Literature Reviews

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

• Understanding How Visually Impaired Players Socialize in Mobile Games

  Zihe Ran, Xiyu Li, Qing Xiao, Yanyun Wang, Franklin Mingzhe Li, Zhicong Lu (2025) — Proceedings of the 27th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2025)

  This study examines how visually impaired players in China use mobile games as platforms for socialization, going beyond the typical focus on gameplay accessibility to investigate the social dimensions of gaming. The researchers conducted semi-struct…

  • game accessibility
  • blind and low vision
  • social interaction
  • mobile accessibility
  • Global South accessibility
  • social isolation
  • inclusive design
  • gaming

• AmblyOverlay: An Input-Transparent, Assistive Overlay for Binocular Visual Therapy and Dichoptic Filtering

  Pooja Thaker (2025) — Proceedings of the 27th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2025)

  AmblyOverlay is a proof-of-concept software tool that applies dichoptic color filters to any application window in real time, enabling binocular vision therapy during ordinary computer use — particularly gaming. The system targets people with amblyop…

  • amblyopia
  • visual therapy
  • dichoptic vision
  • assistive technology
  • binocular vision
  • game accessibility
  • computer vision

• Improving the Efficacy of Automated Sign Language Practice Tools

  Helene Brashear (2007) — SIGACCESS Accessibility and Computing

  This paper describes dissertation research on improving automatic sign language recognition for CopyCat, an interactive computer game that helps young deaf children practice American Sign Language (ASL). The work addresses a critical need: 90% of dea…

  • sign language
  • sign language detection
  • gesture-based interaction
  • computer vision
  • machine learning
  • deaf and hard of hearing
  • game accessibility
  • ASL education technology

• Designing Wheelchair-Based Movement Games

  Kathrin M. Gerling, Regan L. Mandryk, Matthew Miller, Michael R. Kalyn, Max Birk, Jan D. Smeddinck (2015) — ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing (TACCESS)

  This paper presents KINECTWheels, a toolkit for integrating wheelchair movements into motion-based video games, along with two games built using the toolkit: Cupcake Heaven (designed for older adults in care facilities) and Wheelchair Revolution (a c…

  • wheelchair
  • game accessibility
  • exergame
  • Kinect
  • motor impairment
  • older adults
  • inclusive design
  • physical activity
  • mixed-ability group

• Exploring The Affordances of Game-Aware Streaming to Support Blind and Low Vision Viewers: A Design Probe Study

  Noor Hammad, Frank Elavsky, Sanika Moharana, Jessie Chen, Seyoung Lee, Patrick Carrington, Dominik Moritz, Jessica Hammer, Erik Harpstead (2024) — Proceedings of the 26th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS '24)

  This paper investigates how game-aware streaming systems can be made accessible to blind and low-vision (BLV) viewers on platforms like Twitch. Live game streaming is a major social and entertainment medium, but the experience is overwhelmingly visua…

  • game accessibility
  • blind and low vision
  • live streaming
  • Twitch
  • sonification
  • design probe
  • spectator experience