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• Breaking Barriers: Co-Designing Physical Activity Promoting Technologies with Older Adults Living Alone

  Muhe Yang, Karyn Moffatt · 2025 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This study investigates why physical activity (PA) promoting technologies fail to meet the needs of older adults living alone, and how technology might better support their exercise engagement. The researchers conducted a multi-stage design process with 17 inactive older adults…

  aging · co-design · physical activity · social support · older adults

• Tactile Emotions: Multimodal Affective Captioning with Haptics Improves Narrative Engagement for d/Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Viewers

  Caluã de Lacerda Pataca, Saad Hassan, Lloyd May, Michelle M Olson, Toni D'aurio, Roshan L Peiris, Matt Huenerfauth · 2025 · Proceedings of the 2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI '25)

  This paper explores a multimodal approach to affective captioning — captions that convey not just the words a speaker says but the emotional dimensions of their voice — for d/Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (dhh) viewers. Prior work has shown that typographic modulations such as…

  affective captioning · haptics · deaf and hard of hearing · multimodal interaction · captions

• Looking Past Screens: Exploring Mixed Reality and Discreet AAC Devices

  Humphrey Curtis, Adam D G Jenkins, Seray B Ibrahim, Timothy Neate · 2024 · Proceedings of the 26th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2024)

  This paper challenges the dominance of tablet-based augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices by co-designing mixed reality (MR) and discreet assistive technologies with people living with aphasia following stroke. Current AAC devices are typically…

  augmentative and alternative communication · mixed reality · aphasia · co-design · wearable technology

• Exploring the Strategies People with Parkinson's Disease Use to Self-track Symptoms and Medications

  Charlotte Tang, Imrul K. Shuva, Matthew Thelen, Linda Zhu, Nathaniel S. Miller · 2024 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This qualitative study investigates how people with Parkinson's Disease (PwPD) track their symptoms, medications, and physical activities, with the goal of informing inclusive design of self-tracking technologies. The researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with 26…

  Parkinson's disease · self-tracking · chronic illness · health technology · inclusive design

• Watch Your Language: Using Smartwatches to Support Communication

  Humphrey Curtis, Timothy Neate · 2023 · ASSETS '23: Proceedings of the 25th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility

  This paper presents the first participatory design and evaluation of AAC smartwatch applications co-designed directly with people who have complex communication needs (CCNs), specifically people living with aphasia — an acquired language impairment most commonly caused by stroke…

  augmentative and alternative communication · AAC · smartwatch · aphasia · wearable technology

• What do Blind and Low-Vision People Really Want from Assistive Smart Devices? Comparison of the Literature with a Focus Study

  Bhanuka Gamage, Thanh-Toan Do, Nicholas Seow Chiang Price, Arthur Lowery, Kim Marriott · 2023 · Proceedings of the 25th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS '23)

  This paper investigates whether the tasks and devices explored by researchers developing AI-based assistive smart devices actually align with what blind and low-vision (BLV) people want. The authors conducted a three-part study combining a scoping literature review with…

  blind and low vision · assistive technology · smart devices · computer vision · wearable technology

• Investigation into Stress Triggers in Autistic Adults for the Development of Technological Self-Interventions

  John Joseph McGowan, Iain Peter McGregor · 2023 · Proceedings of the 25th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2023)

  This paper presents findings from a large-scale online survey of over 200 autistic adults and caregivers, investigating common stress triggers and the role of technology in stress management. The research is the initial phase of a broader project aimed at developing a Stress…

  autism · stress management · sensory processing · assistive technology · virtual reality

• "Not There Yet": Feasibility and Challenges of Mobile Sound Recognition to Support Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing People

  Jeremy Zhengqi Huang, Hriday Chhabria, Dhruv Jain · 2023 · Proceedings of the 25th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS)

  This paper presents the first longitudinal field study of a mobile sound recognition system used by Deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) people in their daily lives. The researchers deployed SoundWatch, a smartwatch-based app that uses a deep learning model (Google YAMNet…

  deaf and hard of hearing · sound recognition · wearable technology · smartwatch · assistive technology

• Playing with Feeling: Exploring Vibrotactile Feedback and Aesthetic Experiences for Developing Haptic Wearables for Blind and Low Vision Music Learning

  Leon Lu, Jin Kang, Chase Crispin, Audrey Girouard · 2023 · Proceedings of the 25th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2023)

  This paper explores how musical haptic wearables (MHWs) using vibrotactile feedback can support music learning for blind and low-vision (BLV) people, and investigates the role of material aesthetics in shaping the user experience of such devices. The researchers conducted five…

  blind and low vision · assistive technology · haptic feedback · vibrotactile · music learning

• Performance and Pleasure: Exploring the Perceived Usefulness and Appeal of Physical Activity Data Visualizations with Older Adults

  Dimitri Vargemidis, Kathrin Gerling, Vero Vanden Abeele, Luc Geurts · 2023 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This mixed-methods study examines how older adults perceive and value different approaches to visualizing physical activity (PA) data from wearable activity trackers. The researchers combined semi-structured interviews (N=17) and an online survey (N=27) with 44 older adults…

  older adults · physical activity · data visualization · wearable technology · activity trackers

• WearSkill: Personalized and Interchangeable Input with Wearables for Users with Motor Impairments

  Ovidiu-Andrei Schipor, Laura-Bianca Bilius, Radu-Daniel Vatavu · 2022 · Proceedings of the 19th International Web for All Conference (W4A)

  This paper introduces WearSkill, a web-based application designed to provide personalized and interchangeable input for wearable computing, with a specific focus on users with motor impairments. The system addresses a fundamental challenge in wearable accessibility: most…

  wearable technology · motor impairments · personalization · input modalities · gesture input

• How and Why We Run: Investigating the Experiences of Blind and Visually-Impaired Runners

  Sidas Saulynas, Mei-Lian Vader, Apoorva Bendigeri, Tristan King, Anirudh Nagraj, Ravi Kuber · 2022 · Proceedings of the 19th International Web for All Conference (W4A)

  This qualitative study investigates the running experiences of 13 legally blind individuals in the United States, exploring where and how they run, what assistance they use, the challenges they face, and how technology could better support them. Participants ranged from casual…

  blindness · visual impairment · physical activity · assistive technology · wearable technology

• Personalized Wearable Interactions with WearSkill

  Ovidiu-Andrei Schipor, Laura-Bianca Bilius, Ovidiu-Ciprian Ungurean, Alexandru-Ionut Siean, Alexandru-Tudor Andrei, Radu-Daniel Vatavu · 2022 · Proceedings of the 19th International Web for All Conference (W4A)

  This extended abstract presents WearSkill, a web-based middleware application that enables people with upper-body motor impairments to control connected smart home devices through personalised wearable interactions. The system addresses a significant gap: most wearable devices…

  wearable technology · motor impairment · personalization · smart home · gesture input

• From the Lab to People's Home: Lessons from Accessing Blind Participants' Interactions via Smart Glasses in Remote Studies

  Kyungjun Lee, Jonggi Hong, Ebrima Jarjue, Ernest Essuah Mensah, Hernisa Kacorri · 2022 · Proceedings of the 19th International Web for All Conference (W4A)

  This paper from the University of Maryland explores using smart glasses as an observational tool in remote usability studies with blind participants. The COVID-19 pandemic forced accessibility researchers to shift from in-person to remote methods, but standard remote setups —…

  blindness and low vision · smart glasses · remote usability testing · user research · assistive technology

• Access on Demand: Real-time, Multi-modal Accessibility for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing based on Augmented Reality

  Roshan Mathew, Brian Mak, Wendy Dannels · 2022 · Proceedings of the 24th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS '22)

  This experience report documents two deaf researchers' hands-on evaluation of Access on Demand (AoD), an augmented reality application developed at Rochester Institute of Technology that delivers real-time captioning and American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation through Vuzix…

  augmented reality · deaf and hard of hearing · smart glasses · captioning · sign language interpretation

• Learning Music Blind: Understanding the Application of Technology to Support BLV Music Learning

  Leon Lu · 2022 · Proceedings of the 24th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS '22)

  This doctoral consortium paper outlines a three-study PhD research program investigating how wearable technologies with vibrotactile feedback can support blind and low vision (BLV) music learners. The research is motivated by the significant barriers BLV people face in learning…

  music accessibility · blindness · low vision · haptic technology · wearable technology

• "I'm Just Overwhelmed": Investigating Physical Therapy Accessibility and Technology Interventions for People with Disabilities and/or Chronic Conditions

  Momona Yamagami, Kelly Mack, Jennifer Mankoff, Katherine M. Steele · 2022 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This interview study examines physical therapy (PT) accessibility for people with disabilities and/or chronic conditions (da/cc), investigating both the barriers they face and opportunities for technology to help. The researchers conducted hour-long semi-structured interviews…

  physical therapy · chronic conditions · healthcare accessibility · telerehabilitation · wearable technology

• Technical Perspective: Computation Where the (Inter)Action Is

  Jeffrey P. Bigham · 2022 · Communications of the ACM

  This one-page technical perspective accompanies the SoundWatch paper in Communications of the ACM. Bigham uses SoundWatch — a smartwatch prototype that detects audio events and displays descriptions for deaf and hard-of-hearing people — as a lens to explore broader questions…

  wearable technology · deaf and hard of hearing · sound recognition · smartwatch · assistive technology

• WLA4ND: a Wearable Dataset of Learning Activities for Young Adults with Neurodiversity to Provide Support in Education

  Hui Zheng, Pattiya Mahapasuthanon, Yujing Chen, Huzefa Rangwala, Anya S Evmenova, Vivian Genaro Motti · 2021 · Proceedings of the 23rd International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS '21)

  This paper introduces WLA4ND (Wearable Learning Activities for Neurodiversity), the first wearable sensor dataset of learning activities collected from young adults with neurodiversity. While existing wearable sensor datasets focus on fitness, daily living, and locomotion…

  neurodiversity · wearable technology · machine learning · activity recognition · inclusive education

• Wearable Interactions for Users with Motor Impairments: Systematic Review, Inventory, and Research Implications

  Alexandru-Ionut Siean, Radu-Daniel Vatavu · 2021 · The 23rd International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2021)

  This paper presents the first systematic literature review focused specifically on wearable interactions for users with motor impairments. The authors conducted a meta-analysis of 57 peer-reviewed scientific articles identified through searches of the ACM Digital Library, IEEE…

  motor impairments · wearable technology · systematic literature review · gesture interaction · smartwatches

• Activity Recognition in Older Adults with Training Data from Younger Adults: Preliminary Results on in Vivo Smartwatch Sensor Data

  Sabahat Fatima · 2021 · Proceedings of the 23rd International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS '21)

  This extended abstract investigates a critical age-related bias in wearable activity recognition: models trained on data from younger adults perform significantly worse when applied to older adults. The study is motivated by the growing potential of smartwatch-based…

  older adults · activity recognition · machine learning · wearable technology · smartwatch

• Beyond Adaptive Sports: Challenges & Opportunities to Improve Accessibility and Analytics

  Rushil Khurana, Ashley Wang, Patrick Carrington · 2021 · ASSETS '21: The 23rd International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility

  While sports data analytics has become a multi-billion dollar industry transforming training, strategy, and refereeing in able-bodied sports, adaptive sports have been largely left behind by this technological revolution. Khurana et al. interviewed 18 participants across six…

  adaptive sports · Paralympic · wheelchair sports · blind sports · sports analytics

• ThermalCane: Exploring Thermotactile Directional Cues on Cane-Grip for Non-Visual Navigation

  Arshad Nasser, Kai-Ning Keng, Kening Zhu · 2020 · Proceedings of the 22nd International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2020)

  This paper presents ThermalCane, a white-cane grip augmented with flexible Peltier thermoelectric modules that provide thermal directional cues for blind and visually impaired (BVI) navigation. While existing haptic navigation aids primarily use vibrotactile feedback (vibration…

  visual accessibility · navigation · haptic technology · white cane · assistive technology

• Privacy Considerations of the Visually Impaired with Camera Based Assistive Technologies: Misrepresentation, Impropriety, and Fairness

  Taslima Akter, Tousif Ahmed, Apu Kapadia, Swami Manohar Swaminathan · 2020 · Proceedings of the 22nd International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2020)

  This paper investigates the privacy concerns of both visually impaired people (PVIs) and sighted bystanders regarding camera-based assistive technologies like smart glasses (Orcam, Aira, eSight) that can identify people and provide demographic and behavioral information about…

  visual accessibility · blindness and low vision · privacy · AI bias · AI fairness

• Keep Your Distance: A Playful Haptic Navigation Wearable for Individuals with Deafblindness

  James Gay, Moritz Umfahrer, Arthur Theil, Lea Buchweitz, Eva Lindell, Li Guo, Nils-Krister Persson, Oliver Korn · 2020 · Proceedings of the 22nd International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2020)

  This demonstration paper presents a haptic wearable vest designed to support independent navigation for people with deafblindness — a dual sensory impairment where the combination of sight and hearing loss makes it difficult for one sense to compensate for the other. Most…

  deafblindness · haptic technology · vibrotactile feedback · navigation · wearable technology