Download PDF
ABSTRACT
Access to accessibility information in urban spaces can be a gamechanger for users with disability and for parents or caregivers planning outings to any venues. It’s because existing accessibility information is often scattered across platforms which are difficult to verify and collect. This information may also be insufficient and inappropriate for diverse audiences to decide whether a route, entrance, or venue is accessible and user-friendly for the people in need. This creates anxiety not knowing whether a venue will work for them. As a foundation for this research, a mock prototype named Harmony Link has been developed for accessibility-information that lets users search and verify accessibility features of public venues before visiting.
This research proposes Harmony Link as a Human-Technology Interaction platform that combines structured, crowdsourced and AI integrated accessibility data, with a simple augmented visual info preview in context of Tampere (or any other city). The study investigates how the interface can improve pre-visit confidence, offer accurate accessibility information, reduce anxiety, and support independent planning for users with disability and parents/caregivers. The paper also introduces a lightweight accessibility digital twin. This twin visually represents a simulation of route or venue so that users with disability and parents/caregivers can familiarize with accessibility features before their visit. It makes the pre-visit decision-making easier with the help of verified accessibility data with an immersive and intuitive simulation of the urban spaces.
Methodologically, the study will use a mixed approach of research. It plans to include co-designing by involving users with disability and parents/caregivers in shaping what an accessibility digital twin shows and functions. It will result in tool that people need rather than what designers assume they need. The project also plans to develop prototype and conduct qualitative user studies with comparative analysis. The first phase will focus on transit-to-venue access in Tampere. The later plan is to scale the platform to a broader city-level accessibility infrastructure with organization like City of Tampere or Business Finland. The findings will contribute to design knowledge for accessible pre-visit planning, accessibility databases, and inclusive digital services for people navigating urban environments.
Keywords: Digital Accessibility; Accessibility Information, Accessible Navigation; AI-Integrated Accessibility; Immersive Simulation; Human-Computer Interaction; Accessibility Data; Augmented Reality; Virtual Reality; Simulated Preview; Usability Evaluation; Mixed-methods Evaluation; Accessibility Infrastructure; Digital Inclusion; Immersive Technologies; Sustainable Societies