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• Autoethnography of a Hard of Hearing Traveler

  Dhruv Jain, Audrey Desjardins, Leah Findlater, Jon E. Froehlich · 2019 · Proceedings of the 21st International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS)

  This paper presents a 2.5-year autoethnographic account of the recreational travel experiences of Jain, a hard of hearing individual with severe-to-profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss who wears behind-the-ear hearing aids. The account draws on retrospective journals…

  hard of hearing · Deaf and hard of hearing · autoethnography · accessible tourism · disability disclosure

• Supporting Older Adults in Using Complex User Interfaces with Augmented Reality

  Junhan Kong, Anhong Guo, Jeffrey P. Bigham · 2019 · Proceedings of the 21st International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS)

  This demonstration paper presents an augmented reality system that provides step-by-step visual guidance to help older adults navigate complex user interfaces. The core problem is that older adults frequently struggle with complex digital interfaces — from self-service kiosks…

  older adults · aging · augmented reality · cognitive support · user interface

• Identifying Comfort Areas in 3D Space for Persons with Upper Extremity Mobility Impairments Using Virtual Reality

  Shanmugam Muruga Palaniappan, Ting Zhang, Bradley S. Duerstock · 2019 · Proceedings of the 21st International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS)

  This short paper presents a method for using virtual reality exergaming to identify personalized comfort areas in 3D space for people with upper extremity mobility impairments (UEMIs), enabling optimal placement of assistive technology input devices like switches, joysticks, and…

  virtual reality · motor disability · spinal cord injury · ergonomics · assistive technology

• Exploring Haptic Colour Identification Aids

  Richard Nguyen, Connor Geddes · 2019 · Proceedings of the 21st International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS)

  This poster paper presents two novel haptic devices — ColourWrist and ColourVest — designed to help people with Colour Vision Deficiency (CVD) identify colors through tactile feedback. Approximately 8% of males and 0.5% of females have some form of CVD, which creates barriers in…

  colour vision deficiency · haptic feedback · sensory substitution · wearable technology · vibrotactile

• Insights for More Usable VR for People with Amblyopia

  Ocean Hurd, Sri Kurniawan · 2019 · Proceedings of the 21st International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS)

  This poster paper investigates how to make virtual reality experiences more usable for people with amblyopia ("lazy eye"), the world's most common neurological eye disorder affecting approximately 2-3% of the population. The research is motivated by two converging trends: the…

  amblyopia · virtual reality · visual impairment · VR therapy · serious games

• A Wearable Input Mechanism for Blind Users of Computers Based on Mental Mapping of Thumb-To-Phalanx Distances

  Yash Naik · 2019 · Proceedings of the 21st International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2019)

  This student research abstract presents Mentalitype, a glove-based wearable keyboard designed to provide blind users with an affordable and portable text input mechanism for computer-based tasks. The system maps 32 push-buttons to the phalanges (finger bones) of both hands, with…

  blindness · wearable technology · text input · assistive technology · alternative keyboards

• Sidewalk, A Wayfinding Message Syntax for People with a Visual Impairment

  Joey van der Bie, Christina Jaschinski, Somaya Ben Allouch · 2019 · Proceedings of the 21st International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2019)

  This poster paper introduces Sidewalk, a structured wayfinding message syntax designed to improve navigation instructions for people with visual impairments (PVI) using mobile applications. The authors argue that traditional turn-by-turn navigation apps fail PVI because they…

  visual impairment · wayfinding · navigation · natural language · mobile accessibility

• Jido: A Conversational Tactile Map for Blind People

  Luis Cavazos Quero, Jorge Iranzo Bartolomé, Dongmyeong Lee, Yerin Lee, Sangwon Lee, Jundong Cho · 2019 · Proceedings of the 21st International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2019)

  This demonstration paper presents Jido, a system that combines a touch-sensitive tactile map with a voice-based conversational agent to help blind people understand and navigate indoor environments. The tactile map is constructed from laser-cut acrylic sheets mounted on a case…

  blindness · tactile maps · voice interaction · indoor navigation · conversational interface

• Making the Blockly Library Accessible via Touchscreen

  Logan B. Caraco, Sebastian Deibel, Yufan Ma, Lauren R. Milne · 2019 · Proceedings of the 21st International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2019)

  This demonstration paper presents two prototype designs for making Google's Blockly library — the foundation underlying popular block-based programming environments (BBPEs) like Scratch, MIT App Inventor, and the Code.org curriculum — accessible to users with visual impairments…

  visual impairment · block-based programming · education · screen readers · ARIA

• Still Not Readable? An Interactive Tool for Recommending Color Pairs with Sufficient Contrast based on Existing Visual Designs

  Fredrik Hansen, Josef Jan Krivan, Frode Eika Sandnes · 2019 · Proceedings of the 21st International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2019)

  This demonstration paper presents a web-based color contrast tool that goes beyond the pass/fail validation of existing contrast checkers by actively recommending how to fix insufficient color contrast while preserving the designer's original visual intent. The authors observe…

  color contrast · low vision · web design · design tools · readability

• Delivering Sign Language in a Live Planetarium Show Using Head-Mounted Displays and Infrared Light

  Michael D. Jones, M. Jeannette Lawler · 2019 · Proceedings of the 21st International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2019)

  This paper presents a system for delivering real-time American Sign Language (ASL) narration during live planetarium shows using head-mounted displays (HMDs) and infrared light. Planetariums pose unique accessibility challenges for deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) audiences: the…

  sign language · deaf and hard of hearing · head-mounted display · augmented reality · informal learning

• Evaluating Instructor Strategy and Student Learning Through Digital Accessibility Course Enhancements

  Claire Ferrari, Devorah Kletenik, Kate Sonka, Deborah Sturm, Amy Hurst · 2019 · Proceedings of the 21st International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2019)

  This paper evaluates the Teach Access Curriculum Development Awards program, an initiative by the Teach Access consortium (comprising 10 industry partners including Google, Microsoft, and Facebook, 5 advocacy groups, and 20 university partners) to integrate digital accessibility…

  accessibility education · higher education · curriculum development · WCAG · universal design

• Go That Way: Exploring Supplementary Physical Movements by a Stationary Robot When Providing Navigation Instructions

  Xiang Zhi Tan, Elizabeth J. Carter, Samantha Reig, Aaron Steinfeld · 2019 · Proceedings of the 21st International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2019)

  This paper explores how stationary kiosk-type robots might provide navigation instructions to blind people by supplementing verbal directions with physical movements. The work is inspired by a technique used by Orientation and Mobility (O&M) experts called Palm Drawing, in which…

  blindness · human-robot interaction · navigation · haptic feedback · orientation and mobility

• X-Ray: Screenshot Accessibility via Embedded Metadata

  Sujeath Pareddy, Anhong Guo, Jeffrey P. Bigham · 2019 · Proceedings of the 21st International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2019)

  This paper introduces X-Ray, a system that preserves the accessibility of user interface content when it is captured as a screenshot. Screenshots strip away all semantic information — text structure, element roles, states, labels, and navigation order — leaving only pixels that…

  screen readers · alternative text · screenshots · image accessibility · metadata

• The Design Space of Nonvisual Word Completion

  Hugo Nicolau, Andre Rodrigues, Andre Santos, Tiago Guerreiro, Kyle Montague, Joao Guerreiro · 2019 · Proceedings of the 21st International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2019)

  This paper presents the first design space for nonvisual word completion on mobile devices, addressing a gap where word completion interfaces — ubiquitous in sighted mobile typing — remain poorly designed for screen reader users. While sighted users can glance at three…

  blindness · text entry · mobile accessibility · screen readers · word prediction

• Closing the Gap: Designing for the Last-Few-Meters Wayfinding Problem for People with Visual Impairments

  Manaswi Saha, Alexander J. Fiannaca, Melanie Kneisel, Edward Cutrell, Meredith Ringel Morris · 2019 · Proceedings of the 21st International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2019)

  This paper comprehensively investigates the last-few-meters wayfinding problem — the gap between where GPS navigation ends (within approximately 5 meters of a destination) and where a person with visual impairment actually needs to arrive (the specific door, entrance, or…

  blindness · wayfinding · navigation · GPS · computer vision

• GraVVITAS 2.0: A Framework For Digital Accessible Content Provision

  Cagatay Goncu, Kim Marriott · 2019 · Proceedings of the 21st International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2019)

  This demonstration paper presents GraVVITAS 2.0 (Graphics Viewer using Vibration Interactive Touch and Speech), a framework for making graphical information accessible to people with vision impairments on off-the-shelf mobile devices. The paper argues that while screen readers…

  visual impairment · accessible graphics · tactile graphics · haptic feedback · data visualization

• 3D Printed Maps and Icons for Inclusion: Testing in the Wild by People who are Blind or have Low Vision

  Leona Holloway, Kim Marriott, Matthew Butler, Samuel Reinders · 2019 · Proceedings of the 21st International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2019)

  This study investigated the use of 3D printed maps at a real-world public event — the 2019 Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show — to evaluate their suitability for people who are blind or have low vision (BLV). Conducted in collaboration with Guide Dogs Victoria (GDV),…

  tactile graphics · blind · low vision · 3D printing · orientation and mobility

• Sign Language Recognition, Generation, and Translation: 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 · 2019 · Proceedings of the 21st International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2019)

  This paper provides a comprehensive interdisciplinary overview of sign language processing — encompassing recognition, generation, and translation — produced through a two-day workshop bringing together 39 experts from computer science, linguistics, Deaf studies, and industry.…

  sign language · Deaf culture · computer vision · natural language processing · machine translation

• Disability, ICT and eLearning Platforms: Faculty-Facing Embedded Work Tools in Learning Management Systems

  Sushil K. Oswal · 2019 · Proceedings of the 21st International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2019)

  This paper presents preliminary findings from a longitudinal study of the accessibility of the Canvas learning management system (LMS) for faculty with visual disabilities. What makes this study distinctive is its focus on the faculty-facing interface — nearly all prior research…

  learning management systems · higher education · screen readers · visual impairment · faculty accessibility

• Designing a Low-cost Finger Wearable Audio-tactile Device

  Arshad Nasser · 2019 · Proceedings of the 21st International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2019)

  This student research abstract describes the iterative design of ColorTact, a finger-worn wearable device that provides audio annotations when users explore tactile diagrams. The device addresses a fundamental limitation of conventional tactile graphics: they can only…

  assistive technology · tactile graphics · wearable technology · audio description · visual impairment

• Making Nonvisually: Lessons from the Field

  Cynthia L. Bennett, Abigale Stangl, Alexa F. Siu, Joshua A. Miele · 2019 · Proceedings of the 21st International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2019)

  This experience report shares lessons from a team of researchers, activists, and blind makers who conducted workshops introducing Arduino electronics to blind hobbyists and guided assembly of an accessible voltmeter prototype. The authors — including blind HCI researcher Cynthia…

  maker movement · blind · DIY assistive technology · Arduino · participatory design

• A Demonstration of Molder: An Accessible Design Tool for Tactile Maps

  Lei Shi, Yuhang Zhao, Elizabeth Kupferstein, Shiri Azenkot · 2019 · Proceedings of the 21st International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2019)

  This demonstration paper presents Molder, an accessible design tool that enables teachers of the visually impaired (TVIs) and orientation and mobility (O&M) specialists to create 3D printed tactile maps without requiring professional 3D modeling skills. The problem Molder…

  tactile maps · tactile graphics · 3D printing · visual impairment · orientation and mobility

• Research to Market Transition of Mobile Assistive Technologies for People with Visual Impairments

  Sergio Mascetti, Dragan Ahmetovic, Cristian Bernareggi · 2019 · Proceedings of the 21st International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2019)

  This paper examines why so few mobile assistive technology research prototypes for people with visual impairments ever reach end users, and shares practical lessons from the authors’ experience developing and distributing three iOS apps through EveryWare Technologies, a…

  assistive technology · visual impairment · mobile accessibility · technology transfer · blind

• Deep Learning for Automatically Detecting Sidewalk Accessibility Problems Using Streetscape Imagery

  Galen Weld, Esther Jang, Anthony Li, Aileen Zeng, Kurtis Heimerl, Jon E. Froehlich · 2019 · Proceedings of the 21st International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2019)

  This paper presents the first application of deep learning to automatically assess sidewalk accessibility from Google Street View (GSV) panoramas, addressing four types of accessibility problems: curb ramps, missing curb ramps, sidewalk obstructions, and surface problems.…

  computer vision · deep learning · sidewalk accessibility · curb ramps · crowdsourcing