Blind People Are Power Users: An Argument for Centering Blind Users in Design of Voice Interfaces
Ali Abdolrahmani, Rishin Mukkath, Ravi Kuber, Stacy Marie Branham · Maryland Shared Open Access Repository (USMAI Consortium) · 2020
Voice interfaces in the form of Voice Activated Personal Assistants (VAPAs)–like Google Assistant and Microsoft Cortana–have rapidly become pervasive technologies. Recent studies reveal that these interfaces are particularly beneficial for older adults and people with disabilities, with relatively high adoption by visually impaired users. However, interviews we conducted with 14 blind VAPA users revealed several accessibility and usability shortcomings. In this position paper, we articulate a research agenda that addresses this hypothesis: blind screen reader users are the “power users” of voice interfaces, and centering them in the design process can generate better tools for a variety of users.