The 15th Web for All Conference Lyon, France 2018

Exploring the Role of Tunnel Vision Simulation in the Design Cycle of Accessible Interfaces

Rie Kamikubo, Keita Higuchi, Ryo Yonetani, Yoichi Sato, University of Tokyo; Hideki Koike, Tokyo Institute of Technology

Despite the emphasis of involving users with disabilities in the development of accessible interfaces, user trials come with high costs and effort. Particularly considering the diverse range of abilities such as in the case of low vision, simulating the effect of an impairment on interaction with an interface has been approached. As a starting point to assess the role of simulation in the design cycle, this research focuses on allowing sighted individuals to experience the interface under tunnel vision using gaze-contingent simulation. We investigated its implementation reliability through the analysis of empirical tests of prototypes compared between participants under simulation and intended groups. We found that the simulation-based approach can enable developers to not only examine problems in interfaces but also be exposed to user feedback from simulated user trials with necessary evaluation measures. We discussed how the approach can complement accessibility qualities associated with user involvement at different development phases.

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Application for the configuration and adaptation of the Android operating system for the visually impaired

Brunoa De Oliveira, Juliana Braga, Rafael Damaceno, Federal University of ABC

Mobile devices can be used as assistive technologies as they help improve the quality of life of people with visual impairments (PVI). Despite the advantages of mobile devices, it is necessary to overcome some challenges regarding the difficulties of interacting of these users with the operating system of these devices. This is important for the use of this technology to reach a greater number of the visually impaired. Therefore, this study aimed to perform an interface design and the development of an application. It automatically adapts the Android® operating system according to the accessibility preferences of the visually impaired through voice commands. These preferences were validated in previous studies. With the help of computational tools and tests with PVI, it was possible to create the prototype of the application interface and to know the improvements to be made. The developed application showed potential to be a useful tool for the visually impaired, also bringing specific benefits of using the voice command to partially impaired people.




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Conference Dinner

The conference dinner will be held at the Brasserie Georges, a restaurant located in the 2nd arrondissement of Lyon. It is the oldest brasserie in the city and one of the largest brasseries in Europe.Its has an international reputation and its history is closely linked to that of Lyon. The brasserie serves typical dishes including the famous sausage of Lyon with pistachios, as well as dishes from other regions. The Brasserie Georges website is: http://www.brasseriegeorges.com/en/

The shuttle bus will depart at 19:00 from Entrance H of the conference Centre (see map below).

The bus stop is located just on front of the bear statue.

Note: The entrance for the Conference is entrance C.




The shuttle bus will depart from Brasserie Georges will be at 22.15.

The “William Loughborough” After-Dinner Talk

About the William Loughborough Speech. This has been an annual and eagerly-anticipated part of W4A since 2010, when it was introduced in memory of William Loughborough, a long-time advocate for accessibility and inclusive design. William was a talented technologist and engineer, and an enthusiastic supporter of W4A, regularly providing thoughtful feedback to presenters in his inimitable way. We invited William to speak at the W4A 2010 conference dinner in Raleigh, North Carolina; but sadly he died shortly before the event. So, in William’s honour, every year we invite a well-regarded speaker from the accessibility community to address the conference delegates with a speech that is likely to be provocative, challenging conventions, insightful and humorous—and always one that will give us food for thought.

Find out more about William’s life and work at:http://media-dis-n-dat.blogspot.co.uk/2010/05/obituary-william-loughborough-pioneer.html

This year’s speech will be given by Helen Petrie, University of York, UK:
25 years at the coalface of accessibility: time flies when you are having fun!
It is hard to believe that I have been working on accessibility for exactly 25 years. This was a field I just fell into, like Alice in Wonderland falling down the rabbit hole, into a strange new world of European projects, trying to learn braille and being expected to have the entire body of psychological knowledge at my fingertips. In 25 years of research I have worked on over 50 projects and supervised over 20 PhDs, many on technology for visually disabled people, but also on technology for people with hearing disabilities, people who are deafblind, people with physical disabilities, people with dyslexia and now increasingly for older people. In that time I’ve seen attitudes towards people with disabilities and older people change considerably, and the sophistication of research improve greatly. But we still face many challenges. In this talk I will highlight some of the things I have learnt, some of the challenges I have faced as a researcher and some of the odd things I have encountered. I hope I will be able to convey why I am still passionate about this research area after 25

years.
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