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• Video Gaming for the Vision Impaired

  Manohar Swaminathan, Sujeath Pareddy, Tanuja Sunil Sawant, Shubi Agarwal · 2018 · Proceedings of the 20th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2018)

  This Microsoft Research demo paper presents the Responsive Spatial Audio Cloud (ReSAC), a novel interaction toolkit designed to make mainstream video games accessible to people with visual impairments. The research is motivated by the finding that visually impaired people want…

  blindness · game accessibility · spatial audio · sonification · 3D sound

• Interactively Modeling and Visualizing Neighborhood Accessibility at Scale: An Initial Study of Washington DC

  Anthony Li, Manaswi Saha, Anupam Gupta, Jon E. Froehlich · 2018 · Proceedings of the 20th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2018)

  This poster paper from the University of Maryland and University of Washington presents two prototype tools — AccessScore and AccessVisDC — for modeling and visualizing neighborhood-level physical accessibility for people with mobility impairments. The work addresses a critical…

  urban accessibility · wheelchair accessibility · walkability · data visualization · crowdsourcing

• Using the Musical Multimedia Tool ACMUS with People with Severe Mental Disorders: A Pilot Study

  Mikel Ostiz-Blanco, Alfredo Pina, Miriam Lizaso, Jose Javier Astraín, Gonzalo Arrondo · 2018 · Proceedings of the 20th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2018)

  This demo paper from the University of Navarra presents a pilot study evaluating ACMUS (Accessible Music), a multimedia tool that adds visual and interactive dimensions to music therapy for people with severe mental disorders. Music therapy has shown preliminary benefits for…

  mental health · schizophrenia · music therapy · music accessibility · serious games

• Who Should Have Access to my Pointing Data? Privacy Tradeoffs of Adaptive Assistive Technologies

  Foad Hamidi, Kellie Poneres, Aaron Massey, Amy Hurst · 2018 · Proceedings of the 20th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2018)

  This UMBC study examines the often-overlooked privacy tradeoffs inherent in Adaptive Assistive Technologies (AATs) — software systems that monitor user performance data to automatically adapt their functionality. While AATs offer significant usability benefits for people whose…

  privacy · security · adaptive systems · assistive technology · essential tremor

• Interdependence as a Frame for Assistive Technology Research and Design

  Cynthia L. Bennett, Erin Brady, Stacy M. Branham · 2018 · Proceedings of the 20th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2018)

  This influential paper introduces interdependence as a complementary frame to the traditional focus on independence in assistive technology research and design. The authors argue that "independence" — long the unquestioned gold standard of AT design — can be misrepresentative…

  disability studies · assistive technology · interdependence · independence · disability justice

• "Siri Talks at You": An Empirical Investigation of Voice-Activated Personal Assistant (VAPA) Usage by Individuals Who Are Blind

  Ali Abdolrahmani, Ravi Kuber, Stacy M. Branham · 2018 · Proceedings of the 20th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2018)

  This UMBC and UC Irvine study is one of the first to examine how individuals who are blind use voice-activated personal assistants (VAPAs) like Siri, Amazon Echo, and Google Home, and what barriers they encounter. The researchers interviewed 14 legally-blind adults (ages 21-66,…

  blindness · voice interface · voice assistant · Siri · Amazon Echo

• Towards More Robust Speech Interactions for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Users

  Raymond Fok, Harmanpreet Kaur, Skanda Palani, Martez E. Mott, Walter S. Lasecki · 2018 · Proceedings of the 20th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2018)

  This University of Michigan study addresses a largely overlooked accessibility gap: while much research has focused on providing deaf users access to spoken output (via captioning or sign language), almost no work has addressed improving deaf users' ability to provide speech…

  deaf and hard of hearing · automatic speech recognition · deaf speech · crowdsourcing · speech intelligibility

• Designing an Animated Character System for American Sign Language

  Danielle Bragg, Raja Kushalnagar, Richard Ladner · 2018 · Proceedings of the 20th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2018)

  This University of Washington and Gallaudet University paper introduces the first animated character system prototype for sign language, addressing the fundamental problem that sign languages — used by approximately 70 million people worldwide as their primary language — lack a…

  sign language · deaf accessibility · ASL · writing systems · animation

• Usability Testing - An Aphasia Perspective

  Abi Roper, Ian Davey, Stephanie Wilson, Timothy Neate, Jane Marshall, Brian Grellmann · 2018 · Proceedings of the 20th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2018)

  This experience report from City, University of London presents how classic usability testing methods were adapted to include people with aphasia, co-authored with Ian Davey, a person with aphasia who participated in the adapted testing. Aphasia is a language impairment acquired…

  aphasia · usability testing · cognitive accessibility · stroke · communication accessibility

• From Behavioral and Communication Intervention to Interaction Design: User Perspectives from Clinicians

  Yao Du, LouAnne Boyd, Seray Ibrahim · 2018 · Proceedings of the 20th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2018)

  This experience report from three clinicians-turned-researchers (a board certified behavior analyst from the US, and two speech and language therapists from the UK and US) reflects on the gap between clinical practice with neurodiverse children and HCI/assistive technology…

  AAC · autism · children · behavioral intervention · speech and language therapy

• MathMelodies 2: a Mobile Assistive Application for People with Visual Impairments Developed with React Native

  Niccolò Cantù, Mattia Ducci, Dragan Ahmetovic, Cristian Bernareggi, Sergio Mascetti · 2018 · Proceedings of the 20th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2018)

  This demo paper from the University of Milan and University of Turin reports on MathMelodies 2, a cross-platform math education app for blind and visually impaired (BVI) children in grades 1-5, developed using React Native. The original MathMelodies was iPad-only, developed in…

  blindness · low vision · mathematical accessibility · education · children

• A Demo of Talkit++: Interacting with 3D Printed Models Using an iOS Device

  Lei Shi, Zhuohao Zhang, Shiri Azenkot · 2018 · Proceedings of the 20th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2018)

  This Cornell Tech demo presents Talkit++, an iOS application that adds interactive multimedia labels to 3D printed tactile models for visually impaired students. Teachers of the visually impaired (TVIs) increasingly use 3D printers to create tactile learning materials, but these…

  blindness · low vision · 3D printing · tactile accessibility · computer vision

• Exploring an Ambiguous Technique for Eyes-Free Mobile Text Entry

  Dylan Gaines · 2018 · Proceedings of the 20th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2018)

  This student research competition paper from Michigan Technological University presents Tap123, an ambiguous eyes-free keyboard for mobile text entry that does not require users to tap specific keys. The system is motivated by the limitations of existing blind text entry…

  blindness · low vision · text entry · mobile accessibility · eyes-free interaction

• Exploring the Performance of Facial Expression Recognition Technologies on Deaf Adults and Their Children

  Irene Rogan Shaffer · 2018 · Proceedings of the 20th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2018)

  This Boston University student research paper investigates how commercial facial expression recognition services perform on Deaf ASL signers and Children of Deaf Adults (CODAs) compared to hearing non-signers. The study is motivated by a critical problem: in ASL and other sign…

  deaf and hard of hearing · sign language · facial expression recognition · emotion recognition · AI fairness

• What My Eyes Can't See, A Robot Can Show Me: Exploring the Collaboration Between Blind People and Robots

  Mayara Bonani, Raquel Oliveira, Filipa Correia, André Rodrigues, Tiago Guerreiro, Ana Paiva · 2018 · Proceedings of the 20th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2018)

  This University of Lisbon and University of São Paulo study explores how assistive robots can go beyond information-giving technologies (like screen readers) by physically collaborating with blind people. The research consists of two studies. Study 1 conducted four focus groups…

  blindness · robotics · human-robot interaction · assistive robotics · collaboration

• "Wear It Loud": How and Why Hearing Aid and Cochlear Implant Users Customize Their Devices

  Halley P. Profita, Abigale Stangl, Laura Matuszewska, Sigrunn Sky, Raja Kushalnagar, Shaun K. Kane · 2018 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing (TACCESS)

  This paper investigates why and how hearing aid and cochlear implant users aesthetically customize their devices, exploring the intersection of assistive technology, identity, and social acceptability. The research addresses a significant problem: hearing aid abandonment rates…

  hearing aids · cochlear implants · deafness · DIY assistive technology · social acceptability

• A Collaborative System for Suitable Wheelchair Route Planning

  Guilherme L. Barczyszyn, Letícia M. De O. Camenar, Diego De F. Do Nascimento, Nádia P. Kozievitch, Ricardo D. Da Silva, Leonelo D. A. Almeida, Juliana De Santi, Rodrigo Minetto · 2018 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This paper presents a collaborative system for wheelchair route planning that fundamentally reimagines how navigation services work for people with mobility impairments. Unlike standard route planners like Google Maps that provide street-based directions, this system uses a…

  mobility accessibility · wheelchair users · route planning · crowdsourcing · geographic information systems

• Emotionally Oriented Analysis of the Experiences of Visually Impaired People on Facebook

  Cristiane N. Nobre, Magali R. G. Meireles, Débora B. F. Da Silva, Alberto H. Faria, Niltom Vieira · 2018 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing (TACCESS)

  This paper investigates the emotional experiences of visually impaired Facebook users compared to sighted users, using the PANAS (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule) psychological instrument. The research addresses a gap in accessibility literature: while many studies…

  blindness · low vision · social media accessibility · Facebook · emotional design

• Autonomous Selection and Printing of 3D Models for People Who Are Blind

  Timo Götzelmann · 2018 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This paper addresses a significant autonomy gap: while 3D printed models are increasingly used in schools for blind students to understand spatial concepts through touch, the process of finding and printing these models has required sighted assistance. People who are blind could…

  blindness · visual impairment · 3D printing · tactile graphics · voice control

• "I knew that, I was just testing you": Understanding Older Adults' Impression Management Tactics During Usability Studies

  Rachel L. Franz, Ron Baecker, Khai N. Truong · 2018 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This paper investigates how older adults (65+) engage in impression management (IM) during usability studies—conscious or unconscious behaviors to present themselves favorably to researchers. While IM is known to affect research validity, its specific manifestations in…

  older adults · aging · usability testing · research methodology · user research

• Feedback and Guidance to Support Children with Intellectual Disabilities in Discovery Learning with a Tangible Interactive Tabletop

  Taciana Pontual Falcão · 2018 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This research investigates how tangible interactive technology can support discovery-based learning for children with intellectual disabilities—a population for whom unstructured exploration is particularly challenging due to difficulties with abstract thinking, attention, and…

  intellectual disability · children · tangible interfaces · discovery learning · educational technology

• Extraction of Emotional Information via Visual Scanning Patterns: A Feasibility Study of Participants with Schizophrenia and Neurotypical Individuals

  Joshua Wade, Heathman S. Nichols, Megan Ichinose, Dayi Bian, Esube Bekele, Matthew Snodgress, Ashwaq Zaini Amat, Eric Granholm, Sohee Park, Nilanjan Sarkar · 2018 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This paper presents MASI-VR (Multimodal Adaptive Social Intervention in Virtual Reality), a gaze-sensitive social skills training system designed to improve emotion recognition in adults with schizophrenia (SZ). Emotion recognition impairment is a core feature of schizophrenia…

  schizophrenia · emotion recognition · eye tracking · virtual reality · social cognition

• Towards Devising a Low-cost and Easy-to-use Arithmetic Learning Framework for Economically Less-privileged Visually Impaired Children

  Tusher Chakraborty, Taslim Arefin Khan, A. B. M. Alim Al Islam · 2018 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This paper addresses a critical gap in assistive technology: the lack of affordable, easy-to-use tools for teaching arithmetic to visually impaired children in low-income countries. While assistive calculators and digital tools exist, they are prohibitively expensive for the 90%…

  visual impairment · blindness · mathematics education · low-resource settings · Braille

• Project Star Catcher: A Novel Immersive Virtual Reality Experience for Upper Limb Rehabilitation

  Aviv Elor, Mircea Teodorescu, Sri Kurniawan · 2018 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This paper presents Project Star Catcher (PSC), an immersive virtual reality game designed for upper limb rehabilitation in individuals with hemiparesis—weakness or partial paralysis affecting one side of the body, commonly resulting from stroke. The game adapts modified…

  virtual reality · rehabilitation · stroke · hemiparesis · constraint-induced therapy

• Design of a Haptic-Gripper Virtual Reality System (Hg) for Analyzing Fine Motor Behaviors in Children with Autism

  Huan Zhao, Zhaobo Zheng, Amy Swanson, Amy Weitlauf, Zachary Warren, Nilanjan Sarkar · 2018 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This paper presents Hg (Haptic-Gripper), a novel virtual reality system designed to assess and train fine motor skills in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). While research on ASD has extensively focused on social and communication deficits, motor impairments—which…

  autism spectrum disorder · fine motor skills · haptic feedback · virtual reality · grip force