Interactive Voice Response

A telephony technology that allows users to interact with automated systems using voice commands or keypad input. IVR systems are particularly valuable for accessibility in low-income settings because they work with any phone (including basic feature phones), require no internet connection, and support users who are illiterate or have limited technology experience. In accessibility contexts, IVR enables voice forums, audio information services, and telephone-based applications that bypass barriers of cost, literacy, and device sophistication. The technology has been successfully deployed for accessible social media, agricultural information, and citizen journalism in the Global South.