Scientific and technical charts are widely used in online resources; however, they often present significant accessibility barriers for individuals who are blind or have low vision (BLV). This study examines the challenges and concerns that BLV users encounter when interacting with online scientific and technical charts. Through a qualitative study, we identified several accessibility issues that prevent effective interaction with charts. A key finding is that many screen reader applications are unable to detect or interpret online charts. This indicates that the image was inaccessible without a text description and labels, rendering the screen reader useless. Furthermore, the study’s results highlight the need for careful investigation into various types of charts to develop more inclusive accessibility solutions. Additionally, large language models demonstrate significant potential in generating chart descriptions and facilitating interactive conversations with BLV users. Future research will focus on creating adaptive solutions to further enhance chart accessibility.

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Towards Inclusive Data Visualization: Investigating Accessibility in Scientific and Technical Charts

  • Haifa Alshehri,
  • Stephanie Ludi,
  • Wajdi Aljedaani

摘要

Scientific and technical charts are widely used in online resources; however, they often present significant accessibility barriers for individuals who are blind or have low vision (BLV). This study examines the challenges and concerns that BLV users encounter when interacting with online scientific and technical charts. Through a qualitative study, we identified several accessibility issues that prevent effective interaction with charts. A key finding is that many screen reader applications are unable to detect or interpret online charts. This indicates that the image was inaccessible without a text description and labels, rendering the screen reader useless. Furthermore, the study’s results highlight the need for careful investigation into various types of charts to develop more inclusive accessibility solutions. Additionally, large language models demonstrate significant potential in generating chart descriptions and facilitating interactive conversations with BLV users. Future research will focus on creating adaptive solutions to further enhance chart accessibility.