Literature Reviews

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

• Embroidered Braille: Towards Accessible and Inclusive Educational Tools and Everyday Applications

  Pouya M Khorsandi, Sara Nabil (2026) — CHI EA '26: Extended Abstracts of the 2026 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

  This short CHI Extended Abstracts paper by Khorsandi and Nabil (Queen's University iStudio) stakes out digitally embroidered Braille as a design space for DIY making of accessible everyday artefacts, rather than as another institutional assistive-tec…

  • braille
  • digital embroidery
  • tactile graphics
  • blind and low vision
  • DIY
  • hybrid craft
  • e-textiles
  • maker culture
  • self-expression
  • STEM education

• Observing Sara: A Case Study of a Blind Person's Interactions with Technology

  Kristen Shinohara, Josh Tenenberg (2007) — Proceedings of the 9th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (Assets '07)

  This paper from the University of Washington, Tacoma presents a rich, in-depth case study of Sara, a congenitally blind college student, observed and interviewed across multiple sessions as she interacts with a wide range of technologies in her home.…

  • blindness
  • assistive technology
  • case study
  • technology biographies
  • workarounds
  • screen readers
  • JAWS
  • braille
  • stigma
  • qualitative research
  • inclusive design
  • disability identity

• MathPlayer V2.1: Web-based Math Accessibility

  Neil Soiffer (2007) — Proceedings of the 9th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (Assets '07)

  This paper describes MathPlayer v2.1, a plug-in developed by Design Science, Inc. that renders MathML visually in Microsoft Internet Explorer and Adobe Acrobat/Reader while providing extensive accessibility features for people with print disabilities…

  • mathematical accessibility
  • MathML
  • screen readers
  • braille
  • print disabilities
  • synchronized highlighting
  • math-to-speech
  • PDF accessibility
  • learning disabilities

• A Software Model to Support Collaborative Mathematical Work between Braille and Sighted Users

  Dominique Archambault, Bernhard Stöger, Mario Batusic, Claudia Fahrengruber, Klaus Miesenberger (2007) — Proceedings of the 9th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (Assets '07)

  This paper presents the software model behind the MaWEn (Mathematical Working Environment) project, a long-term collaboration between Johannes Kepler Universität Linz and Université Pierre et Marie Curie in Paris. The project addresses a fundamental …

  • braille
  • mathematics accessibility
  • collaborative editing
  • MathML
  • inclusive education
  • braille mathematics
  • synchronisation
  • navigation

• Lambda: A Multimodal Approach to Making Mathematics Accessible to Blind Students

  Alistair D N Edwards, Heather McCartney, Flavio Fogarolo (2006) — Proceedings of the 8th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (Assets '06)

  This paper presents the Lambda System, a European Union-funded project designed to make mathematics accessible to blind students through a multimodal mathematical editor. Mathematics relies heavily on visual two-dimensional notation — fractions are s…

  • visual impairment
  • mathematics
  • braille
  • education
  • MathML
  • multimodal interface
  • screen reader
  • STEM accessibility

• A Portable Device for the Translation of Braille to Text

  Iain Murray, Andrew Pasquale (2006) — Proceedings of the 8th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (Assets '06)

  This paper presents the development of a portable, handheld device that optically scans embossed Braille and translates it into printed text in real time. The device addresses a significant communication barrier: while many blind and vision-impaired …

  • braille
  • optical braille recognition
  • assistive technology
  • visual impairment
  • communication
  • portable device

• Hardware-Based Text-to-Braille Translator

  Xuan Zhang, Cesar Ortega-Sanchez, Iain Murray (2006) — Proceedings of the 8th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (Assets '06)

  This paper describes the implementation of a text-to-Braille translator in hardware using Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), as an alternative to the software-based translators that dominate the market. The translator implements Paul Blenkhorn's…

  • braille
  • braille translation
  • FPGA
  • hardware
  • embedded systems
  • assistive technology

• Measuring Website Usability for Visually Impaired People - A Modified GOMS Analysis

  Henrik Tonn-Eichstädt (2006) — Proceedings of the 8th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (Assets '06)

  This paper adapts the GOMS (Goals, Operators, Methods, Selection rules) model — a well-established HCI method for estimating task execution times — to measure website usability specifically for blind screen reader users. The author argues that access…

  • screen readers
  • usability
  • web accessibility
  • GOMS
  • braille
  • blind users
  • evaluation methods
  • navigation strategies
  • efficiency

• MathPlayer: Web-Based Math Accessibility

  Neil Soiffer (2005) — Proceedings of the 7th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (Assets '05)

  This poster paper presents MathPlayer, a free plug-in for Microsoft Internet Explorer developed by Design Science Inc. that renders MathML (Mathematical Markup Language) visually in web pages and makes mathematical expressions accessible to people wi…

  • mathematical accessibility
  • MathML
  • screen readers
  • print disability
  • learning disabilities
  • braille
  • STEM accessibility
  • web accessibility

• Talking Braille: A Wireless Ubiquitous Computing Network for Orientation and Wayfinding

  David A. Ross, Alexander Lightman (2005) — Proceedings of the 7th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (Assets '05)

  This paper presents the design and initial evaluation of the Talking Braille system, a wireless ubiquitous computing network designed to help people with vision loss navigate indoor public spaces. The system is built around the "Cyber Crumb" concept:…

  • wayfinding
  • orientation
  • blindness
  • ubiquitous computing
  • indoor navigation
  • assistive technology
  • braille
  • wireless networks