Bending Blindly: Exploring Bend Gestures for the Blind
Abstract
This paper explores the novel context of using bend gestures as a primary method of interaction for the blind. Our preliminary study assesses if this more tactile experience could enhance the usability and accessibility of technology for blind users, by comparing bend and touch interactions with simulated blind participants. Both input techniques showed similar results, indicating that bend gestures have potential in this context. We identify results that can help shape future research in this accessibility area, and potentially increase the overall interaction experience for screen reader based smartphones.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Blind users rely much on their memories.
“The studies highlighted that the gestures designed for blind users should be logical and easy to learn and remember, as blind users rely much on their memories [91].”
From Usability Studies on Mobile User Interface Design Patterns: A Systematic Literature Review (2017) · cites this paper as [91]
A common practice is to use audio augmentation techniques such as voice-over and speech recognition.
“A common practice is to use audio augmentation techniques, such as voice-over (a.k.a.screen reader) and speech recognition [90,91].”
From Usability Studies on Mobile User Interface Design Patterns: A Systematic Literature Review (2017) · cites this paper as [91]
Recent studies designed gesture-based commands and tangible bendable gestures for blind users.
“Recent studies have designed and developed a gesture-based set of commands [90] and tangible bendable gestures for blind users [91].”
From Usability Studies on Mobile User Interface Design Patterns: A Systematic Literature Review (2017) · cites this paper as [91]
Gestures designed for blind users should be logical and easy to learn and remember.
“The studies highlighted that the gestures designed for blind users should be logical and easy to learn and remember, as blind users rely much on their memories [91].”
From Usability Studies on Mobile User Interface Design Patterns: A Systematic Literature Review (2017) · cites this paper as [91]
Cites
Kane, S. K., Bigham, J. P., & Wobbrock, J. O. (2008) · Proceedings of the 10th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility · doi:10.1145/1414471.1414487 · Cited by 374 · see citing works
Usable gestures for blind people: understanding preference and performance
Kane, S. K., Wobbrock, J. O., & Ladner, R. E. (2011) · Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems · doi:10.1145/1978942.1979001 · Cited by 314 · cited 2× · see citing works
“Kane and Ladner [15] recommend that touch interactions avoid the use of symbols found in print, favour edges and corners, reduce need for specific location accuracy, limit time restrictions for gestures, use familiar patterns and layouts used in other applications and more multi-touch gestures.”
BackgroundResultExploring the use of speech input by blind people on mobile devices
Azenkot, S., & Lee, N. B. (2013) · Proceedings of the 15th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility · doi:10.1145/2513383.2513440 · Cited by 151 · cited 1× · see citing works
“To resolve these accessibility problems, designers have created and evaluated a range of technologies [2,3,4,7,28].”
BackgroundInteracting with mobile devices via VoiceOver: usability and accessibility issues
Leporini, B., Buzzi, M. C., & Buzzi, M. (2012) · Proceedings of the 24th Australian Computer-Human Interaction Conference · doi:10.1145/2414536.2414591 · Cited by 116 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Usability Studies on Mobile User Interface Design Patterns: A Systematic Literature Review
Punchoojit, L., & Hongwarittorrn, N. (2017) · Advances in Human-Computer Interaction · doi:10.1155/2017/6787504 · Cited by 211 · see citing works
- Authors
- Ernst, M., & Girouard, A.
- Affiliations
- Carleton University (CA)
- ORCID
- Girouard, Audrey
- Venue
- Proceedings of the 2016 CHI Conference Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems
- Publisher
- ACM
- Published
- 2016-05-07
- Pages
- 2088-2096
- OpenAlex
- W2346211692
- Cited by
- 11
- References
- 4
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 3 · 2017: 2
- FWCI
- 2.86
- Type
- conference paper
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- CHI Conference Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI EA) (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (RGPIN 402494-2011)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Tactile and Sensory Interactions
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Human-Computer Interaction › Interactive and Immersive Displays
- Social Sciences › Human Factors and Ergonomics › Digital Accessibility for Disabilities
- Keywords
- blind users, accessibility, touch interaction, screen readers, smartphones, usability
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
