Making smartglasses accessible: perspectives and prototypes from co-design with people with aphasia

Smartglasses are set to become a mainstream consumer technology in the near future. However, emerging technologies often overlook the accessibility needs of users with disabilities and older adults, increasing the risk of alienation and marginalization of these vulnerable communities. To address this tension, we conducted three co-design workshops with people living with aphasia (N=14) to examine their perspectives on smartglasses, envision potential applications, and identify anticipated barriers. Co-designers proposed and prototyped a variety of smartglass applications for both general and aphasia-specific support. However, co-designers also raised concerns about interaction difficulties and the socially conspicuous form-factor of current smartglass designs. Additionally, we evaluated smartglass functionalities using a mixed reality HoloLens head-mounted display (HMD). While participants expressed enthusiasm, qualitative and quantitative findings revealed mixed reactions. The standard hands-free interaction of the HoloLens was perceived as publicly awkward and deemed inaccessible for participants with vision impairments or post-stroke paralysis. Our findings highlight the need for more inclusive design practices to ensure emerging smartglasses empower all users.