Improving web accessibility using content-aware plug-ins

This paper describes a novel approach to improve blind and visually impaired people's access to the Web by using a content-aware Web browser plug-in coupled with audio and haptic tools. The Web plug-in accesses the current mouse position on-screen, and makes the co-ordinates available to the audio and haptic modalities. This allows the user to be informed when they are in the vicinity of an image or hyperlink; previously they would only have been informed when they are physically on the link. Thus, when the user is close to an image or hyperlink, haptics and audio will be used to inform and guide them to the actual spatial position. The Web browser plug-in and the associated audio and haptic feedback tools are described in the paper. Finally, results from a pilot study on the usability of this system are also presented.