Reviews

Search results

• Towards Designing Mobile Apps for Independent Travel: Exploring Current Barriers and Opportunities for Supporting Young Adults with Down's Syndrome

  A. M. Khan, P. Langdon, J. Bichard, P. J. Clarkson, S. Tunnard, L. Dubiel, P. Dunlop, M. Lennon · 2021 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This comprehensive study uses a three-cycle Participatory Action Research (PAR) methodology to understand barriers to independent travel for young adults with Down's Syndrome (DS) and develop a smartphone app prototype to address them. The research involved young adults with DS…

  Down syndrome · intellectual disabilities · independent travel · public transport accessibility · wayfinding

• Investigating Best Practices for Remote Summative Usability Testing with People with Mild to Moderate Dementia

  Rachel Wood, Emma Dixon, Salma Elsayed-Ali, Ekta Shokeen, Amanda Lazar, Jonathan Lazar · 2021 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This study is the first to examine best practices for conducting remote summative usability testing with people who have mild to moderate dementia, independent of their caregivers. The research included 15 participants (5 pilot, 10 main study) with an average age of 64,…

  dementia · usability testing · remote research · cognitive accessibility · older adults

• Enhancing Internet Search Abilities for People with Intellectual Disabilities in Sri Lanka

  Theja K. Arachchi, Laurianne Sitbon, Jinglan Zhang, Ruwan Gamage, Priyantha Hewagamage · 2021 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This study examines how young adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) in Sri Lanka, who had never previously used the Internet, learned to perform web searches using Google in their native Sinhala language. Ten participants aged 18-30 from two special schools participated in…

  intellectual disabilities · web search · digital literacy · eLearning · cognitive accessibility

• Deep Learning Methods for Sign Language Translation

  Tejaswini Ananthanarayana, Priyanshu Srivastava, Akash Chintha, Akhil Santha, Brian Landy, Joseph Panaro, Andre Webster, Nikunj Kotecha, Shagan Sah, Thomastine Sarchet, Raymond Ptucha, Ifeoma Nwogu · 2021 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This comprehensive study evaluates deep learning methods for translating sign language video directly to spoken/written text—critically, without requiring the intermediate step of gloss-based recognition (manual sign-for-sign transcription). The researchers systematically…

  sign language · machine translation · deep learning · transformer · neural network

• Factors Affecting the Accessibility of Voice Telephony for People with Hearing Loss: Audio Encoding, Network Impairments, Video and Environmental Noise

  Linda Kozma-Spytek, Christian Vogler · 2021 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This comprehensive study from Gallaudet University investigates how audio quality parameters affect voice telephony accessibility for people with hearing loss. The research combines a survey of 439 individuals with hearing loss and four controlled experiments involving 114…

  hearing loss · telecommunications · audio codecs · cochlear implants · hearing aids

• Iterative Design of Sonification Techniques to Support People with Visual Impairments in Obstacle Avoidance

  Giorgio Presti, Dragan Ahmetovic, Mattia Ducci, Cristian Bernareggi, Luca A. Ludovico, Adriano Baratè, Federico Avanzini, Sergio Mascetti · 2021 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This paper presents WatchOut, a sonification system that conveys real-time obstacle information to blind or visually impaired (BVI) people through non-verbal audio cues. While white canes detect obstacles only within about 1 meter and miss elevated hazards, computer vision on…

  visual impairment · blindness · sonification · obstacle avoidance · orientation and mobility

• Fully Autonomous Vehicles for People with Visual Impairment: Policy, Accessibility, and Future Directions

  Paul D. S. Fink, Jessica A. Holz, Nicholas A. Giudice · 2021 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This policy analysis examines how fully autonomous vehicles (FAVs) could transform mobility for people who are blind or visually impaired (BVI), while arguing that current US legislation fails to address their accessibility needs. With over 25 million Americans reporting…

  autonomous vehicles · transportation policy · blindness · visual impairment · accessible design

• Deaf and Hard-of-hearing Users Evaluating Designs for Highlighting Key Words in Educational Lecture Videos

  Sushant Kafle, Becca Dingman, Matt Huenerfauth · 2021 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This empirical study investigates design preferences for keyword highlighting in video captions among Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) users. While style guides like the APA Publication Manual and Chicago Manual of Style provide recommendations for highlighting text in static…

  deaf and hard of hearing · captions · captioning · video accessibility · text highlighting

• Toward a Competency-based Approach to Co-designing Technologies with People with Intellectual Disability

  Andrew A. Bayor, Margot Brereton, Laurianne Sitbon, Bernd Ploderer, Filip Bircanin, Benoit Favre, Stewart Koplick · 2021 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This paper proposes a Competency-based design approach for co-designing technologies with people with intellectual disability, extending Wobbrock et al.'s influential ability-based design framework. While ability-based design focuses on what users "can do" rather than their…

  intellectual disability · co-design · participatory design · ability-based design · cognitive accessibility

• The FATE Landscape of Sign Language AI Datasets: An Interdisciplinary Perspective

  Danielle Bragg, Oscar Koller, Mary Bellard, Larwan Berke, Patrick Boudreault, Annelies Braffort, Naomi Caselli, Matt Huenerfauth, Hernisa Kacorri, Tessa Verhoef, Christian Vogler, Meredith Ringel Morris · 2021 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This interdisciplinary paper examines the ethical landscape of AI datasets used for sign language recognition, generation, and translation technologies. Drawing on expertise from deaf community members, sign language linguists, and AI researchers, the authors apply the FATE…

  sign language · AI datasets · deaf community · FATE framework · machine learning

• Immersive Virtual Reality for Older Adults: Empirically Grounded Design Guidelines

  Vero Vanden Abeele, Brenda Schraepen, Hanne Huygelier, Celine Gillebert, Kathrin Gerling, Raymond Van Ee · 2021 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This paper establishes empirically grounded design guidelines for immersive virtual reality (IVR) experiences targeting older adults. The researchers conducted two complementary studies: first, a systematic literature review that compiled 67 design guidelines from 13 prior…

  virtual reality · older adults · aging · design guidelines · accessibility

• How Could Equality and Data Protection Law Shape AI Fairness for People with Disabilities?

  Reuben Binns, Reuben Kirkham · 2021 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This interdisciplinary paper examines how UK equality law and EU data protection law (GDPR) intersect with AI fairness for people with disabilities (PWD). The authors argue that AI fairness for PWD requires a fundamentally different approach than for other protected…

  AI fairness · disability discrimination · data protection · GDPR · equality law

• Irrelevant Gadgets or a Source of Worry: Exploring Wearable Activity Trackers with Older Adults

  Dimitri Vargemidis, Kathrin Gerling, Vero Vanden Abeele, Luc Geurts, Katta Spiel · 2021 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This qualitative study explores older adults' perspectives on wearable activity trackers and physical activity (PA), addressing a gap in research that typically focuses on system performance rather than user perspectives. The researchers conducted a two-part study: first, focus…

  wearables · older adults · physical activity · participatory design · co-design

• Expanding a Large Inclusive Study of Human Listening Rates

  Danielle Bragg, Katharina Reinecke, Richard E. Ladner · 2021 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This study presents the first large-scale, inclusive online investigation of human listening rates for fast synthetic speech, conducted via the LabintheWild crowdsourcing platform over 12 months with 1,409 participants. The research aimed to understand how fast people can…

  screen readers · synthetic speech · text-to-speech · listening rates · auditory processing

• A Longitudinal Evaluation of Tablet-Based Child Speech Therapy with Apraxia World

  Adam Hair, Kirrie J. Ballard, Constantina Markoulli, Penelope Monroe, Jacqueline McKechnie, Beena Ahmed, Ricardo Gutierrez-Osuna · 2021 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This paper presents Apraxia World, a tablet-based speech therapy game designed for long-term home practice by children with speech sound disorders (SSDs), particularly childhood apraxia of speech (CAS). Unlike many therapy games that use simple arcade mechanics and quickly…

  speech therapy · childhood apraxia of speech · speech sound disorders · serious games · games for health

• Effect of Sign-recognition Performance on the Usability of Sign-language Dictionary Search

  Saad Hassan, Oliver Alonzo, Abraham Glasser, Matt Huenerfauth · 2021 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This paper investigates how the performance of sign-language recognition technology affects user satisfaction with ASL dictionary search systems. Unlike written languages where users can type unfamiliar words to look them up, ASL learners who encounter an unfamiliar sign cannot…

  American Sign Language · ASL · sign language recognition · dictionary search · information retrieval

• C-Hg: A Collaborative Haptic-Gripper Fine Motor Skill Training System for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

  Huan Zhao, Ashwaq Zaini Amat, Miroslava Migovich, Amy Swanson, Amy S. Weitlauf, Zachary Warren, Nilanjan Sarkar · 2021 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This paper presents C-Hg (Collaborative Haptic-gripper), a virtual reality training system designed to simultaneously address both fine motor skill deficits and social skill challenges in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The system uses a customized haptic gripper…

  autism spectrum disorder · fine motor skills · haptic feedback · collaborative virtual environment · social skills training

• Accessible Web Development: Opportunities to Improve the Education and Practice of web Development with a Screen Reader

  Claire Ferrari, Amy Hurst · 2021 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This paper investigates accessibility barriers faced by blind web developers in both educational and professional contexts. The researchers employed a Comprehensive Literature Review (CLR) methodology—synthesizing academic literature, blog posts by blind programmers, email list…

  blind programmers · screen readers · web development · CSS · accessible education

• Evaluation of the Use of Real-time 3D Graphics to Augment Therapeutic Music Sessions for Young People on the Autism Spectrum

  J. J. McGowan, I. McGregor, G. Leplâtre · 2021 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  CymaSense is a real-time 3D visualization application based on cymatics—the study of making sound visible through vibration patterns—designed to augment therapeutic music sessions for autistic individuals. The system maps audio parameters to visual elements: amplitude controls…

  autism · music therapy · multi-sensory · audio-visual · cymatics

• Echolocation as a Means for People with Visual Impairment (PVI) to Acquire Spatial Knowledge of Virtual Space

  Ronny Andrade, Jenny Waycott, Steven Baker, Frank Vetere · 2021 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This study investigates whether echolocation—the use of sound reflections to perceive spatial information—can enable people with visual impairment (PVI) to acquire spatial knowledge of virtual environments. The researchers built a virtual world using Unity 3D and the SteamAudio…

  visual impairment · blindness · echolocation · virtual reality · gaming

• Melodie: A Design Inquiry into Accessible Crafting through Audio-enhanced Weaving

  Katya Borgos-Rodriguez, Maitraye Das, Anne Marie Piper · 2021 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This design inquiry examines accessible crafting through an ethnographic study at a weaving studio within a residential community for adults with vision impairments. The research involved 60 hours of field observations over eight months and 15 semi-structured interviews with…

  accessible making · crafting · weaving · visual impairment · blindness

• Screen Parsing: Towards Reverse Engineering of UI Models from Screenshots

  Jason Wu, Xiaoyi Zhang, Jeff Nichols, Jeffrey P. Bigham · 2021 · The 34th Annual ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology (UIST)

  This paper introduces screen parsing, the task of predicting UI elements and their hierarchical relationships from a screenshot alone. While prior work could detect individual UI elements on a screen (element detection), those approaches produced flat lists of elements with no…

  screen readers · mobile accessibility · computer vision · UI semantics · machine learning

• Say It All: Feedback for Improving Non-Visual Presentation Accessibility

  Yi-Hao Peng, JiWoong Jang, Jeffrey P. Bigham, Amy Pavel · 2021 · Proceedings of the 2021 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI '21)

  This paper addresses the widespread problem of inaccessible slide-based presentations for blind and visually impaired audiences. When presenters fail to verbally describe the visual content on their slides — text, images, diagrams, graphs, and videos — audience members who…

  presentation accessibility · slides · audio description · blind and low vision · real-time feedback

• Co-designing Socially Assistive Sidekicks for Motion-based AAC

  Stephanie Valencia, Michal Luria, Amy Pavel, Jeffrey P. Bigham, Henny Admoni · 2021 · Proceedings of the 2021 ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction (HRI '21)

  This paper explores how socially assistive robots, framed as "sidekicks," could provide AAC users with a nonverbal channel of communication to support their conversational goals. While AAC devices enable speech-based communication through synthesized speech, they do not support…

  AAC · nonverbal communication · socially assistive robots · co-design · human-robot interaction

• "It's Complicated": Negotiating Accessibility and (Mis)Representation in Image Descriptions of Race, Gender, and Disability

  Cynthia L. Bennett, Cole Gleason, Morgan Klaus Scheuerman, Jeffrey P. Bigham, Anhong Guo, Alexandra To · 2021 · CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

  This qualitative study investigates how screen reader users who are also Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), non-binary, and/or transgender navigate the complex landscape of image descriptions, particularly regarding how appearance characteristics like race, gender, and…

  image descriptions · alt text · screen readers · visual impairments · race