Accessibility

Caption What I'm Saying: How Television Commercials That Are Not Closed Captioned Lose Millions In Potential Revenue

by Rachel Burton

Graduate thesis for the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development at New York University

Kentli Dostu Fiziksel Çevrenin Erişilebilirliği Kapsamında İstanbul’da Alan Çalışması

by Nezih R. Aysel

Co-authored with E. Yücesoy, F.G. Gülmez. Uluslararası II. Kent ve Sağlık Sempozyumu, Bursa, 2007.

Interpersonal Recognition Through Mediated Tactile Interaction

by Loïc Deschamps

Deschamps, L., Le Bihan, G., Lenay, C., Rovira, K., Stewart, J. & Aubert, D. (2012), Interpersonal recognition through mediated tactile interaction, Proceedings of IEEE Haptics Symposium 2012, March 4-7, 2012, Vancouver, BC, Canada, pp. 239-245

For several years, we have been developing a system of perceptual supplementation (Tactos) so as to render spatialized... more For several years, we have been developing a system of perceptual supplementation (Tactos) so as to render spatialized digital information accessible to users with visual deficiencies. After having validated this device in experimental situations and in practical use, we now propose to connect several Tactos systems in a network, so as to allow for access to shared digital spaces via the tactile modality (Intertact). This opening up of previously individual use to collective use makes it possible to conceive digital spaces designed for tactile interaction, by proposing practical, pedagogical and gaming functionalities. This new possibility of tactile interaction opens the way to the production of a technical aid for visually impaired persons with a social dimension. At the same time, the design of shared tactile spaces goes together with a fundamental reflection concerning perceptual interactions. We therefore propose an experimental study in order to provide the necessary steps to characterize the processes of mutual engagement in the interactions. The first results suggest that these processes seem to constitute a mutual dynamics, which is the basis for an active co-construction of meaning.

Erreichbarkeit im Bergischen Land

by Irmela Herzog

Archäologie im Rheinland 2010 (2011), 29-31.

Museum Visiting and the Visually Impaired: The Spatial Politics of Access

by Kevin Hetherington

The Sociological Review, 2000 Vol. 48(3): 444-463

Sign of Our Times? Revis (It) Ing the International Symbol of Access

by Justin J.W. Powell

A prototype for a blind navigation system

by Hugo Fernandes

Authors: Henriques, F.; Fernandes, H.; Paredes, H.; Martins, P.; Barroso, J.

In recent years the mobility and navigation of people with visual impairments started to be taken into high... more In recent years the mobility and navigation of people with visual impairments started to be taken into high consideration, with chances of major increase in the years to come. Most navigation systems fail in terms of accuracy and availability of contextual information that is suitable for blind users, making current commercial systems useless to be used in this kind of scenario. The main goal of the SmartVision project is to fill this gap, providing accurate and contextually rich information about the environment around the user’s current location, simplifying the navigation and increasing the overall accuracy of the system, while preventing the user from dangerous locations. The technology is currently available and the prototype follows a modular structure, already developed. This paper presents a way for integrating all the available modules, in order to create a fully usable prototype for the SmartVision project.

The SmartVision Navigation Prototype for Blind Users

by Hugo Fernandes

Authors: du Buf J.M.H., Barroso J., Rodrigues J.M.F., Paredes H., Farrajota M., Fernandes H., José J.T.P.N., Teixeira V., Saleiro M.

The goal of the Portuguese project "SmartVision: active vision for the blind" is to develop a small,... more The goal of the Portuguese project "SmartVision: active vision for the blind" is to develop a small, portable and cheap yet intelligent and reliable system for assisting the blind and visually impaired while navigating autonomously, both in- and outdoor. In this article we present an overview of the prototype, design issues, and its different modules which integrate GPS and Wi-Fi localisation with a GIS, passive RFID tags, and computer vision. The prototype addresses global navigation for going to some destiny, by following known landmarks stored in the GIS in combination with path optimisation, and local navigation with path and obstacle detection just beyond the reach of the white cane. The system does not replace the white cane but complements it, in order to alert the user to looming hazards. In addition, computer vision is used to identify objects on shelves, for example in a pantry or refrigerator. The user-friendly interface consists of a four-button hand-held box, a vibration actuator in the handle of the white cane, and speech synthesis. In the near future, passive RFID tags will be complemented by active tags for marking navigation landmarks, and speech recognition may complement or substitute the vibration actuator.

The SmartVision Navigation Prototype for the Blind

by Hugo Fernandes

Authors: J.M.H. du Buf, J. Barroso, J.M.F. Rodrigues, H. Paredes, M. Farrajota, H. Fernandes, J. José, V. Teixeira, M. Saleiro

The goal of the project "SmartVision: active vision for the blind" is to develop a small and portable but... more The goal of the project "SmartVision: active vision for the blind" is to develop a small and portable but intelligent and reliable system for assisting the blind and visually impaired while navigating autonomously, both outdoor and indoor. In this paper we present an overview of the prototype, design issues, and its different modules which integrate a GIS with GPS, Wi-Fi, RFID tags and computer vision. The prototype addresses glob-al navigation by following known landmarks, local navi-gation with path tracking and obstacle avoidance, and object recognition. The system does not replace the white cane, but extends it beyond its reach. The user-friendly interface consists of a 4-button hand-held box, a vibra-tion actuator in the handle of the cane, and speech syn-thesis. A future version may also employ active RFID tags for marking navigation landmarks, and speech recognition may complement speech synthesis.

An integrated system for blind day-to-day life autonomy

by Hugo Fernandes

The autonomy of blind people in their daily life depends on their knowledge of the surrounding world, and they are... more The autonomy of blind people in their daily life depends on their knowledge of the surrounding world, and they are aided by keen senses and assistive devices that help them to deduce their surroundings. Existing solutions require that users carry a wide range of devices and, mostly, do not include mechanisms to ensure the autonomy of users in the event of system failure. This paper presents the nav4b system that combines guidance and navigation with object's recognition, extending traditional aids (white cane and smartphone). A working prototype was installed on the UTAD campus to perform experiments with blind users.

Using GIS platforms to support accessibility: the case of GIS UTAD

by Hugo Fernandes

Authors: Fernandes, H., Telmo, A., Conceição, N., Paredes, H., Araújo, P., Barroso, J.

In everyday life, people need to move, whether in business or leisure. Navigation requires spatial knowledge and... more In everyday life, people need to move, whether in business or leisure. Navigation requires spatial knowledge and ability to make decisions based on geographic information. Recently, powerful tools have been developed, enhancing the capabilities of geographical analysis and decision making. This work presents a platform to handle and provide geographic information, including accessibility-oriented features. This Geographic Information System (GIS) is part of a wider project, called SmartVision. The aim of this project is to create a system that allows blind users to navigate in the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD) campus. The GIS platform, together with other modules of the SmartVision system prototype, provides information to the blind user, assisting his navigation and giving alerts of nearby points-of-interest or obstacles. Together with the GIS platform, this paper also describes how the interface between user and prototype is implemented and how the geographic information is handled to assist the navigation.

Providing accessibility to blind people using GIS

by Hugo Fernandes

Authors: Fernandes, H., Conceição, N., Paredes, H., Pereira, A., Araújo, P., Barroso, J.

In everyday life, people need to move, whether in business or leisure. Navigation requires spatial knowledge and... more In everyday life, people need to move, whether in business or leisure. Navigation requires spatial knowledge and ability to make decisions based on geographic information. Recently, powerful tools have been developed, enhancing the capabilities of geographical analysis and decision making. This work presents a platform to handle and provide geographic information, including accessibility-oriented features. This Geographic Information System (GIS) is part of a wider project, called SmartVision. The aim of this project is to create a system that allows blind users to navigate in the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD) campus. The GIS platform, together with other modules of the SmartVision system prototype, provides information to blind users, assisting their navigation and giving alerts of nearby points-of-interest or obstacles. Together with the GIS platform, this paper also describes the handling of accessibility information by the SmartVision prototype, namely the Navigation Module, the Computer Vision Module and the Interface Module.

Interactive Accessible Notifications for Emergency Notification Systems

by Andrea Bellucci

Web Accessibility Metrics For A Post Digital World

by Brian Kelly

Sloan, D. and Kelly, B., 2011. Web accessibility metrics for a post digital world. In: RDWG Symposium on Website Accessibility Metrics, 5 December 2011, Online.

This paper argues that, as we move towards a 'post-digital' world where use of the Web becomes normalised, there is a... more This paper argues that, as we move towards a 'post-digital' world where use of the Web becomes normalised, there is a need to address Web accessibility measurement challenges within a wider real-world context. Strategy and policy that defines Web accessibility purely by the conformance of digital resources with technical guidelines can lead to a danger that 'good enough' solutions may fail to be deployed; they also fail to consider a wider measure of user experience in accessibility measurement. We propose that metrics should draw on aspects of user experience to provide a more meaningful, real-world measure of the impact (or not) of accessibility barriers and therefore priority in addressing them. Metrics should also consider context in terms of the quality of effort taken by organisations to provide an inclusive experience; one option for doing so is the framework provided by British Standard 8878 Code of Practice for Web Accessibility. In both cases, challenges exist in the complexity of defining and implementing such metrics.

GIS based destination accessibility via public transit and walking in Auckland, New Zealand

by Suzanne Mavoa

Evaluating accessibility enhancements to public transport including indirect as well as direct benefits

by Xenia Karekla

Xenia Karekla, Taku Fujiyama, Nick Tyler

It is recognised that the beneficiaries of accessible transport services and facilities are not limited to elderly and... more It is recognised that the beneficiaries of accessible transport services and facilities are not limited to elderly and disabled people, yet the benefits to ordinary people and transport operators have seldom been considered. Based on London Underground's platform hump programme, in which part of the platform is raised in order to minimise the vertical gap between the platform and the train, we proposed a project in which the whole platform is raised and the doorway width of the train is increased, and performed a cost benefit analysis for this project. Our results show that the proposed project can reduce the boarding/alighting time, which leads to an operational cost reduction and a faster journey time for passengers. This makes the project economically viable in the sense that the benefits exceed the costs. Our study thus provides an example of the inclusion of indirect benefits when making an economic case.

Karel Martens & Aaron Golub (2011) Accessibility measures and equity: a philosophical exploration

by Karel Martens

Paper to be presented at the 91th Annual Conference of the Transportation Research Board, 22-26 January 2012, Washington DC, USA
An updated version of the paper will be published in 'Accessibility and Transport Planning: Challenges for Europe and North America', K. T. Geurs and K. J. Krizek. Cheltenham, Edward Elgar
Comment from a reviewer on the book chapter: 'An extremely well presented and articulated paper that covers much ground'.

In recent years, the attention in transportation planning has shifted from the analysis of congestion to the analysis... more In recent years, the attention in transportation planning has shifted from the analysis of congestion to the analysis of accessibility. Among others, this change draws the attention to the classical distributive question in transportation: who reaps the accessibility benefits from investments in the transport system? The answer to this question will in part depend on the accessibility measure that is chosen. Hence, a careful consideration of the accessibility measure(s) to be used in the evaluation of transport policies and projects is of the utmost importance. This paper contributes to this search for sound accessibility measures by delving into the vast literature on social justice. Starting from the classical debate on ‘equality of welfare’ versus ‘equality of resources’, the paper critically reflects on the usefulness of a variety of accessibility measures. This search results in the elimination of a number of widely used measures, which, based on the philosophical arguments presented in the paper, are considered unsuitable as an indicator for the analysis of the distribution of accessibility benefits over population groups or geographical areas.

T/Act: Social Empowerment through Interaction with Media Art Works

by Andy Best-Dunkley

This paper presents ongoing research into the effects of physical interaction with audiovisual systems through a... more This paper presents ongoing research into the effects of physical interaction with audiovisual systems through a discussion of the results and observations from collaborative design workshops organised for a group of people with disabilities. Can a disruption or disturbance of institutionalised conditioning according to class, education, gender and physical abilities be orchestrated by careful design and presentation of the interactive artwork? How can a physical interactive environment facilitate the experience of a temporary autonomous grouping in a similar way to that experienced in online communities? Can the artwork create a community of presence, an opportunity for living in the moment leading to unpredictable (inter)activity within the social group? The artistic TAZ (Temporary Autonomous Zone) acts as a revealing agent within society using the tools of poetic terrorism to disrupt the status quo.
My research compares interactive environments made for the general population with results from works made through a collaborative design process with selected individuals with severe physical disabilities. Both sets of work encourage and enable creative expression by the participants beyond everyday norms. The aim is to enable deep audience participation in media art installations and live performance through the control of audio, visual and robotic elements.

Automating the ranking of web pages according to user defined accessibility ratings: An exploratory investigation

by Alice Good

The premise of this research is to present the final results of an investigation, which looked at a means to automate... more The premise of this research is to present the final results of an investigation, which looked at a means to automate the rating of web pages according to their accessibility to specific user groups. These groups include visual impairments, mobility restricted and dyslexia. This research identifies integrated, user-centred studies that assisted in the development of this work. The research conducted for this project has collected data that will help to develop a better method for disabled users to search for and easily locate accessible web pages. It has investigated how web pages can be rated for accessibility using specific algorithms that are designed according to user defined ratings of accessibility.

Media priming effects: Accessibility, association, and activation

by Dhavan Shah