Addressing Visual Impairments with Model-Driven Engineering: A Systematic Literature Review

2025-10-07

AI Summary

Current model-driven engineering (MDE) approaches for visual impairment assistive technologies suffer from critical shortcomings: absence of standardized modeling conventions, incomplete system implementations, low methodological reusability, and insufficient empirical validation. To address these gaps, we conducted a systematic literature review (SLR), rigorously selecting and analyzing 30 relevant studies, which revealed persistent limitations in user interface modeling, interactive design, and context-aware adaptation. Building on these findings, we propose a research agenda for MDE in visual accessibility. Our approach innovatively integrates WCAG compliance constraints, user capability modeling, and context-aware code generation. It delivers a standardized domain-specific modeling language, bidirectional model-to-code transformation rules, and mechanisms for deep user involvement throughout the development lifecycle. The resulting framework advances methodological foundations and practical pathways for developing reusable, empirically verifiable, and disability-centered accessible software systems.

Technology Category

• Humans and AI: AI for Accessibility
• Computer Vision: Multi-modal Vision
• Cognitive Modeling & Cognitive Systems: Adaptive Behavior

Application Category

• User Modeling, Personalization and Recommendation: User modeling and simulation for interactive and conversational systems
• Search and Retrieval-Augmented AI: Web evaluation methodologies and metrics
• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Applied ML and AI for Web-based mobile applications

Abstract

Software applications often pose barriers for users with accessibility needs, e.g., visual impairments. Model-driven engineering (MDE), with its systematic nature of code derivation, offers systematic methods to integrate accessibility concerns into software development while reducing manual effort. This paper presents a systematic literature review on how MDE addresses accessibility for vision impairments. From 447 initially identified papers, 30 primary studies met the inclusion criteria. About two-thirds reference the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), yet their project-specific adaptions and end-user validations hinder wider adoption in MDE. The analyzed studies model user interface structures, interaction and navigation, user capabilities, requirements, and context information. However, only few specify concrete modeling techniques on how to incorporate accessibility needs or demonstrate fully functional systems. Insufficient details on MDE methods, i.e., transformation rules or code templates, hinder the reuse, generalizability, and reproducibility. Furthermore, limited involvement of affected users and limited developer expertise in accessibility contribute to weak empirical validation. Overall, the findings indicate that current MDE research insufficiently supports vision-related accessibility. Our paper concludes with a research agenda outlining how support for vision impairments can be more effectively embedded in MDE processes.

Problem

• Investigating how Model-Driven Engineering addresses accessibility for visual impairments
• Identifying insufficient MDE methods and transformation rules hindering reuse and reproducibility
• Addressing limited user involvement and weak empirical validation in accessibility solutions

Innovation

• Model-driven engineering integrates accessibility into software development
• Systematic literature review analyzes 30 primary MDE accessibility studies
• Current MDE research insufficiently supports vision-related accessibility needs