A new tool
to aid visually impaired browse the web
People with visual impairments now have a new
voice assistant that allows them to access web content quickly and effortlessly
from smart speakers and similar devices.
Researchers from the University of
Waterloo have found a way to merge voice assistants with screen readers to create
a tool called ‘Voice Exploration, Retrieval and Search’ (VERSE) that makes web
searches easier. The primary input method for VERSE is voice, so users can say
“next”, “previous”, “go back” or “go forward”.
VERSE can be paired with an app, which runs on a smartphone or a smartwatch.
“Our prototype adds screen reader-like capabilities to virtual assistants and
allows other devices, such as smartwatches to serve as input accelerators to
smart speakers,” said study researcher Alexandra Vtyurina.
Search verticals
“At the outset, VERSE resembles other virtual assistants
as the tool allows people to ask a question and have it answered verbally,”
Vtyurina said.
VERSE is differentiated by what
happens next. If people need more information, they can use VERSE to access
other search verticals, for example, news, facts and related searches and visit
any article appearing as a search result.
Source | Economic Times | 23rd
September 2019
Regards
Mr. Pralhad Jadhav
Master of Library & Information Science (NET Qualified)
Research Scholar (IGNOU)
Senior Manager @ Knowledge Repository
Khaitan & Co
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