VRARE: Using Virtual Reality to Understand Accessibility Requirements of Color Blindness and Weakness

2026-02-04

AI Summary

This study addresses the challenge of fostering empathy in accessibility requirements elicitation for users with color vision deficiencies by proposing the first immersive virtual reality (VR)-based requirements engineering approach. The system integrates color vision deficiency simulation algorithms, 3D web interfaces, and a VR environment, enabling development teams to directly experience the visual perception of colorblind or color-weak users within a virtual fitness scenario and collaboratively analyze accessibility needs. Empirical evaluation with 24 participants demonstrates that, compared to conventional non-VR methods, the proposed approach significantly reduces cognitive load, enhances user experience, and effectively improves both empathetic understanding and collaborative efficiency, thereby offering an innovative technical pathway for accessibility-oriented requirements engineering.

Technology Category

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

Application Category

• User Modeling, Personalization and Recommendation: Practical large-scale studies of user experience
• Search and Retrieval-Augmented AI: Web evaluation methodologies and metrics
• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Virtualization and resource management in Web systems and infrastructures

Abstract

In this paper, we developed a virtual reality (VR) system that can simulate color blindness and weakness. We built an immersive 3D web view interface where participants can discuss accessibility requirements for a fitness website projects within a virtual fitness environment. We conducted a pilot experiment involving 24 participants from six software teams, who used both VR and non-VR methods to understand color blindness and weakness requirements in a website project. Our findings indicate that using VR can provide several benefits for requirements activities, such as an improved user experience and reduced workload.

Problem

• color blindness
• accessibility requirements
• virtual reality
• user experience
• requirements engineering

Innovation

• Virtual Reality
• Color Blindness Simulation
• Accessibility Requirements
• Immersive 3D Interface
• User Experience