Literature Reviews

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

• The Vlogging Phenomena: A Deaf Perspective

  Ellen S. Hibbard, Deb I. Fels (2011) — The Proceedings of the 13th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS)

  This paper examines how Deaf people use video blogging (vlogging) technology to communicate in American Sign Language (ASL) on mainstream and specialized platforms. The researchers compared vlogging practices on YouTube, a mainstream video-sharing si…

  • deaf accessibility
  • sign language
  • video accessibility
  • social media
  • Deaf Culture
  • online communities
  • American Sign Language
  • vlogging

• Assessing the Deaf User Perspective on Sign Language Avatars

  Michael Kipp, Quan Nguyen, Alexis Heloir, Silke Matthes (2011) — Proceedings of the 13th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2011)

  This paper investigates Deaf community attitudes toward sign language avatars — virtual characters that perform sign language — through focus groups and a large-scale online study. Sign language avatars have the potential to make written content acce…

  • deaf
  • sign language avatar
  • German Sign Language
  • user acceptance
  • focus groups
  • participatory design
  • sign language synthesis
  • nonmanual features
  • accessibility

• Evaluating Quality and Comprehension of Real-Time Sign Language Video on Mobile Phones

  Jessica J. Tran, Joy Kim, Jaehong Chon, Eve A. Riskin, Richard E. Ladner, Jacob O. Wobbrock (2011) — Proceedings of the 13th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2011)

  This paper investigates the relationship between objective video quality metrics (PSNR — peak signal-to-noise ratio), subjective quality preferences, and actual comprehension of American Sign Language (ASL) video transmitted at very low bitrates on m…

  • deaf
  • American Sign Language
  • video compression
  • mobile accessibility
  • video quality
  • telecommunications
  • sign language

• Automatically Generating Tailored Accessible User Interfaces for Ubiquitous Services

  Julio Abascal, Amaia Aizpurua, Idoia Cearreta, Borja Gamecho, Nestor Garay-Vitoria, Raúl Miñón (2011) — Proceedings of the 13th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2011)

  This paper presents EGOKI, a system that automatically generates tailored accessible user interfaces for ubiquitous services based on individual user capabilities. In ubiquitous computing environments, people access services like information kiosks, …

  • adaptive interfaces
  • automatic interface generation
  • ubiquitous computing
  • ambient assisted living
  • user modeling
  • blindness
  • low vision
  • motor impairment
  • cognitive disability
  • ontology

• ACES: Aphasia Emulation, Realism, and the Turing Test

  Joshua Hailpern, Marina Danilevsky, Karrie Karahalios (2011) — Proceedings of the 13th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2011)

  This paper validates the realism of ACES (Aphasia Characteristics Emulation Software), a system that distorts a user's instant messages to simulate the communication effects of aphasia, allowing caregivers, therapists, and family members to experienc…

  • aphasia
  • empathy
  • disability simulation
  • language disorders
  • instant messaging
  • Turing test
  • speech and hearing science
  • caregiver training

• An Integrated System for Blind Day-to-Day Life Autonomy

  Hugo Fernandes, José Faria, Hugo Paredes, João Barroso (2011) — Proceedings of the 13th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2011)

  This demonstration paper presents nav4b, an integrated system designed to support the day-to-day autonomy of blind people by combining indoor/outdoor navigation guidance with object recognition in a single platform. Unlike existing solutions that req…

  • blindness
  • navigation
  • RFID
  • object recognition
  • white cane
  • mobile accessibility
  • wayfinding
  • assistive technology
  • bone conduction

• Exploring Iconographic Interface in Emergency for Deaf

  Tânia Pereira, Benjamim Fonseca, Hugo Paredes, Miriam Cabo (2011) — Proceedings of the 13th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2011)

  This demonstration paper presents a mobile phone application that enables deaf people to communicate with emergency medical services using an iconographic touchscreen interface rather than voice calls. In Portugal at the time of publication, deaf peo…

  • deaf
  • emergency services
  • iconographic interface
  • mobile accessibility
  • pictographic communication
  • SMS
  • touchscreen

• Tapulator: A Non-Visual Calculator Using Natural Prefix-Free Codes

  Vaspol Ruamviboonsuk, Shiri Azenkot, Richard E. Ladner (2012) — Proceedings of the 14th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2012)

  This demonstration paper presents the Tapulator, a non-visual calculator for smartphones that replaces traditional on-screen buttons with a simple gesture-based numeric entry system using multi-finger taps and swipes. The core innovation is a natural…

  • blindness
  • low vision
  • touchscreen accessibility
  • screen reader
  • gesture input
  • mobile accessibility
  • non-visual interface
  • VoiceOver

• Liberi and the Racer Bike: Exergaming Technology for Children with Cerebral Palsy

  Zi Ye, Hamilton A. Hernandez, T.C. Nicholas Graham, Darcy Fehlings, Lauren Switzer, Md Ameer Hamza, Irina Schumann (2012) — Proceedings of the 14th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2012)

  This demonstration paper presents Liberi, a multiplayer exercise video game, and a custom cycling-based exergaming station designed to enable children with cerebral palsy (CP) to engage in vigorous physical exercise while playing with peers. Children…

  • cerebral palsy
  • exergame
  • children
  • physical activity
  • participatory design
  • motor impairment
  • rehabilitation
  • game accessibility

• Considerations for Technology that Support Physical Activity by Older Adults

  Chloe Fan, Jodi Forlizzi, Anind Dey (2012) — Proceedings of the 14th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2012)

  This paper investigates how technology can help older adults overcome barriers to physical activity through a needs-based, qualitative research approach. Rather than starting from technology capabilities, the researchers interviewed 12 physically act…

  • aging
  • older adults
  • physical activity
  • technology intervention
  • participatory design
  • barriers to activity
  • persuasive technology
  • data visualization