Literature Reviews

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

• New Tools for Automating Tactile Geographic Map Translation

  Nizar Bouhlel, Anis Rojbi (2014) — Proceedings of the 16th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers & Accessibility (ASSETS)

  This demo paper presents a Matlab-based software tool that semi-automates the conversion of visual geographic maps into tactile versions suitable for blind students. Tactile graphics are the most effective modality for blind people to comprehend grap…

  • tactile graphics
  • blindness
  • braille
  • image processing
  • OCR
  • accessible maps
  • education
  • geographic maps

• 3D HapticWebBrowser: towards universal web navigation for the visually impaired

  Nikolaos Kaklanis, Konstantinos Votis, Konstantinos Moustakas, Dimitrios Tzovaras (2010) — Proceedings of the 2010 International Cross Disciplinary Conference on Web Accessibility (W4A)

  This paper presents the 3D HapticWebBrowser, a free open-source web browser that uses haptic (touch feedback) technology to enable visually impaired users to navigate web pages and explore 2D maps. The system transforms HTML elements into "hapgets" —…

  • haptic technology
  • visual impairment
  • blindness
  • multimodal interaction
  • accessible maps
  • web navigation
  • assistive technology
  • 3D interaction
  • open source

• HapticRiaMaps: Towards Interactive Exploration of Web World Maps for the Visually Impaired

  Nikolaos Kaklanis, Konstantinos Votis, Panagiotis Moschonas, Dimitrios Tzovaras (2011) — Proceedings of the International Cross-Disciplinary Conference on Web Accessibility (W4A)

  This paper presents HapticRiaMaps, a free open-source web application from the Centre for Research and Technology-Hellas (CERTH) in Greece that makes online 2D maps accessible to visually impaired users through haptic force feedback and audio sonific…

  • blind and low vision
  • haptic technology
  • accessible maps
  • sonification
  • multimodal interaction
  • navigation
  • assistive technology
  • spatial cognition

• Accessibility and Smart Data: the Case Study of mPASS

  Catia Prandi (2014) — Proceedings of the 11th Web for All Conference (W4A)

  This doctoral consortium paper presents mPASS (mobile Pervasive Accessibility Social Sensing), a research project from the University of Bologna that applies the concept of Smart Data to urban accessibility. The paper argues that while crowdsourcing …

  • accessible maps
  • crowdsourcing
  • smart data
  • urban accessibility
  • user modeling
  • mobile accessibility
  • personalization
  • navigation

• A Mobile Interactive Maps Application for a Visually Impaired Audience

  Nikolaos Kaklanis, Konstantinos Votis, Dimitrios Tzovaras (2013) — Proceedings of the 10th International Cross-Disciplinary Conference on Web Accessibility (W4A)

  This demo paper presents "Open Touch/Sound Maps," an Android mobile application that makes interactive maps accessible to visually impaired and blind users through multimodal feedback. Web-based spatial information resources like OpenStreetMap are in…

  • visual impairment
  • accessible maps
  • sonification
  • haptic feedback
  • mobile accessibility
  • multimodal interaction
  • text-to-speech
  • blindness
  • navigation

• Travelling more independently: A Requirements Analysis for Accessible Journeys to Unknown Buildings for People with Visual Impairments

  Christin Engel, Karin Müller, Angela Constantinescu, Claudia Loitsch, Vanessa Petrausch, Gerhard Weber, Rainer Stiefelhagen (2020) — Proceedings of the 22nd International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2020)

  This paper presents a comprehensive survey with 106 people with visual impairments (63 blind, 43 low vision; ages 8-77, mean 46; predominantly German) examining how they plan and carry out journeys to unknown buildings. Unlike previous studies that f…

  • visual accessibility
  • blindness and low vision
  • indoor navigation
  • wayfinding
  • orientation and mobility
  • accessible maps
  • tactile accessibility
  • built environment
  • independent living

• The Future of Urban Accessibility for People with Disabilities: Data Collection, Analytics, Policy, and Tools

  Jon E. Froehlich, Yochai Eisenberg, Maryam Hosseini, Fabio Miranda, Marc Adams, Anat Caspi, Holger Dieterich, Heather Feldner, Aldo Gonzalez, Claudina de Gyves, Joy Hammel, Reuben Kirkham, Melanie Kneisel, Delphine Labbé, Steve J. Mooney, Victor Pineda, Cláudia Fonseca Pinhão, Ana Rodríguez, Manaswi Saha, Michael Saugstad, Judy Shanley, Ather Sharif, Qing Shen, Cláudio Silva, Maarten Sukel, Eric K. Tokuda, Sebastian Felix Zappe, Anna Zivarts (2022) — Proceedings of the 24th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 22)

  This workshop paper frames urban accessibility as a "wicked problem" spanning transportation, urban planning, disability studies, public health, and human geography, and assembles a remarkably diverse team of 28 co-organizers from six countries acros…

  • urban accessibility
  • built environment
  • pedestrian infrastructure
  • sidewalk accessibility
  • data collection
  • crowdsourcing
  • computer vision
  • accessible maps
  • transit accessibility
  • walkability
  • ADA compliance
  • climate justice
  • Global South accessibility

• Understanding and Improving Drilled-Down Information Extraction from Online Data Visualizations for Screen-Reader Users

  Ather Sharif, Andrew M. Zhang, Katharina Reinecke, Jacob O. Wobbrock (2023) — Proceedings of the 20th International Web for All Conference (W4A '23)

  This extended abstract presents enhancements to VoxLens, an open-source JavaScript plug-in that improves the accessibility of online data visualizations for screen-reader users (SRUs) through a multimodal approach. Over 7.6 million people in the Unit…

  • screen readers
  • data visualization accessibility
  • alternative text
  • sonification
  • blind and low vision
  • web accessibility
  • non-visual interaction
  • information retrieval
  • accessible maps

• Case Study: In-the-Field Accessibility Information Collection Using Gamification

  Akihiro Miyata, Kazuki Okugawa, Yusaku Murayama, Akihiro Furuta, Keihiro Ochiai, Yuko Murayama (2023) — Proceedings of the 20th International Web for All Conference (W4A '23)

  This study introduces and evaluates a crowdsourcing platform designed to collect real-world accessibility information for constructing accessibility maps that support people with mobility disabilities. Accessibility maps are critical for safe navigat…

  • crowdsourcing
  • gamification
  • accessible maps
  • physical accessibility
  • pedestrian infrastructure
  • deep learning
  • urban accessibility
  • mobile application
  • wheelchair accessibility
  • computer vision

• Accessible Bus Stop Preview for Visually Impaired

  Mahmut Erdemli (2024) — ASSETS '24: Proceedings of the 26th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility

  This paper presents research on creating an accessible bus stop preview system for visually impaired users, addressing a significant gap in public transportation accessibility. While navigation apps can guide visually impaired people to a bus stop's …

  • visual impairment
  • public transportation
  • outdoor navigation
  • bus stops
  • accessible maps
  • digital mapping
  • inclusive design
  • transit accessibility