Literature Reviews

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

• The False Dichotomy between Accessibility and Usability

  Ed H. Chi (2013) — Proceedings of the 10th International Cross-Disciplinary Conference on Web Accessibility (W4A)

  This keynote paper by Ed H. Chi of Google argues that the traditional separation between accessibility research and usability/HCI research is a false dichotomy built on two myths. The first myth is the "average user" — HCI research inherited this con…

  • usability
  • accessibility theory
  • universal design
  • inclusive design
  • human-computer interaction
  • design theory

• Predictive, Accessible Web Automation: A Longitudinal Study

  Yury Puzis, Yevgen Borodin, I.V. Ramakrishnan (2014) — Proceedings of the 11th Web for All Conference (W4A)

  This paper presents a six-week longitudinal pilot study of Automation Assistant, a predictive web automation system designed to improve non-visual web browsing for blind users. The core problem is that screen readers force users to navigate web pages…

  • screen readers
  • web automation
  • blindness
  • non-visual web access
  • adaptive interfaces
  • machine learning
  • usability
  • assistive technology

• A Preliminary Usability Evaluation of Strategies for Seeking Online Information with Elderly People

  Sergio Sayago, Josep Blat (2007) — Proceedings of the 2007 International Cross-Disciplinary Conference on Web Accessibility (W4A)

  This short paper from Pompeu Fabra University Barcelona presents an experimental study comparing how seven elderly participants (ages 65-74) performed using three strategies for finding complex information online: Google basic search, Google advanced…

  • aging
  • usability
  • information seeking
  • search engines
  • mouse difficulties
  • cognitive accessibility
  • older adults

• Is Wikipedia Usable for the Blind?

  Marina Buzzi, Barbara Leporini (2008) — Proceedings of the 2008 International Cross-Disciplinary Conference on Web Accessibility (W4A)

  This paper evaluates the accessibility and usability of Wikipedia for blind screen reader users by analyzing three key interaction modes: browsing the home page, searching and viewing results, and editing content. The authors tested both the English …

  • screen readers
  • blind users
  • wiki accessibility
  • usability
  • Wikipedia
  • JAWS
  • collaborative environments
  • keyboard accessibility
  • WAI-ARIA
  • e-learning

• The User Experience: Designs and Adaptations

  Vicki L. Hanson (2004) — Proceedings of the 2004 International Cross-Disciplinary Workshop on Web Accessibility (W4A)

  This keynote-style paper from IBM's Watson Research Center by Vicki Hanson argues that web accessibility standards and guidelines, while necessary, do not guarantee a usable or satisfying experience for people with disabilities. The paper distinguish…

  • low vision
  • aging
  • cognitive accessibility
  • user experience
  • personalization
  • text-to-speech
  • page adaptation
  • web design
  • usability
  • color contrast
  • visual crowding
  • content reflow

• More than Meets the Eye: A Survey of Screen-Reader Browsing Strategies

  Yevgen Borodin, Jeffrey P. Bigham, Glenn Dausch, I. V. Ramakrishnan (2010) — Proceedings of the 2010 International Cross Disciplinary Conference on Web Accessibility (W4A)

  This comprehensive survey catalogues the browsing strategies that experienced screen reader users develop to overcome the accessibility and usability barriers they encounter on the web. Drawing from multiple user studies, the authors document how bli…

  • screen readers
  • blindness
  • browsing strategies
  • web navigation
  • usability
  • keyboard navigation
  • dynamic content
  • ARIA live regions
  • user research
  • assistive technology

• Designing Search Engine User Interfaces for the Visually Impaired

  Barbara Leporini, Patrizia Andronico, Marina Buzzi (2004) — Proceedings of the 2004 International Cross-Disciplinary Workshop on Web Accessibility (W4A)

  This paper examines the fundamental differences between visual and aural perception of search engine interfaces and proposes specific design guidelines to improve usability for blind and visually impaired users interacting via screen readers. The aut…

  • visual impairment
  • screen readers
  • search engines
  • user interface design
  • web navigation
  • blindness
  • usability
  • keyboard navigation
  • aural perception
  • information retrieval

• Evaluation of Assistive Technologies from the perspective of Usability, User Experience and Accessibility: a Systematic Mapping Study

  Tatiany Xavier de Godoi, Guilherme Corredato Guerino, Natasha Malveira C. Valentim (2021) — Proceedings of the XX Brazilian Symposium on Human Factors in Computing Systems (IHC)

  This systematic mapping study (SMS) investigates how assistive technologies (ATs) are evaluated from the perspectives of usability, user experience (UX), and accessibility — three interrelated but distinct software quality factors. The authors search…

  • assistive technology
  • usability
  • user experience
  • accessibility evaluation
  • systematic review
  • research methodology
  • AT abandonment
  • evaluation instruments
  • quality assurance

• Understanding Web Accessibility and Its Drivers

  Yeliz Yesilada, Giorgio Brajnik, Markel Vigo, Simon Harper (2012) — Proceedings of the International Cross-Disciplinary Conference on Web Accessibility (W4A)

  This highly cited study surveyed over 300 people with an interest in web accessibility to investigate how the community defines accessibility, what motivates people to work on it, and which definitions are most widely accepted. The authors note that …

  • accessibility theory
  • accessibility definitions
  • user experience
  • usability
  • accessibility policy
  • community
  • standards
  • disability models

• Are Users the Gold Standard for Accessibility Evaluation?

  Amaia Aizpurua, Myriam Arrue, Simon Harper, Markel Vigo (2014) — Proceedings of the 11th Web for All Conference (W4A)

  This paper critically examines whether user testing with blind users is a reliable "gold standard" for web accessibility evaluation. Drawing on an exploratory study with 11 legally blind participants (10 JAWS users, 1 VoiceOver user, ages 21-64) who …

  • user testing
  • accessibility evaluation
  • blind users
  • screen readers
  • research methodology
  • bias
  • WCAG 2.0
  • participatory design
  • usability