“Co-creation of an Internet browsing assistance device for people with visual impairments”

In today’s digital age, the Internet offers unprecedented access to information and opportunities for independent participation in society. However, accessibility remains a major challenge for people with visual impairments. While assistive technologies such as screen readers have improved accessibility, they often provide inefficient and overly text-based experiences. Much of the information conveyed visually does not translate effectively into text formats, forcing users to rely heavily on their memory.

We present TOMAT, an open source assistive technology, co-designed with users with visual impairments to complement screen readers. Evaluated through experiments, surveys, and focus groups, this affordable system provides intuitive, non-linear access to the web, complementing screen reader navigation. Results show that TOMAT was significantly faster and easier to use than screen readers, with users describing it as a “remote control for the internet.”