Accessibility and Social Inclusivity: A Literature Review of Music Technology for Blind and Low Vision People

TL;DR

This literature review analyzes music technology designed for blind and low vision individuals, highlighting key trends, gaps, and the need for more real-world, inclusive research to enhance social inclusion and accessibility.

Contribution

It categorizes existing BLV-oriented music technologies, identifies design trends, and proposes a shift towards inclusive, real-world testing and collaborative approaches.

Findings

Six main categories of BLV music technology identified

Four key design trends in accessibility and inclusion

Need for more empirical, real-world studies involving BLV users

Abstract

This paper presents a systematic literature review of music technology tailored for blind and low vision (BLV) individuals. Music activities can be particularly beneficial for BLV people. However, a systematic approach to organizing knowledge on designing accessible technology for BLV people has yet to be attempted. We categorize the existing studies based on the type of technology and the extent of BLV people's involvement in the research. We identify six main categories of BLV people-oriented music technology and highlight four key trends in design goals. Based on these categories, we propose four general insights focusing on (1) spatial awareness, (2) access to information, (3) (non-verbal) communication, and (4) memory. The identified trends suggest that more empirical studies involving BLV people in real-world scenarios are needed to ensure that technological advancements can enhance musical experiences and social inclusion. This research proposes collaborative music technology and inclusive real-world testing with the target group as two key areas missing in current research. They serve as a foundational step in shifting the focus from ``accessible technology'' to ``inclusive technology'' for BLV individuals within the broader field of accessibility research.