Accessibility NYC Meetup Recap: Inclusive Web-based Virtual Reality

On August 7, 2018, Accessibility NYC hosted a meetup entitled “Inclusive Web-based Virtual Reality: A11Y & WebXR Immerses the Visually Impaired.” Presenters Roland Dubois and Ian Petrarca described different approaches to accessibility in web-based virtual reality, specifically an experience designed for visually impaired and blind users, showcased on the Oculus Go, empowered by spatial sound and audio navigation. They also touched on a collaborative project with Equal Entry, that uses spatial audio in a virtual representation of a critical NYC street crossing, to train and prepare blind users to navigate and orient themselves in the ever-changing urban jungle of Manhattan.

Here are some highlights from Roland Dubois’ and Ian Petrarca’s presentation:

• Gamers: Is VR inherently innacessible?
• Experiencing an Italian piazza through the magic of A-Frame
• Spatial audio, the Oculus Go and WebXR
• VR and Equal Entry’s Open Accessible Pedestrian Signals project