Survey of Ophthalmology
Volume 50, Issue 4 , Pages 394-405, July 2005

Computer and World Wide Web Accessibility by Visually Disabled Patients: Problems and Solutions

  • Michael F. Chiang, MD

      Affiliations

    • Departments of Ophthalmology
    • Biomedical Informatics
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint address: Michael F. Chiang, MD, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, 635 West 165th Street, Box 92, New York, NY 10032.
    • ,
  • Roy G. Cole, OD

      Affiliations

    • The Jewish Guild for the Blind
    • ,
  • Suhit Gupta

      Affiliations

    • Department of Computer Science, Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science, New York, New York, USA
    • ,
  • Gail E. Kaiser, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Computer Science, Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science, New York, New York, USA
    • ,
  • Justin B. Starren, MD

      Affiliations

    • Biomedical Informatics
    • Radiology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons

JOHANNA SEDDON AND DONALD FONG, EDITORS

Abstract 

Rapid advances in information technology have dramatically transformed the world during the past several decades. Access to computers and the World Wide Web is increasingly required for education and employment, as well as for many activities of daily living. Although these changes have improved society in many respects, they present an obstacle for visually disabled patients who may have significant difficulty processing the visual cues presented by modern graphical user interfaces. This article reviews the specific barriers to computer and Web access faced by visually disabled patients, describes clinical evaluation methods, summarizes traditional low vision methods as well as newer assistive computer technologies for universal accessibility, and discusses emerging technologies and future directions in this area.

Key words: access to information, biomedical technology, blindness, Internet, low vision, medical informatics, user-computer interface, vision disorders, visual acuity

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 Supported by grant LM07079 from the National Library of Medicine (MFC), grant EY013972 from the National Eye Institute (MFC), grants CCR-0203876 and EIA-0071954 from the National Science Foundation (SG, GEK), Defense Advanced Research Project Agency Order K503 monitored by Air Force Research. Laboratory F30602-00-2-0611 (SG, GEK), Microsoft Research, IBM, and Research to Prevent Blindness. The authors reported no commercial, proprietary, or financial interest in any of the products or concepts described in this article.

PII: S0039-6257(05)00042-1

doi:10.1016/j.survophthal.2005.04.004

Survey of Ophthalmology
Volume 50, Issue 4 , Pages 394-405, July 2005

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