Collaborative accessibility between blind and sighted individuals can both help and hinder independence. Preparation through organization and planning supports tasks a blind person can do independently later, while unexpected needs for intervention cause frustration and hinder learning. Designing for social contexts and mixing abilities can promote accessibility where it is produced collaboratively rather than relying solely on individual assistive technologies.
2. sighted people are assistive technologies
blind people choose sighted assistance
http://products.geappliances.com/MarketingObjectRetrieval/Dispatcher?RequestType=Image&Name=R11947.jpg
3. prior work
most assistive technologies focus on the individual
VoiceOver KNFB Reader Trekker GPS
http://imgs.notitarde.com/Imgs/2014/09/28dc18b3-6e11-45d1-973f-358598bc001d_W_00960.jpg https://www.apple.com/accessibility/ios/voiceover/images/rotor.jpg http://www.forestparkreview.com/ArchiveImages/6860b.jpg
4. prior work
most assistive technologies focus on the individual
VoiceOver KNFB Reader Trekker GPS
http://imgs.notitarde.com/Imgs/2014/09/28dc18b3-6e11-45d1-973f-358598bc001d_W_00960.jpg https://www.apple.com/accessibility/ios/voiceover/images/rotor.jpg http://www.forestparkreview.com/ArchiveImages/6860b.jpg
“
(Wobbrock et al., 2011)
All accessible computing
approaches share a common
goal of improving independence…”
5. mobile AT in the wild
(Kane, Jayant, Wobbrock, Ladner; 2009)
stigma and AT adoption
(Shinohara & Wobbrock; 2011)
collaboration on navigation tasks
(Williams, Galbraith, Kane, Hurst; 2014)
prior work
some are beginning to explore social context
6. how do people who are blind create
accessible spaces in social settings?
http://www.toledoblade.com/image/2015/01/17/800x_b1_cCM_z_cTL/FEA-blind18-Amy-Rhoads.jpg
7. .5
418
8
16 4
28
341
8
bear &
sissy
rebecca
& mitch
robin
& ben
parsa
& ava
kay
& phil
jasmine
& dhanvi
lisa &
james
guido &
jean marie
ian &
brynn
butterfly
& henri
participants
67 63
22 26
31 37
36 32
49 51
29 26 32 63
58 48
60 56
70 63
8. data & analysis
20+ hours
audio
+
200+ pictures
20 videos
we conducted a qualitative thematic analysis on
interview audio recordings, photos, and videos
themes
9. collaborative accessibility
when surrounding family members, friends,
strangers, etc. support or hinder accessibility
67 63
41
bear
& sissy
22 26
3
rebecca
& mitch
http://dojbfbukd6hul.cloudfront.net/category/gallery/caddy-diff-01-s2.jpg
10. collaborative accessibility
when surrounding family members, friends,
strangers, etc. support or hinder accessibility
67 63
41
bear
& sissy
22 26
3
rebecca
& mitch
http://dojbfbukd6hul.cloudfront.net/category/gallery/caddy-diff-01-s2.jpg
Accessibility is not embedded in the
device. It is produced collaboratively.
18. “It is very irritating to have to interrupt someone to
ask them to help me perform one step of the whole.”
pattern: intervention
19. online banking
“[For mobile deposit], she logs in, then selects mobile
deposit. And, I do the rest and give her the phone back.”
29 26
.5
jasmine
& dhanvi
20. “It is very irritating to have to interrupt someone to
ask them to help me perform one step of the whole.”
pattern: intervention
22. “It is very irritating to have to interrupt someone to
ask them to help me perform one step of the whole.”
pattern: intervention
23. filling out forms
32 63
8
butterfly
& henri
“[PDF]’s are my number one frustration”
24. preparation vs. intervention
“natural” collaboration
can be planned for
supports learning
tasks “I can do”
“stuck,” “frustrated”
unpredictable, “emergency”
does not support learning
tasks “I can’t do”
25. preparation vs. intervention
“natural” collaboration
can be planned for
supports learning
tasks “I can do”
“stuck,” “frustrated”
unpredictable, “emergency”
does not support learning
tasks “I can’t do”
“In some cases, the social solution––as opposed to a technical
solution––is not only as adequate, it can sometimes be better.
It can be more enjoyable to do something socially.”
36 32
8
parsa
& ava
29. thanks
Shaun Kane
University of Colorado Boulder
shaun.kane@colorado.edu
@shaunkane
superhuman.cs.colorado.edu
Stacy Branham
University of Maryland Baltimore County
sbranham@umbc.edu
@branhammertime
stacybranham.com
NSF (IIS-1353312)our participants