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• VisPhoto: Photography for People with Visual Impairments via Post-Production of Omnidirectional Camera Imaging

  Naoki Hirabayashi, Masakazu Iwamura, Zheng Cheng, Kazunori Minatani, Koichi Kise · 2023 · Proceedings of the 25th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS)

  This paper introduces VisPhoto, a novel photography system that fundamentally reimagines how people with visual impairments (PVI) take photographs. Rather than helping users aim a conventional camera at a target in real-time (the dominant approach in prior work), VisPhoto…

  visual impairment · blindness · photography · computer vision · object detection

• Improving the Accessibility of Screen-Shared Presentations by Enabling Concurrent Exploration

  Danyang Fan, Sasa Junuzovic, John Tang, Thomas Jaeger · 2023 · Proceedings of the 25th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS)

  This paper addresses a fundamental gap in remote meeting accessibility: when presenters screen-share slides during video calls, blind and low vision (BLV) screen reader users have no adequate way to independently explore slide content in real-time. While sighted audience members…

  screen reader · blindness · presentations · screen sharing · spatial audio

• Experimental Evaluation of Multi-scale Tactile Maps Created with SIM, a Web App for Indoor Map Authoring

  Viet Trinh, Roberto Manduchi, Nicholas A. Giudice · 2023 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This paper introduces Semantic Interior Mapology (SIM), a web application that democratizes tactile map creation by allowing anyone to trace a floor plan image and automatically generate embossable tactile maps at multiple scales. Unlike outdoor environments where services like…

  tactile maps · indoor navigation · blindness · spatial learning · orientation and mobility

• 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

• Sounds and (Braille) Cells: Co-Designing Music Technology with Blind and Visually Impaired Musicians

  William Payne · 2022 · Proceedings of the 19th International Web for All Conference (W4A)

  This doctoral consortium paper outlines a three-phase dissertation addressing the accessibility barriers that blind and visually impaired (BVI) musicians face when using music creation technologies. Music software has democratized composition, production, and songwriting for…

  visual impairment · blindness · music technology · braille music · co-design

• Uncovering Visually Impaired Gamers' Preferences for Spatial Awareness Tools Within Video Games

  Vishnu Nair, Shao-en Ma, Ricardo E. Gonzalez Penuela, Yicheng He, Karen Lin, Mason Hayes, Hannah Huddleston, Matthew Donnelly, Brian A. Smith · 2022 · Proceedings of the 24th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS '22)

  This paper investigates how visually impaired players (VIPs) gain spatial awareness within 3D video games by comparing four leading spatial awareness tool (SAT) approaches. The researchers built Dungeon Escape, a 3D third-person adventure game using Unity, featuring four dungeon…

  game accessibility · visual impairment · blindness · spatial awareness · audio navigation

• Low-Cost Tactile Coloring Page Fabrication on a Cutting Machine: Assembly and user experiences of cardstock-layered tangible pictures

  Nicole Johnson, Tom Yeh, Ann Cunningham · 2022 · Proceedings of the 24th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS '22)

  This short paper presents a design inquiry into using a consumer-grade Cricut cutting machine to create tactile pictures and coloring pages by layering cardstock, as a low-cost alternative to traditional tactile image production methods. The technique, developed over three…

  tactile graphics · blindness · low vision · early learning · DIY assistive technology

• Performing Qualitative Data Analysis as a Blind Researcher: Challenges, Workarounds and Design Recommendations

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

  This short paper provides a first-person account from a blind early-career researcher about the significant accessibility barriers encountered when trying to perform qualitative data analysis (QDA). The author, based at IIIT Bangalore, situates the work within the broader shift…

  blindness · screen readers · qualitative research · research accessibility · academic accessibility

• Empowering Blind Musicians to Compose and Notate Music with SoundCells

  William Christopher Payne, Fabiha Ahmed, Michael Zachor, Michael Gardell, Isabel Huey, Amy Hurst, R. Luke DuBois · 2022 · Proceedings of the 24th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS '22)

  This paper presents a six-week remote study in which six blind and visually impaired (BVI) musicians used SoundCells, a text-based music notation web application, to compose original short works culminating in a live performance by a professional musician. SoundCells addresses a…

  music accessibility · blindness · braille music · creative expression · assistive technology

• 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

• SoundCells: Designing a Browser-Based Music Technology for Braille and Print Notation

  William Payne, Fabiha Ahmed, Michael Gardell, R. Luke DuBois, Amy Hurst · 2022 · Proceedings of the 19th International Web for All Conference (W4A)

  This paper from New York University presents SoundCells, a free, open-source, browser-based music notation tool designed to be accessible to screen reader users while outputting music in three formats simultaneously: audio playback, visual print scores, and braille music…

  music accessibility · blindness · visual impairment · braille · screen readers

• AIDE: An Automatic Image Description Engine for Review Imagery

  Rachana Sreedhar, Nicole Tan, Jingyue Zhang, Kim Jin, Spencer Gregson, Eli Moreta-Feliz, Niveditha Samudrala, Shrenik Sadalgi · 2022 · Proceedings of the 19th International Web for All Conference (W4A)

  This paper from Wayfair presents AIDE, a multimodal machine learning system that automatically generates contextual alt-text for user-submitted review images in e-commerce — a category of imagery that is particularly inaccessible because it is user-generated, unpredictable in…

  alt text · computer vision · blindness · visual impairment · screen readers

• Beyond the Cane: Describing Urban Scenes to Blind People for Mobility Tasks

  Karin M. P. Hoogsteen, Florian Mathis, Garreth W. Tigwell, Alastair R. Beresford, Mohamed Khamis · 2022 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This research investigates what environmental information is most useful for blind pedestrians navigating urban spaces, moving beyond obstacle-avoidance to understand comprehensive scene description needs. The authors conducted two experiments with 13 cane-using blind…

  blindness · mobility · orientation and mobility · navigation · scene description

• Ally: Understanding Text Messaging to Build a Better Onscreen Keyboard for Blind People

  Danielle Lottridge, Chris Yoon, Darren Burton, Chester Wang, Jofish Kaye · 2022 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This research presents Ally, a smartphone onscreen keyboard designed specifically for blind users who need to enter text messages when voice input or external keyboards are unavailable. The authors recognized that blind smartphone users employ heterogeneous input methods—voice…

  blindness · text entry · mobile accessibility · keyboard design · VoiceOver

• Tactile Materials in Practice: Understanding the Experiences of Teachers of the Visually Impaired

  Mahika Phutane, Julie Wright, Brenda Veronica Castro, Lei Shi, Simone R. Stern, Holly M. Lawson, Shiri Azenkot · 2022 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This research investigates how Teachers of the Visually Impaired (TVIs) create, acquire, and use tactile materials—tactile graphics, 3D models, and real objects—in their educational practice. Despite growing research interest in tactile material creation technologies, there has…

  visual impairment · blindness · tactile graphics · 3D models · education

• Addressing Accessibility Barriers in Programming for People with Visual Impairments: A Literature Review

  Aboubakar Mountapmbeme, Obianuju Okafor, Stephanie Ludi · 2022 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This systematic literature review analyzes 70 papers published between 2000-2020 examining accessibility barriers in programming for people with visual impairments and proposed solutions. The review covers both professional programmers and students learning to code, spanning…

  visual impairment · blindness · programming · IDE accessibility · screen readers

• AccessComics: An Accessible Digital Comic Book Reader for People with Visual Impairments

  Yunjung Lee, Hwayeon Joh, Suhyeon Yoo, Uran Oh · 2021 · Proceedings of the 18th International Web for All Conference (W4A)

  This paper from Ewha Womans University in Seoul presents AccessComics, a web-based accessible digital comic book reader for people with visual impairments (PVI). Comics are a popular medium available on many digital platforms, yet almost none support screen readers, leaving…

  visual impairment · blindness · low vision · content accessibility · screen readers

• Making the Elusive More Tangible: Remote Tools & Techniques for Teaching Web Development to Screen Reader Users

  Claire Ferrari, Chancey Fleet, Keita Ohshiro, Veronica Alfaro Arias, Amy Hurst · 2021 · Proceedings of the 18th International Web for All Conference (W4A)

  This paper describes the design, implementation, and evaluation of a free, remote web development workshop for 12 screen reader users, conducted over nine Saturday sessions between August and October 2020. The workshop was a collaboration between New York University and the New…

  education accessibility · screen readers · web development · STEM accessibility · blindness

• "It is fascinating to make these beasts fly": Understanding Visually Impaired People's Motivations and Needs for Drone Piloting

  Vinitha Gadiraju, Sanika Moharana, Aisha Azhar, Kimberley Gans, Shane T. Mueller, Jenna L. Gorlewicz · 2021 · Proceedings of the 23rd International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS '21)

  This paper investigates the motivations, interests, and accessibility needs of blind and visually impaired (BVI) people regarding drone piloting. While drones have been explored as assistive tools for BVI users — helping with navigation, obstacle detection, and environment…

  visual impairment · blindness · drones · assistive technology · accessible interaction

• Enabling meaningful use of AI-infused educational technologies for children with blindness: Learnings from the development and piloting of the PeopleLens curriculum

  Cecily Morrison, Edward Cutrell, Martin Grayson, Elisabeth RB Becker, Vasiliki Kladouchou, Linda Pring, Katherine Jones, Rita Faia Marques, Camilla Longden, Abigail Sellen · 2021 · Proceedings of the 23rd International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS '21)

  This paper presents the development and pilot evaluation of a curriculum designed to support the meaningful use of PeopleLens, an AI-powered augmented reality system that helps children born blind develop social attention skills. PeopleLens uses a head-mounted device (modified…

  blindness · children · AI accessibility · augmented reality · spatial audio

• Investigating the Navigational Habits of People who are Blind in India

  Anirudh Nagraj, Ravi Kuber, Foad Hamidi, Raghavendra SG Prasad · 2021 · The 23rd International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2021)

  This paper presents a qualitative study of the navigational experiences of 14 people who are legally blind in the Bangalore metropolitan area of India, a low and middle income country (LMIC) where infrastructure conditions differ substantially from the high income countries…

  visual impairments · blindness · navigation · wayfinding · assistive technology

• VStroll: An Audio-based Virtual Exploration to Encourage Walking among People with Vision Impairments

  Gesu India, Mohit Jain, Pallav Karya, Nirmalendu Diwakar, Manohar Swaminathan · 2021 · ASSETS '21: The 23rd International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility

  People with visual impairments (PVIs) engage in significantly less physical exercise than sighted adults, with 1.5 times higher odds of obesity. Barriers include inaccessible infrastructure, parental discouragement due to safety concerns, lack of walking partners, and the…

  visual impairment · blindness · physical activity · walking · spatial audio

• 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

• 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