel closed-loop virtual reality driving simulator designed specifically for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The system addresses a critical gap in d…

  • autism spectrum disorder
  • virtual reality
  • driving simulation
  • physiological computing
  • dynamic difficulty adjustment
  • affective computing
  • engagement detection
  • adaptive systems

• X-Road: Virtual Reality Glasses for Orientation and Mobility Training of People with Visual Impairments

  Lauren Thevin, Carine Briant, Anke M. Brock (2020) — ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This paper presents X-Road, an affordable and accessible virtual reality system designed for Orientation and Mobility (O&M) training of students with visual impairments. O&M classes teach essential navigation skills like crossing streets, but real-wo…

  • virtual reality
  • orientation and mobility
  • visual impairment
  • spatial cognition
  • accessible VR
  • participatory design
  • O&M training
  • 3D audio

• Spotlights and Soundscapes: On the Design of Mixed Reality Auditory Environments for Persons with Visual Impairment

  Keenan R. May, Brianna J. Tomlinson, Xiaomeng Ma, Phillip Roberts, Bruce N. Walker (2020) — ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This paper explores the design of information-rich mixed reality (MR) auditory environments to help people with visual impairments form cognitive maps of unfamiliar indoor spaces. The research contrasts two approaches: soundscapes, where virtual obje…

  • mixed reality
  • spatial audio
  • auditory display
  • cognitive maps
  • indoor navigation
  • blind and low vision
  • soundscape
  • virtual reality
  • user-centered design

• Echolocation as a Means for People with Visual Impairment (PVI) to Acquire Spatial Knowledge of Virtual Space

  Ronny Andrade, Jenny Waycott, Steven Baker, Frank Vetere (2021) — ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This study investigates whether echolocation—the use of sound reflections to perceive spatial information—can enable people with visual impairment (PVI) to acquire spatial knowledge of virtual environments. The researchers built a virtual world using…

  • visual impairment
  • blindness
  • echolocation
  • virtual reality
  • gaming
  • spatial knowledge
  • mental maps
  • audio games
  • game accessibility

• Immersive Virtual Reality for Older Adults: Empirically Grounded Design Guidelines

  Vero Vanden Abeele, Brenda Schraepen, Hanne Huygelier, Celine Gillebert, Kathrin Gerling, Raymond Van Ee (2021) — ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This paper establishes empirically grounded design guidelines for immersive virtual reality (IVR) experiences targeting older adults. The researchers conducted two complementary studies: first, a systematic literature review that compiled 67 design g…

  • virtual reality
  • older adults
  • aging
  • design guidelines
  • accessibility
  • usability
  • user experience
  • immersive technology
  • Laddering method
  • head-mounted display