Article
Internet Access Through American Sign Language: A Pilot Study of Innovative Web Designs
Reinvention: an International Journal of Undergraduate Research
(2015)
Abstract
Current website designs typically do not include sign language interpretation for deaf people. As a result, many
deaf people lack access to critical information on the internet. A pilot study gathered input from deaf adults in
one community to identify designs providing best access to information on the internet. The study included four
different web design choices: (1) English text, spoken English, and captions; (2) shadowbox-format
interpretation of print text and embedded signed language interpretation of video action; (3) thumbnail-sized
sign language interpretation of video action; and (4) thumbnail-sized interpretation of the printed text and
embedded sign language interpretation of the video action. A mixed research design was used. After
demonstrations, deaf participants were surveyed and interviewed to identify which web designs were the most
welcoming and provided the best opportunity for comprehension. The outcome suggested that deaf participants
relied on signed language interpretation of the text to understand the message and favoured those designs that
provided the most comprehensive access. This study provides support for further exploration of new designs
incorporating the concepts of Universal Usability that will allow deaf people to fully access the internet.
Keywords
- Universal Usability,
- Deaf People,
- Signed Language,
- Technology,
- Accessibility,
- Webpage Design
Disciplines
Publication Date
2015
Publisher Statement
University of Warwick
Citation Information
Erika Murray, Jody H Cripps, Sheryl B Cooper and Matthew Wynd. "Internet Access Through American Sign Language: A Pilot Study of Innovative Web Designs" Reinvention: an International Journal of Undergraduate Research Vol. 8 Iss. 1 (2015) p. 1 - 20 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/jody-cripps/33/