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• 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

• 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

• GazeTheWeb: A Gaze-Controlled Web Browser

  Raphael Menges, Chandan Kumar, Daniel Müller, Korok Sengupta · 2017 · Proceedings of the 14th International Web for All Conference (W4A)

  This demonstration paper presents GazeTheWeb, an open-source web browser designed to be operated entirely through eye gaze input, targeting people with severe motor impairments who cannot use conventional mouse and keyboard input. Built on the Chromium Embedded Framework (CEF),…

  eye tracking · gaze interaction · web browser · motor impairment · assistive technology

• The Gest-Rest Family: Exploring Input Possibilities for Wheelchair Armrests

  Patrick Carrington, Jian-Ming Chang, Kevin Chang, Catherine Hornback, Amy Hurst, Shaun K. Kane · 2016 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing (TACCESS)

  This paper introduces the Gest-Rest Family, a suite of gesture-based input devices designed to fit over standard power wheelchair armrests, enabling users with upper body motor impairments to interact with computing devices without needing to reach for or hold separate input…

  wheelchair · motor impairment · input device · chairable computing · assistive technology

• A Computer Vision-Based System for Stride Length Estimation using a Mobile Phone Camera

  Wei Zhu, Boyd Anderson, Shenggao Zhu, Ye Wang · 2016 · ASSETS '16: Proceedings of the 18th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility

  This paper presents an affordable computer vision system for measuring stride length in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients using only a smartphone camera and a printed PVC mat. Gait analysis is a critical non-invasive method for PD diagnosis and assessment, but clinical systems…

  Parkinson's disease · gait analysis · computer vision · mobile health · movement disorders

• Gaze Typing Through Foot-Operated Wearable Device

  Vijay Rajanna · 2016 · ASSETS '16: Proceedings of the 18th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility

  This paper presents a dwell-free gaze typing system that combines eye tracking with a foot-operated wearable device to enable text entry for people with motor impairments affecting arms or spine. Traditional gaze typing requires users to "dwell" (fixate) on virtual keyboard keys…

  gaze typing · eye tracking · wearable devices · foot interaction · motor impairment

• Designing Wheelchair-Based Movement Games

  Kathrin M. Gerling, Regan L. Mandryk, Matthew Miller, Michael R. Kalyn, Max Birk, Jan D. Smeddinck · 2015 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing (TACCESS)

  This paper presents KINECTWheels, a toolkit for integrating wheelchair movements into motion-based video games, along with two games built using the toolkit: Cupcake Heaven (designed for older adults in care facilities) and Wheelchair Revolution (a competitive dance game for…

  wheelchair · game accessibility · exergame · Kinect · motor impairment

• Experiences of Someone with a Neuromuscular Disease in Operating a PC (and Ways to Successfully Overcome Challenges)

  Torsten Felzer, Stephan Rinderknecht · 2015 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing (TACCESS)

  This paper describes the first-person experiences of the first author, who has Friedreich's Ataxia (FA) — a progressive neuromuscular disease causing ataxia of limbs, dysarthria, and muscle weakness — in finding a viable computer input method over 25 years. Diagnosed at age 15…

  motor impairment · text entry · alternative input device · neuromuscular disease · keyboard replacement

• Enhancing Android Accessibility for Users with Hand Tremor by Reducing Fine Pointing and Steady Tapping

  Yu Zhong, Astrid Weber, Casey Burkhardt, Phil Weaver, Jeffrey P. Bigham · 2015 · Proceedings of the 12th International Web for All Conference (W4A)

  This paper introduces Touch Guard, a system-wide Android accessibility service developed as a Google intern research project that helps users with hand tremor interact more accurately with touchscreen devices. The core problem addressed is that conventional touchscreen…

  mobile accessibility · touchscreen accessibility · hand tremor · motor impairment · Android

• Understanding Design Considerations for Adaptive User Interfaces for Accessible Pointing with Older and Younger Adults

  Aqueasha Martin-Hammond, Abdullah Ali, Catherine Hornback, Amy K. Hurst · 2015 · Proceedings of the 12th International Web for All Conference (W4A)

  This paper investigates how older and younger adults want adaptive user interfaces (AUIs) to detect and respond to pointing difficulties when using computers. Pointing problems — such as misclicks, erratic cursor movements, and difficulty with target acquisition — affect people…

  adaptive user interfaces · pointing performance · older adults · participatory design · motor impairment

• The Implementation of a Vocabulary and Grammar for an Open-Source Speech-Recognition Programming Platform

  Jean K. Rodriguez-Cartagena, Andrea C. Claudio-Palacios, Natalia Pacheco-Tallaj, Valerie Santiago González, Patricia Ordonez-Franco · 2015 · ASSETS '15: Proceedings of the 17th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers & Accessibility

  This paper presents the development of a standardized vocabulary and grammar for voice-based programming, designed to make coding accessible to people with limited hand mobility or visual impairments. The work is part of the larger Kavita Project, which aims to create an…

  speech recognition · voice input · programming · motor impairment · repetitive strain injury

• Breaking Barriers with Assistive Macros

  André Rodrigues · 2015 · ASSETS '15: Proceedings of the 17th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers & Accessibility

  This paper introduces Assistive Macros, an Android accessibility service that enables users with motor impairments to perform multi-step interactions with a single selection. The system addresses two critical problems: the extreme time consumption of sequential scanning…

  switch access · motor impairment · mobile accessibility · Android · macros

• ARMStrokes: A Mobile App for Everyday Stroke Rehabilitation

  Jin Guo, Ted Smith, David Messing, Ziying Tang, Sonia Lawson, Jinjuan Heidi Feng · 2015 · ASSETS '15: Proceedings of the 17th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers & Accessibility

  This paper presents ARMStrokes, an iPhone application that enables stroke survivors to perform upper extremity rehabilitation exercises anywhere and anytime using only built-in smartphone sensors. Stroke affects over 795,000 Americans annually and often causes long-term…

  stroke rehabilitation · mobile health · exergames · upper extremity · motor impairment

• Coming to Grips: 3D Printing for Accessibility

  Erin Buehler, Amy Hurst, Megan Hofmann · 2014 · Proceedings of the 16th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers & Accessibility (ASSETS '14)

  This demonstration paper presents a case study of using consumer-grade 3D printing to create custom assistive devices for a student with limited hand motor ability at a special education facility. The work grew out of a six-month evaluation of making and DIY technology in…

  assistive technology · 3D printing · digital fabrication · motor impairment · special education

• Effects of Target Expansion on Selection Performance in Older Computer Users

  Faustina Hwang, Nic Hollinworth, Nitin Williams · 2013 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This research investigates target expansion as an assistive technique for improving mouse pointing performance in older computer users. Target expansion dynamically enlarges clickable targets as the cursor approaches, conserving screen space while providing larger click areas…

  older adults · motor impairment · pointing · mouse · target acquisition

• How Power Wheelchair Users Choose Computing Devices

  Patrick Carrington, Amy Hurst, Shaun K. Kane · 2013 · Proceedings of the 15th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS)

  This poster paper explores how power wheelchair users select and use computing devices in their daily lives. The researchers interviewed 8 power wheelchair or power scooter users (4 male, 4 female) through semi-structured interviews lasting up to two hours, cataloguing their use…

  motor impairment · wheelchair · mobile accessibility · device selection · assistive technology

• Physical Accessibility of Touchscreen Smartphones

  Shari Trewin, Cal Swart, Donna Pettick · 2013 · Proceedings of the 15th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS)

  This paper examines touchscreen smartphone adoption and usability for people with dexterity impairments through interviews and hands-on observations with 16 participants (mean age 40) at a New York centre serving approximately 3,500 people with physical disabilities annually.…

  motor impairment · dexterity impairment · touchscreen · mobile accessibility · smartphone

• An Empirical Study of Issues and Barriers to Mainstream Video Game Accessibility

  John R. Porter, Julie A. Kientz · 2013 · Proceedings of the 15th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS)

  This paper investigates the real-world state of video game accessibility through two complementary empirical studies. The first is an online survey of 55 gamers with disabilities, exploring their gaming habits, the platforms they use, the types of games they play, and the…

  game accessibility · video games · assistive technology · motor impairment · visual impairment

• Toward Accessible Technology for Music Composers and Producers with Motor Disabilities

  Adam J. Sporka, Ben L. Carson, Paul Nauert, Sri H. Kurniawan · 2013 · Proceedings of the 15th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS)

  This short paper reports on an initial user study with three motor-impaired musicians to identify challenges and research opportunities in making professional music software accessible. Modern music score-writing tools (Sibelius, Finale) and production software (Ableton Live, FL…

  music accessibility · motor impairment · music composition · music production · assistive technology

• How Someone with a Neuromuscular Disease Experiences Operating a PC (and How to Successfully Counteract That)

  Torsten Felzer, Stephan Rinderknecht · 2013 · Proceedings of the 15th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS)

  This experience report describes the first author's personal journey as a computer scientist with Friedreich's Ataxia (FA), a progressive neuromuscular disease diagnosed at age 15 that causes ataxia of limbs, dysarthria, and muscle weakness. Despite needing a wheelchair since…

  motor impairment · neuromuscular disease · Friedreich's Ataxia · text entry · assistive technology

• Breath Mobile: A Software-Based Hands-Free and Voice-Free Breathing Controlled Mobile Phone Interface

  Jackson Feijó Filho, Thiago Valle, Wilson Prata · 2012 · Proceedings of the 14th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS)

  This short paper proposes Breath Mobile, a software-only breathing interface for mobile phones that uses the device's built-in microphone to detect puffing patterns and translate them into navigation and selection events. Unlike traditional sip-and-puff controllers that require…

  motor impairment · breath control · sip-and-puff · mobile accessibility · alternative input

• Designing for Individuals: Usable Touch-Screen Interaction through Shared User Models

  Kyle Montague, Vicki L. Hanson, Andy Cobley · 2012 · Proceedings of the 14th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS)

  This paper introduces the Shared User Modelling (SUM) Framework, a system that collects touch interaction data during normal application use to build a user model that can be shared across multiple applications and devices via web services. Unlike traditional accessibility…

  touch screen accessibility · adaptive interface · user model · mobile accessibility · visual impairment

• SymbolPath: A Continuous Motion Overlay Module for Icon-Based Assistive Communication

  Karl Wiegand, Rupal Patel · 2012 · Proceedings of the 14th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2012)

  This demonstration paper introduces SymbolPath, an overlay module designed to improve the speed and ease of message formulation in icon-based augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems. Traditional icon-based AAC devices require users to make precise, discrete tap…

  augmentative and alternative communication · AAC · motor impairment · speech impairment · icon-based communication

• Wii Remote as a Web Navigation Device for People with Cerebral Palsy

  Nithin Santhanam · 2012 · Proceedings of the 14th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2012)

  This short paper evaluates the Nintendo Wii remote as an alternative web navigation device for people with cerebral palsy, compared to a standard wireless mouse. Despite the abundance of accessibility tools, customizable and inexpensive options for people with motor impairments…

  cerebral palsy · alternative input device · motor impairment · web accessibility · Wii remote

• iSCAN: A Phoneme-based Predictive Communication Aid for Nonspeaking Individuals

  Ha Trinh, Annalu Waller, Keith Vertanen, Per Ola Kristensson, Vicki L. Hanson · 2012 · Proceedings of the 14th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2012)

  This paper presents iSCAN (Interactive Sound-based Communication Aid for Non-speakers), a phoneme-based predictive communication system designed for people with severe speech impairments (SSI) who lack conventional literacy skills. The core problem is that most augmentative and…

  augmentative and alternative communication · phoneme-based communication · predictive text · word prediction · severe speech impairment