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Brandon Biggs

Engineer

MDes, Inclusive Design, OCAD University
BA, Music, CSU East Bay
AA, Music, Foothill College

The goal of my research is to create technology for blind individuals that have an amazing user experience. I focus on web applications and building progressive web apps.

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Contact Information:

Email: brandon.biggs@ski.org

2318 Fillmore Street

San Francisco, CA 94115

Publications
Projects
Labs
Centers

Publications

Journal Articles
Presentations
Conference Papers
Other Publications

Biggs, B. ., Coughlan, J. ., & Walker, B. (2025). Systematically Evaluating Digital Map Tools Based on the WCAG. Journal on Technology and Persons With Disabilities, 13.

Biggs, B. ., Agbaroji, H. ., Toth, C. ., Stockman, T. ., Coughlan, J. ., & Walker, B. . (2024). Co-Designing Auditory Navigation Solutions for Traveling as a Blind Individual During The COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Blindness Innovation and Research, 14(1). (Original work published 2024)

Biggs, B. ., Pitcher-Cooper, C. ., & Coughlan, J. . (2022). Getting in Touch with Tactile Map Automated Production: Evaluating Impact and Areas for Improvement.Journal on Technology and Persons With Disabilities, 10. (Original work published 2022)

Biggs, B. ., Toth, C. ., Stockman, T. ., Tupy, S. ., Coughlan, J. ., & Walker, B. N. (2022). Audiom: an Auditory Web-Based Geographic Map Viewer Showing COVID-19 State Data and a Travel Map. (Original work published 2022)

Biggs, B. ., Toth, C. ., Stockman, T. ., Coughlan, J. ., & Walker, B. N. (2022). Evaluation of a Non-Visual Auditory Choropleth and Travel Map Viewer. International Conference on Auditory Display (ICAD) 2022. Presented at the International Conference on Auditory Display (ICAD) 2022. Virtual. Retrieved from PMCID: PMC10010675 (Original work published 2022)

Coughlan, J. ., Biggs, B. ., & Shen, H. . (2021). Point and Listen: Bringing a 3D Map to Life with Audio-Based AR. 6th Annual Frameless XR Symposium. Presented at the 6th Annual Frameless XR Symposium. (Original work published 2021)

Biggs, B. ., Coughlan, J. ., & Coppin, P. . (2021). Design and evaluation of an interactive 3D map. RESNA 2021 Conference. Presented at the RESNA 2021 Conference. (Original work published 2021)

Coughlan, J. ., Biggs, B. ., Rivière, M.-A. ., & Shen, H. . (2020). An Audio-Based 3D Spatial Guidance AR System for Blind Users. 17th International Conference on Computers Helping People With Special Needs. Presented at the 17th International Conference on Computers Helping People with Special Needs. (Original work published 2020)

Biggs, B. ., Coughlan, J. ., & Coppin, P. . (2019). Design and Evaluation of an Audio Game-Inspired Auditory Map Interface. The 25th International Conference on Auditory Display (ICAD 2019). Presented at the The 25th International Conference on Auditory Display (ICAD 2019). Northumbria University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK. (Original work published 2019)

Zaman, N., Potluri, V., Biggs, B., & Coughlan, M. J. (2025). WhatsAI: Transforming Meta Ray-Bans into an Extensible Generative AI Platform for Accessibility. arXiv preprint arXiv:2505.09823.

Biggs, B. ., Siu, A. F., Aziz, N. ., & Stockman, T. . (2022). Remote Co-Design in the Digital Age. In Handbook of Disability. (Original work published 2022)

Projects

Active
Audiom Map of Smith-Kettlewell
An Audiom map of the main Smith-Kettlewell building at 2318 Fillmore St., San Francisco has been created by Brandon Biggs. This is an audio-visual map that allows users to explore...
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Active
Magic Map
The Magic Map is an interactive 3D map installed at the Magical Bridge Playground in Palo Alto, California. It consists of a 1/100 scale 3D bronze representation of the playground,...
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Active
Audiom
Audiom is a tool that allows blind and visually impaired individuals to view maps completely in audio. It is a web component and can be embedded into any webpage, similar...
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Active
A Computer Vision-Based Indoor Wayfinding Tool
The ability to navigate safely and confidently is a fundamental requirement for independent travel and access to many settings such as work, school, shopping, transit and healthcare. Navigation is particularly...
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Active
CamIO
CamIO (short for “Camera Input-Output”) is a system to make physical objects (such as documents, maps, devices and 3D models) accessible to blind and visually impaired persons, by providing real-time...
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Labs

Coughlan Lab
Principal Investigator:
The goal of our laboratory is to develop and test assistive technology for blind and visually impaired persons that is enabled by computer vision and other sensor technologies.
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Centers

Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center
The Center's research goal is to develop and apply new scientific knowledge and practical, cost-effective devices to better understand and address the real-world problems of blind, visually impaired, and deaf-blind...
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