August 2022
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Zoom Colloquium: Improving Comics Accessibility for People with Visual Impairments
Event Date:Abstract:
A number of researches have been conducted to improve the accessibility of various types of images on the web (e.g., photos and artworks) for people with visual impairments. However, little has been studied on making comics accessible. As a formative study, we first conducted an online survey with 68 participants who are blind or have low vision. Based on their prior experiences with audio-books and eBooks, we propose an accessible digital comic book reader for people with visual impairments. An interview study and prototype evaluation with eight participants with visual impairments revealed implications that can further improve the accessibility of comic books for people with visual impairments.
We then focused on a specific type of digital comics called webtoon, which is read online where readers can leave comments to share their thoughts on the story. To improve the webtoon reading experience for BLV users, we propose another interactive webtoon reader that leverages comments into the design of novel webtoon interactions. Since comments can identify story highlights and provide additional context, we designed a system that provides 1) comments-based adaptive descriptions with selective access to details and 2) panel-anchored comments for easy access to relevant descriptive comments. Our evaluation showed that Cocomix users could adapt the description for various needs and better utilize comments. https://hcil-ewha.github.io/homepage/index.html
Improving Zoom accessibility for people with hearing impairments People with hearing impairments often use lipreading and speechreading to improve speech comprehension. This approach is helpful but only works if the speaker’s face and mouth are clearly visible. For the benefit of people with hearing impairments on Zoom calls, please enable your device’s camera whenever you are speaking on Zoom, and face the camera while you speak. (Feel free to disable your camera when you aren’t speaking.)
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Zoom Colloquium: Braille Literacy Rates in the U.S.: Knowing What We Don’t Know
Event Date:Abstract: For almost as long as braille has existed, researchers, advocates, educators, and innovators have been influenced by assumptions or beliefs about rates of braille readership. However, despite repeated claims in the media and in advocacy materials, U.S. braille literacy statistics have proven difficult to substantiate and clarify. In this session, authors Rebecca Sheffield, Frances Mary D’Andrea, and Sarah Chatfield will discuss their systematic literature review, which began in 2015 in collaboration with Smith-Kettlewell scientist Valerie Morash. The research findings raise numerous questions, including: In the absence of current, reliable data on braille literacy, what evidence is there about the demand for braille-related innovations and research? What lessons should we take from the proliferation of unsupported claims about braille literacy rates? How has the nature of being a “braille reader" changed with the advent of technology? How might researchers approach agreeing on definitions and gathering useful data on braille readership rates?
Sheffield, R. M., D’Andrea, F. M., Morash, V., & Chatfield, S. (2022). How many braille readers? Policy, politics, and perception. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 116(1), 14–25. https://doi.org/10.1177/0145482X211071125
Improving Zoom accessibility for people with hearing impairments People with hearing impairments often use lipreading and speechreading to improve speech comprehension. This approach is helpful but only works if the speaker’s face and mouth are clearly visible. For the benefit of people with hearing impairments on Zoom calls, please enable your device’s camera whenever you are speaking on Zoom, and face the camera while you speak. (Feel free to disable your camera when you aren’t speaking.)
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