Visual impairment simulation for inclusive interface design

Abstract

This paper describes research in developing disability simulation used for inclusive design of user interfaces. It presents a medium-fidelity prototype which simulates visual impairment caused by Age-Related Macular Degeneration in real time on arbitrary user interfaces, and describes how the prototype design was arrived at. It does so by surveying previous work in the field, identifying broad trends, and systematizing problems visual impairment simulation systems must solve. This systematization focuses on issues of simulator portability, the importance of eye-tracking, the vital nature of real-time performance, the flexibility of the solution, and veracity of the simulator to actual AMD symptoms.