Methods and Techniques of Adaptive Web Accessibility for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Abstract

Massive volumes of information shared on the web together with linked open data initiatives and exabytes of data generated through social networks frequently disorientates and confuses web users in their everyday interaction. Additionally, web users constitute a highly heterogeneous entities with different needs and requirements. Considering this, user adaptive software systems have been developed as a new application approach to ease the interaction between users and web information with the intent to bridge the gap between such presentation and navigational pitfalls. The user adaptive interaction is especially useful when considering a marginalized group such as blind and visually impaired users. This paper attempts at providing an overview of a state-of-the-art survey concerning adaptive interaction between users and web information space with special emphasis on exploiting methods and techniques for adaptive web accessibility for blind and visually impaired people. Likewise, the exploration of possibilities of new methods and techniques for user adapted interaction for blind and visually impaired is highly required in order to alleviate the accessibility according to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Recent studies indicate that even when the guidelines are implemented on web information systems, there is little indication that people with disabilities will gain better accessibility. To address these issues, we introduce various visual and auditory approaches to extend such adaptive methods and techniques for blind and visually impaired.

User-Centered Development of a Web Platform Supporting Community-Based Health Care Organizations for Older Persons in Need of Support: Qualitative Focus Group Study

“…The main obstacles were ethical issues, such as mistrust in data protection and privacy concerns; financial issues, such as costs to purchase hardware and for internet connection; cultural issues, such as age and the knowledge gap for ICT usage; and common issues, such as the assumed information overload on the internet. These findings can be confirmed by the literature [ 29 - 31 ]. The study revealed frustration by users, which can result from searching for information—for example, when a Google search yields too many results.…”

User-Centered Development of a Web Platform Supporting Community-Based Health Care Organizations for Older Persons in Need of Support: Qualitative Focus Group Study (Preprint)

“…The main obstacles were ethical issues, such as mistrust in data protection and privacy concerns; financial issues, such as costs to purchase hardware and for internet connection; cultural issues, such as age and the knowledge gap for ICT usage; and common issues, such as the assumed information overload on the internet. These findings can be confirmed by the literature [29][30][31]. The study revealed frustration by users, which can result from searching for information-for example, when a Google search yields too many results.…”

A Conceptual Model on Websites Design Features for Self-Management of Chronic-Diseases Patients

“…Audio or video content categories refer to features related to sounds and video. Voice narrator is a non-visual techniques that supports the accessibility of the content and content navigation [36]. Voice narrator was found helpful in e-mobile devices health participants, Diabetes and You and Child Care Center [37].…”