A Systematic Literature Review of Handheld Augmented Reality Solutions for People with Disabilities

Sensors (Basel). 2022 Oct 11;22(20):7719. doi: 10.3390/s22207719.

Abstract

Mobile applications on smartphones and tablets have become part of our everyday lives. The number of augmented reality (AR) technology applications is also increasing. Augmented reality has proven to be effective in various areas of human life, from education, marketing, and training to navigation. All people have the right to access information and use available technologies, but not everyone has the same opportunities. To contribute to the digital inclusion of people who are often disadvantaged in this regard, we should think about the accessibility of digital technologies, including mobile augmented reality (MAR). The specificity of MAR is a new way of human-computer interaction compared to traditional mobile solutions. The objective of this review paper is to analyze the handheld AR solutions developed for people with different disabilities to identify accessibility challenges related to interaction when performing different tasks in AR. It also explores and presents accessibility features and other accessibility best practices, as well as potential future research directions related to the personalization and customization of such solutions for individuals. The results of this literature review can contribute to the creation of accessibility guidelines in the field of handheld AR and encourage the development of accessible AR solutions that can benefit not only people with disabilities but also people without disabilities.

Keywords: accessibility; augmented reality; digital inclusion; handheld devices; human-computer interaction; people with disabilities.

Publication types

  • Systematic Review
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Augmented Reality*
  • Disabled Persons*
  • Humans
  • Mobile Applications*
  • Publications
  • Smartphone

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.