Tiago Guerreiro
Hugo Nicolau
Joaquim Jorge
Daniel Gonçalves
ABSTRACT
NavTap is a navigational method that enables blind users to input text in a mobile device by reducing the associated cognitive load.
In this paper, we present studies that go beyond a laboratorial setting, exploring the methods' effectiveness and learnability as well as its influence on the users' daily lives. Eight blind users participated in designing the prototype (3 weeks) while five took part in the studies along 16 more weeks. Results gathered in controlled weekly sessions and real life usage logs enabled us to better understand NavTap's advantages and limitations. The method revealed itself both as easy to learn and improve. Indeed, users were able to better control their mobile devices to send SMS and use other tasks that require text input such as managing a phonebook, from day one, in real-life settings.
While individual user profiles play an important role in determining their evolution, even less capable users (with age-induced impairments or cognitive difficulties), were able to perform the assigned tasks (sms, directory) both in the laboratory and in everyday use, showing continuous improvement to their skills. According to interviews, none were able to input text before. Nav-Tap dramatically changed their relation with mobile devices and noticeably improved their social interaction capabilities.
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Index Terms
- NavTap: a long term study with excluded blind users
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