Patrizia Andronico
Carlos Castillo
ABSTRACT
In this study we present a SW prototype developed within the framework of a research project aiming at improving the usability of search engines for blind users who interact via screen reader and voice synthesizer. Following the eight specific guidelines we proposed for simplifying interaction with search engines using assistive technology, we redesigned Google user interfaces (i.e. simple search and result pages) by using XSL Transformations, Google APIs and PERL technologies. A remote test with 12 totally blind users was carried out in order to evaluate the proposed prototype. Collected results highlight ways in which Google interfaces could be modified in order to improve usability for the blind. In our demo we will show how interaction with the modified Google UIs is simplified and how the time for reaching the most important elements (i.e. first query result, next result page, etc.) is shortened in comparison to interaction with the original Google UIs. The demo uses the JAWS screen reader for announcing the UI contents.
- Andronico P., Buzzi M., Castillo, C., Leporini B. Improving Search Engine Interfaces for Blind Users: a Case Study. UAIS Journal, Vol. 5, n. 1 pp. 23--40 (2005), Springer. Google Scholar
Digital Library
- Craven, J., Brophy, P. Non-visual access to the digital library: the use of digital library interfaces by blind and visually impaired people. Tech report, Manchester: CERLIM, 2003. http://www.cerlim.ac.uk/pubs/index.phpGoogle Scholar
- Goble C., Harper S., Stevens R. The Travails of Visually impaired Web Travellers. In Proceedings of Hypertext '00 (San Antonio, June 2000), ACM Press, 1--10. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Google. Accessible Search FAQ, http://labs.google.com/accessible/faq.htmlGoogle Scholar
- Ivory, M. Y., Yu, S. Gronemyer, K. Search result exploration: a preliminary study of blind and sighted users' decision making and performance. Extended abstracts of CHI '04 (Vienna, April 2004), ACM Press, 1453--1456. Google ScholarDigital Library
Index Terms
- A prototype of google interfaces modified for simplifying interaction for blind users
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