Cited by 5Digital Accessibility for DisabilitiesUsability and User Interface DesignAssistive Technology in Communication and Mobility

Investigating the User Experience and Challenges of Food Delivery Applications for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Open access
Nair, Adit, Mathew, Roshan, Mei, Zihao, Milallos, Rezylle, Chelladurai, Pratheep Kumar, Oh, Tae·2023·Proceedings of the 25th International Conference on Mobile Human-Computer Interaction

Abstract

In recent years, the revenue of food delivery services has grown rapidly, and the market has continued to expand. However, most of the current research on food delivery services has been focused on the commercial sector and was aimed at the general population. However, there are only limited studies on the user experience and challenges of food delivery services by people who are blind or visually impaired (BVI). To address this gap, this preliminary study conducted an online survey with 166 participants and a semi-structured interview with 12 BVI individuals. The study results revealed the basic usage habits of BVI people experiencing food delivery services and they have been summarized into two major challenges: 1. usability and accessibility of food delivery apps, 2. service design issues. Limitations and various implications for future research on food delivery services are also discussed.

Verified 2026-10-06 · 1 reference not checked yet

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1145/3565066.3608688

Cites

20 of 21 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

0 of 9 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingown data

    25 participants said that food delivery app accessibility changes with software updates.

    “25 participants also stated that the accessibility of food delivery apps fuctuates with software updates.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Food delivery apps do not give a specific contact number for the delivery person in order to protect privacy.

    “The food delivery apps do not provide a specifc contact number for the delivery person to protect their privacy, but the lack of direct contact information is frustrating to many BVI participants when they are unable to locate their orders.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    28 participants reported contacting customer support to resolve missing items, wrong orders, delayed deliveries, and questions about charges and fees.

    “28 participants reported that they have often had to contact customer support to resolve issues such as missing items, wrong orders, delayed deliveries, and for questions regarding charges and fees.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    7 participants faced accessibility problems with infrequently used features, such as editing the delivery address.

    “Seven participants also reported that they encountered accessibility challenges with certain features, such as editing delivery address, that may not be used frequently by many users.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Many participants reported that food delivery apps often become less accessible after software updates.

    “Many participants reported that food deliver apps often become increasingly inaccessible after software updates.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims. 16
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 5
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The study found that missing alternative text for UI components and images was a common accessibility problem for BVI users navigating food delivery apps with screen readers, matching other research on smartphone apps and online shopping.

    “Our fndings showed that the lack of alternative text for UI components and images was a common accessibility issue for BVI people while navigating food delivery apps using screenreaders and other assistive technology devices, consistent with fndings from other studies on diferent types of smartphone applications and online shopping experiences of people with visual impairments [18,23,28].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [18]

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [23] source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [28] source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Participants said delivery problems often happen because delivery personnel assume they are sighted, which can lead to communication difficulties.

    “Participants mentioned that delivery problems often occur because the delivery personnel may assume them to be sighted, which may lead to difculties in communication.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Customer support processes require uploading a photo of the order as proof, which is difficult for visually impaired people.

    “In such instances, in addition to the accessibility challenges related to the app, such as locating the right buttons and text felds to report problems, participants were asked to upload a photo of the order as proof, which is undoubtedly difcult for people with visual impairments.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Some BVI DoorDash users experienced VoiceOver looping on the home screen, which prevented scrolling and showed only the first few restaurants.

    “DoorDash used to work well, but now I couldn't use it at all if I didn't have past orders, I could use it to reorder a new meal.It's not possible to scroll down the home screen of the app without getting caught in a loop, only showing the frst few restaurants.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The study also found accessibility issues in communicating with delivery drivers, fetching delivered orders, and contacting customer support.

    “Our study also revealed accessibility issues related to communicating with the delivery drivers, fetching delivered orders, and contacting customer support to resolve issues.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingown data

    Over 90% of survey respondents used food delivery apps on iPhones running iOS.

    “An overwhelming majority, more than 90% of the participants, used these apps on iPhones and the iOS mobile operating system.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    In the survey, 30.1% used delivery apps weekly, 29.5% used them two to three times weekly, and 1.8% used them daily.

    “30.1% of the participants used delivery apps once a week, 29.5% used them two to three times a week, and 1.8% used them every day.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Participants could not browse menus by food category because some restaurant menus were too complicated for screen readers or lacked necessary descriptions.

    “Other participants said they could not browse menus by categories of food as the menus of some restaurants were either too complicated to browse using screen readers or they lacked the necessary description.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Among survey respondents, DoorDash was the most commonly used food delivery app (83.13%), followed by Uber Eats (65.66%) and GrubHub (54.21%).

    “The most used food delivery app among the survey participants was DoorDash, with 83.13% of participants using it, followed by Uber Eats (65.66%) and GrubHub (54.21%).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Some UI components had incorrect alternative text, causing screen reader users to be unsure about their selections.

    “Some felds or buttons are labeled incorrectly so you are not sure what you are choosing, and some options cannot be chosen by a screen reader user.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    These challenges include missing alternative text for UI components, difficult information architecture and user flows for some features, and screen reader compatibility problems.

    “These include lacking alternative text for UI components, challenging information architecture and user fows for certain features, and compatibility with screen readers.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    A BVI user cannot contact the delivery driver to find out where the package is because most delivery apps do not provide contact numbers.

    “In such cases, a BVI user cannot contact the delivery drivers to determine where their packages are because most delivery apps do not provide their contact numbers.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    49 participants reported problems fetching delivered orders, including locating the delivery, communicating with drivers, and inaccessible tracking tools like maps, visual proof, and notifications.

    “49 participants reported issues with fetching their orders once they were delivered.These concerns were related to locating their delivery, communicating with delivery drivers, and inaccessibility of tracking tools such as maps, visual proof of deliveries, and delivery notifcations.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductown data

    The study did not conduct onsite usability testing of food delivery apps to assess the usability and accessibility issues found in surveys and interviews.

    “Additionally, we have not conducted any onsite usability testing of food delivery service applications to assess the usability and accessibility issues uncovered through the surveys and participant interviews.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Food delivery services are especially important for BVI individuals because they help overcome barriers to food acquisition and improve independence and quality of life.

    “Food delivery services are uniquely important to BVI individuals because they help them overcome many barriers and challenges associated with food acquisition, enhancing their independence and quality of life [9].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [9]

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Interpretationown data

    The study's findings on accessibility challenges in ordering, delivery tracking and notifications, fetching deliveries, communicating with drivers, and after-sales support show that further research and design improvements are needed.

    “However, our fndings regarding the accessibility challenges related to ordering processes, delivery tracking and notifcations, fetching deliveries and communicating with delivery drivers, and after-sales support establish the need for further research and improvements in streamlining these aspects of food delivery service design.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Retrieving packages from non-designated locations is relatively easy for sighted people but can cause many problems for BVI people.

    “Retrieving packages from non-designated locations is relatively easy for sighted individuals but can cause many issues MobileHCI '23 Companion, September 26-29, 2023, Athens, Greece for BVI individuals.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    All study participants lived in the United States and used food delivery services operating there.

    “While our research revealed signifcant challenges encountered by BVI people when using food delivery platforms, it is to be noted that the study participants were all based in the United States and were customers of food delivery services operating within the country.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationreasoning

    The study's findings also apply to other consumer services used by BVI people, such as grocery and retail delivery, shipping, and prescription medication delivery, where users track and fetch deliveries.

    “In addition, our fndings are also relevant to other consumer services utilized by BVI users, such as grocery and retail delivery services, shipping services, and prescription medication delivery services, where users have to track and fetch deliveries to their homes.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    The research offers important insights into how food delivery apps and services function for BVI users and highlights usability and accessibility challenges that need to be addressed.

    “Our research provides critical insights into how food delivery applications and services work for BVI users and sheds light on several usability and accessibility challenges that must be addressed to serve the BVI community better.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
20 of 20
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    BVI users may be uncomfortable disclosing their disability because of privacy and security concerns.

    “On the other hand, BVI users may also not be comfortable disclosing their disability due to privacy and security concerns.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Food delivery apps can be more accessible for BVI users using screen readers than traditional paper menus, making independent ordering easier.

    “Food delivery apps can also be much more accessible for BVI users using screen readers or other assistive technologies when compared to traditional paper menus available in restaurants, making it easier for them to place orders independently.”
2 of 2

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?

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Survey demographics do not fit the stated sample size

    Minor

    The paper says 166 valid responses were analyzed, but the reported vision percentages cannot result from counts of 166 people at the printed precision. For example, 105 of 166 is 63.3% when rounded to one decimal place, while neither 49 nor 50 of 166 rounds to 29.9%.

  • Citation for the package-fetching study points to a different paper

    Minor

    The text attributes a package-fetching study to Lei et al. and cites reference 12, but reference 12 is a food-delivery study by Lan et al. The Lei et al. study appears as reference 13.

2 of 2

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 7

  1. David Curry . 2023 . Food Delivery App Revenue and Usage Statistics (2023) . Retrieved May 25, 2023 from https://www.businessofapps.com/data/food-delivery-app-market/ David Curry. 2023. Food Delivery App Revenue and Usage Statistics (2023). Retrieved May 25, 2023 from https://www.businessofapps.com/data/food-delivery-app-market/
  2. Mayila Maimaiti , Xueyin Zhao , Menghan Jia , Yuan Ru , and Shankuan Zhu . 2018. How we eat determines what we become: opportunities and challenges brought by food delivery industry in a changing world in China. European journal of clinical nutrition 72, 9 ( 2018 ), 1282–1286. Mayila Maimaiti, Xueyin Zhao, Menghan Jia, Yuan Ru, and Shankuan Zhu. 2018. How we eat determines what we become: opportunities and challenges brought by food delivery industry in a changing world in China. European journal of clinical nutrition 72, 9 (2018), 1282–1286.
  3. Gary Marsden . 2007. What is the mobile Internet?Interactions 14, 6 ( 2007 ), 24–25. Gary Marsden. 2007. What is the mobile Internet?Interactions 14, 6 (2007), 24–25.
  4. Anne Spencer Ross . 2020. An epidemiology-inspired, large-scale analysis of mobile app accessibility. ACM SIGACCESS Accessibility and Computing123 ( 2020 ), 1–1. Anne Spencer Ross. 2020. An epidemiology-inspired, large-scale analysis of mobile app accessibility. ACM SIGACCESS Accessibility and Computing123 (2020), 1–1.
  5. Fauziyah Sjahroeddin . 2018 . The role of ES-Qual and food quality on customer satisfaction in online food delivery service . In Prosiding Industrial Research Workshop and National Seminar, Vol. 9. 551–558 . Fauziyah Sjahroeddin. 2018. The role of ES-Qual and food quality on customer satisfaction in online food delivery service. In Prosiding Industrial Research Workshop and National Seminar, Vol. 9. 551–558.
  6. 10.1145/3234695.3236337 · DOI · Paper page
  7. JD Steinmetz , RRA Bourne , and PS Briant . 2020. GBD 2019 Blindness and Vision Impairment Collaborators ; Vision Loss Expert Group of the Global Burden of Disease Study. Causes of blindness and vision impairment in ( 2020 ). JD Steinmetz, RRA Bourne, and PS Briant. 2020. GBD 2019 Blindness and Vision Impairment Collaborators; Vision Loss Expert Group of the Global Burden of Disease Study. Causes of blindness and vision impairment in (2020).

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Nair, A., Mathew, R., Mei, Z., Milallos, R., Chelladurai, P. K., & Oh, T.
Affiliations
Rochester Institute of Technology (US)
Venue
Proceedings of the 25th International Conference on Mobile Human-Computer Interaction
Publisher
ACM
Published
2023-09-26
Pages
1-6
OpenAlex
W4386947804
Cited by
5
References
21
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2024: 2
FWCI
2.09
Type
conference paper
Language
en
Open access
Locations
International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction with Mobile Devices and Services (MobileHCI) (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Human Factors and Ergonomics › Digital Accessibility for Disabilities
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Human-Computer Interaction › Usability and User Interface Design
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Occupational Therapy › Assistive Technology in Communication and Mobility
Keywords
food delivery apps, blind and visually impaired users, user experience, accessibility, usability, service design, assistive technology, mobile application design, usage patterns

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.

Claims read by deepseek-v4.1-flash under definition version 3 (extract-v3) on 2026-10-06.

Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-06.

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