Literature Reviews

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

• Evaluating Existing Audio CAPTCHAs and an Interface Optimized for Non-Visual Use

  Jeffrey P. Bigham, Anna C. Cavender (2009) — Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI 2009)

  This paper presents the first large-scale evaluation of audio CAPTCHAs — the purportedly accessible alternative to visual CAPTCHAs — revealing that they are dramatically more difficult for both blind and sighted users. The study gathered 10 types of …

  • blind and low vision
  • web accessibility
  • screen readers
  • CAPTCHA
  • authentication
  • non-visual interfaces
  • usability testing
  • accessibility barriers

• Strategies: An Inclusive Authentication Framework

  Natã M. Barbosa (2014) — ASSETS '14: Proceedings of the 16th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers & Accessibility

  This short paper proposes an interaction workflow for accessible web authentication designed to reduce the difficulties people with disabilities face when logging into websites. The framework aims to be secure, scalable, deployable, privacy-preservin…

  • authentication
  • web accessibility
  • privacy
  • security
  • inclusive design
  • biometrics
  • mobile devices

• Towards A Universally Usable Human Interaction Proof: Evaluation of Task Completion Strategies

  Graig Sauer, Jonathan Lazar, Harry Hochheiser, Jinjuan Feng (2010) — ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This paper addresses a critical accessibility barrier: CAPTCHAs and human-interaction proofs (HIPs) that effectively lock people with visual impairments out of web services. Prior research showed that blind users could only solve audio CAPTCHAs about…

  • CAPTCHA
  • blind users
  • screen readers
  • universal usability
  • web security
  • authentication

• Investigating User Behavior for Authentication Methods: A Comparison between Individuals with Down Syndrome and Neurotypical Users

  Yao Ma, Jinjuan Feng, Libby Kumin, Jonathan Lazar (2013) — ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This groundbreaking study provides the first experimental research on how individuals with Down syndrome (DS) interact with web authentication mechanisms. The researchers conducted a six-week longitudinal study with 10 adults with DS (ages 18-39) and…

  • cognitive accessibility
  • Down syndrome
  • authentication
  • passwords
  • security
  • cognitive disability

• A3C: An Image-Association-Based Computing Device Authentication Framework for People with Upper Extremity Impairments

  Brittany Lewis, Priyankan Kirupaharan, Tina-Marie Ranalli, Krishna Venkatasubramanian (2024) — ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This paper presents A3C (Accessible image-Association-based Authentication for Computing devices), a novel authentication framework designed for people with upper extremity impairments (UEI). Over 20 million Americans have conditions—including trauma…

  • authentication
  • upper extremity impairments
  • graphical authentication
  • security
  • assistive technology
  • motor impairments
  • accessible design

• Sequential Gestural Passcodes on Google Glass

  Abdullah Ali (2015) — ASSETS '15: Proceedings of the 17th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers & Accessibility

  This poster paper presents a prototype authentication system using Google Glass to help people with visual impairments access online accounts while protecting against shoulder surfing attacks. The author identifies two intersecting problems: blind us…

  • blindness
  • authentication
  • security
  • wearable computing
  • gesture interaction
  • Google Glass
  • password
  • shoulder surfing

• Accessible Mobile Biometrics for Elderly

  Ramon Blanco-Gonzalo, Raul Sanchez-Reillo, Loïc Martínez-Normand, Belen Fernandez-Saavedra, Judith Liu-Jimenez (2015) — ASSETS '15: Proceedings of the 17th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers & Accessibility

  This paper presents one of the first accessibility evaluations of mobile biometric authentication, focusing on elderly users making Point of Sale payments via smartphone. The researchers developed an Android app using NFC communication and two biomet…

  • biometrics
  • elderly
  • mobile accessibility
  • authentication
  • fingerprint
  • signature recognition
  • EN 301 549
  • security
  • aging
  • mobile payments

• Understanding Authentication Method Use on Mobile Devices by People with Vision Impairment

  Daniella Briotto Faustino, Audrey Girouard (2018) — Proceedings of the 20th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2018)

  This Carleton University study presents the largest survey to date on how people with vision impairments use passwords and authentication methods on mobile devices. The researchers collected responses from 325 participants (225 blind, 100 low vision)…

  • blindness
  • low vision
  • mobile accessibility
  • authentication
  • security
  • privacy
  • passwords
  • biometrics
  • shoulder surfing

• Cognitive Function vs. Accessible Authentication: Insights from Dyslexia Research

  Jacques Ophoff, Graham Johnson, Karen Renaud (2021) — Proceedings of the 18th International Web for All Conference (W4A)

  This paper explores the accessibility challenges that password-based authentication poses to people with dyslexia, arguing that accessibility is a neglected third dimension alongside the well-studied security and usability considerations. The authors…

  • cognitive accessibility
  • dyslexia
  • authentication
  • security
  • passwords
  • WCAG
  • cognitive disability