From the Lab to People's Home: Lessons from Accessing Blind Participants' Interactions via Smart Glasses in Remote...

Area of Science:

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Accessibility Research
• Assistive Technology

Background:

• Remote usability testing faces challenges in observing user interactions, particularly for blind participants.
• Traditional remote methods limit detailed observation of hardware testbed interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of smart glasses for remote usability testing with blind participants.
• To identify challenges and lessons learned in conducting such studies.

Main Methods:

• A case study involving 12 blind participants in their homes.
• Utilized dual video conferencing: a third-person laptop view and a first-person smart glasses view.
• Collected data on interaction capture rates and participant experiences.

Main Results:

• Smart glasses' first-person view captured 58.7% of interactions, compared to 3.7% from the third-person view.
• Interaction capture varied due to head movements, indicating a need for inclusive camera design.
• Identified issues with screen reader support, battery life, and internet connectivity.

Conclusions:

• Smart glasses show potential for remote observation of blind users interacting with smartphone testbeds.
• Inclusive camera design and robust technical support are crucial for effective remote usability testing with blind participants.