Exploring Accessibility and Companionship in Boardgames via Alexa

Abstract

The inaccessibility of rulebooks hinders the rule learning experience of boardgame players who are blind or low vision (BLV). We explore the design of conversational agents (CAs) to support players' learning needs and provide companionship by conducting two qualitative studies. In study 1, 14 boardgame players who are BLV first identified their rule learning challenges and co-designed desired social and functional characteristics of CAs to combat these challenges. Based on these findings, we developed a CA using Amazon Alexa and 9 players who are BLV evaluated our CA in study 2. Our findings generated five design principles for CAs to support boardgame rule learning: conciseness, ease of navigation, customization, supplementary features, and social characteristics. These principles guide designers and researchers in exploring the novel design space. Our research also demonstrates the feasibility of our method for conducting accessible remote co-design and evaluation with participants who are BLV.First and foremost, I would like to thank my supervisor Dr. Audrey Girouard, who took me under her guidance, taught me to trust my abilities, and gave me an opportunity to work on something I feel strongly passionate about. Without your guidance and trust, I would not be able to come this far.I would also like to thank everyone at the Creative Interactions Lab. I could not have asked for a better team who is always eager to help and contribute. In particular, I would like to thank Dr. Jin Kang for always having my back and supporting me in every way possible. Thank you for guiding me throughout this journey, cheering me up with your words of encouragement, and spoiling me with those cookies. I am grateful for your extensive hard work and support. I would also offer my thanks to Dr. Karen Cochrane for her thoughtful guidance and problem-solving skills. My special thanks to Leon Lu and Adrian Bolesnikov, for sharing their experiences and ideas at different stages in my journey.I am also thankful for the support that I received from NSERC through the READi program, where I learned in depth about accessibility research, and got a chance to apply it in practice with my wonderful READi ATP team.My eternal thanks to my family and friends for their immense support through and through. To my mother, for inspiring me to follow my dreams and for her unconditional love. To my niece Zoey, the light of my life, for her big smiles and virtual hugs. To my brother and sister-in-law for their support while I navigate my way into a new country. To my friends, who make Ottawa feel like home. And finally, to my partner Ali, for being the biggest source of strength and support in difficult times. Thank you for sticking by my side and celebrating all the big and small wins along.Finally, I am immensely grateful to my participants for sharing their time, insights, and experiences with me.