The Accessibility of Data Visualizations on the Web for Screen Reader Users: Practices and Experiences During COVID-19
The Accessibility of Data Visualizations on the Web for Screen Reader Users: Practices and Experiences During COVID-19
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DOI：
10.1145/3557899
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发表时间：
2022-08
影响因子：
2.4
通讯作者：
Danyang Fan;Alexa Fay Siu;Hrishikesh V. Rao;Gene S.-H. Kim;Xavier Vazquez;Lucy Greco;Sile O'Modhrain;Sean Follmer
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文献类型：
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作者：
Danyang Fan;Alexa Fay Siu;Hrishikesh V. Rao;Gene S.-H. Kim;Xavier Vazquez;Lucy Greco;Sile O'Modhrain;Sean Follmer
数据可视化已成为越来越重要的有效数据通信手段，在传播新冠肺炎疫情进展方面发挥着至关重要的作用。然而，无障碍数据表示方式落后，使得许多盲人和视障用户无法接触到信息领域。在这项工作中，我们试图理解(1)当前网络可视化实现的可访问性；(2)英属维尔京群岛用户在访问数据驱动媒体时的偏好和当前体验；(3) web上的可访问数据表示如何满足这些用户的访问需求，并帮助他们浏览、解释和从数据中获得见解；(4)限制英属维尔京群岛用户访问和使用数据表示的实际挑战。为了回答这些问题，我们进行了一项混合方法的研究，包括对网络上87个数据可视化的可访问性审计，以确定可访问性问题，对127个屏幕阅读器用户进行在线调查，以了解他们的生活体验和偏好，并对12个调查受访者进行远程上下文查询，以观察他们如何导航、解释并从可访问数据表示中获得见解。我们在这一关键时期的观察让我们了解了在线数据可视化中遇到的广泛的可访问性问题，数据可访问性不平等对英属维尔京群岛社区的影响，屏幕阅读器用户寻求访问数据驱动信息和利用在线可视化形成见解的方式，以及在提高数据素养、建立信心和丰富访问方法方面取得更大进展的迫切需要。基于我们的发现，我们为研究人员和从业者提供了扩大网络数据可访问性的建议。
Data visualization has become an increasingly important means of effective data communication and has played a vital role in broadcasting the progression of COVID-19. Accessible data representations, however, have lagged behind, leaving areas of information out of reach for many blind and visually impaired (BVI) users. In this work, we sought to understand (1) the accessibility of current implementations of visualizations on the web; (2) BVI users’ preferences and current experiences when accessing data-driven media; (3) how accessible data representations on the web address these users’ access needs and help them navigate, interpret, and gain insights from the data; and (4) the practical challenges that limit BVI users’ access and use of data representations. To answer these questions, we conducted a mixed-methods study consisting of an accessibility audit of 87 data visualizations on the web to identify accessibility issues, an online survey of 127 screen reader users to understand lived experiences and preferences, and a remote contextual inquiry with 12 of the survey respondents to observe how they navigate, interpret, and gain insights from accessible data representations. Our observations during this critical period of time provide an understanding of the widespread accessibility issues encountered across online data visualizations, the impact that data accessibility inequities have on the BVI community, the ways screen reader users sought access to data-driven information and made use of online visualizations to form insights, and the pressing need to make larger strides towards improving data literacy, building confidence, and enriching methods of access. Based on our findings, we provide recommendations for researchers and practitioners to broaden data accessibility on the web.