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• Universal and Ubiquitous Web Access with Capti

  Yevgen Borodin, Andrii Sovyak, Alexander Dimitriyadi, Yury Puzis, Valentyn Melnyk, Faisal Ahmed, Glenn Dausch, I. V. Ramakrishnan · 2012 · Proceedings of the International Cross-Disciplinary Conference on Web Accessibility (W4A)

  This demo paper presents Capti, a cross-platform web browsing application designed to make web access more usable for both blind and sighted users. Capti addresses two interconnected problems: the inefficiency of traditional screen readers for finding and consuming web content,…

  screen readers · assistive technology · blind and low vision · text-to-speech · universal design

• Accessible 3D Signing Avatars: The Tunisian Experience

  Kabil Jaballah · 2012 · Proceedings of the International Cross-Disciplinary Conference on Web Accessibility (W4A)

  This paper reports on the WebSign project from the University of Tunis, a system that translates written text into sign language performed by 3D avatars, and addresses the broader challenge of making signing avatars accessible, indexable, and discoverable on the web. The author…

  sign language · deaf accessibility · avatar technology · virtual signing · education accessibility

• Doing Math: Mathematics Accessibility Issues

  Nancy Alajarmeh · 2012 · Proceedings of the International Cross-Disciplinary Conference on Web Accessibility (W4A)

  This student award paper argues that mathematics accessibility for visually impaired students must move beyond rendering (displaying and reading mathematical notation) to support "doing the math" — the active manipulation of algebraic expressions, equation solving,…

  mathematical accessibility · blind and low vision · STEM accessibility · education accessibility · assistive technology

• Understanding Age and Technology Experience Differences in Use of Prior Knowledge for Everyday Technology Interactions

  Marita A. O'Brien, Wendy A. Rogers, Arthur D. Fisk · 2012 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This study investigates how people of different ages and technology experience levels draw upon prior knowledge when using everyday technologies. The researchers conducted a 10-day diary study with 30 participants divided into three groups: younger adults (ages 18-28),…

  older adults · prior knowledge · technology experience · aging · human factors

• How Older Adults Learn to Use Mobile Devices: Survey and Field Investigations

  Rock Leung, Charlotte Tang, Shathel Haddad, Joanna McGrenere, Peter Graf, Vilia Ingriany · 2012 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This research investigates how older adults (65+) learn to use mobile devices, combining a survey study of 131 respondents across three age groups (20-49, 50-64, 65+) with an in-depth field study of six older adults learning to use an Android smartphone. The survey examined 11…

  older adults · aging · mobile devices · learning · technology adoption

• Is Accessibility Conformance an Elusive Property? A Study of Validity and Reliability of WCAG 2.0

  Giorgio Brajnik, Yeliz Yesilada, Simon Harper · 2012 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This landmark study investigates whether WCAG 2.0's definition of "Reliably Human Testable"—that at least 80% of knowledgeable evaluators would agree on an audit conclusion—is actually achievable in practice. The researchers recruited 25 experienced accessibility evaluators…

  WCAG · conformance testing · accessibility evaluation · evaluator effect · reliability

• Situation-Specific Models of Color Differentiation

  David R. Flatla, Carl Gutwin · 2012 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This paper introduces Situation-Specific Modeling (SSM), a fundamentally different approach to helping users with color vision deficiency (CVD) differentiate colors in digital interfaces. Traditional recoloring tools rely on theoretical models of dichromatism—complete absence of…

  color vision deficiency · color blindness · recoloring · visualization · personalization

• Representing Users in Accessibility Research

  Andrew Sears, Vicki L. Hanson · 2012 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This position paper challenges common practices in accessibility research where studies intended to benefit people with disabilities are conducted without including representative users from those populations. The authors—prominent accessibility researchers—argue that while the…

  research methodology · user studies · inclusive research · participant recruitment · disability research

• A Readability Evaluation of Real-Time Crowd Captions in the Classroom

  Raja S. Kushalnagar, Walter S. Lasecki, Jeffrey P. Bigham · 2012 · Proceedings of the 14th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2012)

  This paper evaluates the readability of real-time captions produced by three different approaches in a higher education classroom setting: professional CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) captionists, automatic speech recognition (ASR), and a novel crowd captioning…

  real-time captioning · deaf and hard of hearing · crowdsourcing · classroom accessibility · higher education

• Using Real-time Feedback to Improve Visual Question Answering

  Yu Zhong, Phyo Thiha, Grant He, Walter Lasecki, Jeffrey Bigham · 2012 · CHI EA '12: CHI '12 Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems

  This work-in-progress paper introduces Legion:View, a system that extends the VizWiz model of crowd-powered visual question answering by adding a real-time feedback loop between blind users and crowd workers. The original VizWiz allowed blind users to take a still photograph,…

  visual question answering · crowdsourcing · blind users · real-time systems · assistive technology

• Crowdsourcing Subjective Fashion Advice Using VizWiz: Challenges and Opportunities

  Michele A. Burton, Erin Brady, Robin Brewer, Callie Neylan, Jeffrey P. Bigham, Amy Hurst · 2012 · ASSETS '12: Proceedings of the 14th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility

  This paper investigates the accessibility barriers that fashion and clothing present to people with vision impairments, and explores whether crowdsourcing through VizWiz can provide useful subjective fashion advice. The research is grounded in the recognition that fashion is a…

  blind users · crowdsourcing · fashion accessibility · VizWiz · subjective questions

• Real-Time Captioning by Groups of Non-Experts

  Walter Lasecki, Christopher Miller, Adam Sadilek, Andrew Abumoussa, Donato Borrello, Raja Kushalnagar, Jeffrey Bigham · 2012 · UIST '12: Proceedings of the 25th Annual ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology

  This paper presents Legion:Scribe, an end-to-end system that enables groups of non-expert typists to collectively produce real-time captions for deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) people, offering a cheaper and more available alternative to professional stenographers (CART, costing…

  real-time captioning · crowdsourcing · deaf and hard of hearing · human computation · text alignment

• 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

• Detecting the Hand-Mouthing Behavior of Children with Intellectual Disability Using Kinect Imaging Technology

  Tzu-Wei Wei · 2012 · Proceedings of the 14th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2012)

  This short paper presents a system that uses Microsoft Kinect depth-sensing technology to automatically detect hand-mouthing behavior in children with severe intellectual disabilities. Hand-mouthing — the repetitive placement of fingers into the mouth — affects approximately 17%…

  intellectual disability · stereotypic behavior · self-injurious behavior · Kinect · behavior detection

• Automated Description Generation for Indoor Floor Maps

  Devi A. Paladugu, Hima Bindu Maguluri, Qiongjie Tian, Baoxin Li · 2012 · Proceedings of the 14th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2012)

  This demonstration paper presents a prototype system that automatically generates verbal descriptions of indoor floor maps to support navigation for people with visual impairments. The system addresses a practical gap: while tools like canes, guide dogs, and GPS devices help…

  visual impairment · indoor navigation · wayfinding · image processing · floor plans

• 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

• Evaluation of Dynamic Image Pre-Compensation for Computer Users with Severe Refractive Error

  Jian Huang, Armando Barreto, Malek Adjouadi · 2012 · Proceedings of the 14th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2012)

  This paper presents a dynamic image pre-compensation method designed to improve computer accessibility for users with severe refractive errors such as high-degree myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. Refractive error affects over 30.5 million Americans aged 40 and older, and…

  low vision · refractive error · image enhancement · visual impairment · eye tracking

• Design Recommendations for TV User Interfaces for Older Adults: Findings from the eCAALYX Project

  Francisco Nunes, Maureen Kerwin, Paula Alexandra Silva · 2012 · Proceedings of the 14th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2012)

  This paper presents thirteen design recommendations for TV-based user interfaces for older adults, derived from the eCAALYX (Enhanced Complete Ambient Assisted Living Experiment) project. eCAALYX is a European health monitoring system that uses a TV and set-top box to help older…

  older adults · interactive television · user interface design · design guidelines · ambient assisted living

• IDEAL: A Dyslexic-Friendly eBook Reader

  Gaurang Kanvinde, Luz Rello, Ricardo Baeza-Yates · 2012 · Proceedings of the 14th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2012)

  This demonstration paper presents the IDEAL eBook Reader, an Android application that displays ePub-formatted ebooks with a text layout specifically adapted for readers with dyslexia. The design is grounded in empirical research: layout guidelines were derived from experiments…

  dyslexia · readability · ebook · ePub · text-to-speech

• Back Navigation Shortcuts for Screen Reader Users

  Romisa Rohani Ghahari, Mexhid Ferati, Tao Yang, Davide Bolchini · 2012 · Proceedings of the 14th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2012)

  This paper introduces two novel back navigation strategies — topic-based back and list-based back — designed to make backtracking through previously visited web pages dramatically more efficient for screen reader users. The fundamental problem is that when blind users need to…

  screen readers · navigation · information architecture · blind users · web accessibility

• Accessible Skimming: Faster Screen Reading of Web Pages

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

  This doctoral consortium paper presents an automated approach to enable non-visual skimming of web pages for screen reader users. Sighted people routinely skim web content through quick eye movements (saccades) that let them glance over headlines and text to extract the gist of…

  screen readers · blind users · web accessibility · text summarization · natural language processing

• Reusable Game Interfaces for People with Disabilities

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

  This doctoral consortium paper proposes that creating specialized, reusable accessibility tools for game developers can significantly reduce the cost and effort of making games accessible to people with disabilities. The author argues that while games have expanded beyond…

  game accessibility · serious games · audio games · eyes-free interaction · 3D audio

• EZ Ballot with Multimodal Inputs and Outputs

  Seunghyun Lee, Xiao Xiong, Liu Elaine Yilin, Jon Sanford · 2012 · Proceedings of the 14th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2012)

  This demonstration paper presents the EZ Ballot, a prototype accessible voting system that fundamentally reconceptualizes ballot design to provide an equal voting experience for all voters regardless of ability. Current accessible voting machines add accessibility features on…

  accessible voting · multimodal interface · cognitive accessibility · visual impairment · dexterity

• Kinempt: A Kinect-Based Prompting System to Transition Autonomously Through Vocational Tasks for Individuals with Cognitive Impairments

  Yu-Chi Tsai · 2012 · Proceedings of the 14th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2012)

  This short paper presents Kinempt (a portmanteau of "kinetic" and "prompt"), a Kinect-based task prompting system designed to help individuals with cognitive impairments perform vocational tasks independently. The research is motivated by the fact that people with cognitive…

  cognitive impairment · Kinect · task prompting · vocational rehabilitation · supported employment