Research project Inclusion in Societies Through Collaborative Digital Assistance
Society is racing toward AI, robots, and digital devices – but is everyone keeping up? In this community-based project, we investigate how people with visual impairment navigate collaboration and interaction in this digital shift regarding assistive tools.
Sighted guidance is a meaningful social practice, although it may cause interpersonal strain. Existing assistive technologies, on the other hand, often remove the human element from the interaction. This project addresses how assistive technologies can balance functional autonomy with human-to-human collaboration.
As societies rapidly digitalize, assistive technologies (ATs) such as screen readers, are evolving, offering greater independence to people with visual impairment.
While these technologies can enhance independence, they may also reduce meaningful social interactions. Effective AT development is not just about automating tasks; it’s about empowering people with visual impairment and increasing their agency.
In this research, we aim to co-design and develop Extended Reality (XR)-based ATs with people with visual impairment. We study the use of ATs among the visually impaired community at multiple levels: exploring the design and technical possibilities and understanding how these innovations shape communication, collaboration, and interaction within society.
To achieve this, we will create prototypes and design strategies through iterative empirical studies and workshops, focusing on the lived experiences of people as they interact with ATs. We aim to ensure that technology supports not only independence but also meaningful engagement and connection.
This is Marzia Alizada’s PhD project. Thomas Westin is the supervisor, Airi Lampinen and Peter Idestam-Almquist are co-supervisors.
Marzia Alizada, Airi Lampinen, Peter Idestam-Almquist and Thomas Westin (2025).
A Systematic Review of Smartphone-Based Indoor Navigation Assistance for Blind and Visually Impaired People.
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