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Exploring the Opportunities and Challenges with Exercise Technologies for People who are Blind or Low-Vision
Conference proceeding

Exploring the Opportunities and Challenges with Exercise Technologies for People who are Blind or Low-Vision

Kyle Rector, Lauren Milne, Richard Ladner, Batya Friedman and Julie Kientz
Proceedings of the 17th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on computers & accessibility, pp.203-214
ASSETS '15
10/26/2015
DOI: 10.1145/2700648.2809846

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Abstract

People who are blind or low-vision may have a harder time participating in exercise due to inaccessibility or lack of experience. We employed Value Sensitive Design (VSD) to explore the potential of technology to enhance exercise for people who are blind or low-vision. We conducted 20 semi-structured interviews about exercise and technology with 10 people who are blind or low-vision and 10 people who facilitate fitness for people who are blind or low-vision. We also conducted a survey with 76 people to learn about outsider perceptions of hypothetical exercise with people who are blind or low-vision. Based on our interviews and survey, we found opportunities for technology development in four areas: 1) mainstream exercise classes, 2) exercise with sighted guides, 3) rigorous outdoors activity, and 4) navigation of exercise spaces. Design considerations should include when and how to deliver auditory or haptic information based on exercise and context, and whether it is acceptable to develop less mainstream technologies if they enhance mainstream exercise. The findings of this work seek to inform the design of accessible exercise technologies.
accessibility audio feedback exercise exergames eyes-free health value sensitive design visual impairments

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