This research represents the initial stages of our efforts to establish a digital library run by visually impaired individuals. We use the Action Research (AR) methodology, which involves researchers and community members collaborating to solve real-world problems. Our study focuses on documenting the process of creating a non-profit organization (NPO), building a supportive community, and gathering insights through interviews with key stakeholders. Specifically, the lead author established an NPO registered under Article 37, Paragraph 3 of the Japanese Copyright Act and partnered with the National Diet Library to upload accessible e-books. The NPO expanded its network through local business events, university collaborations, and social entrepreneur communities. Interviews underscored a decline in Braille library volunteers and severe delays in accessibility resources for minority languages like Mongolian. These findings will shape our future efforts to improve accessibility and self-directed learning for visually impaired individuals.

We proposed an interactive map applicationOTASCE Mapwhich presents map and route information. It utilizes customizable audio-tactile elements when the user traces the map on the touchscreen or the displayed route with their finger. However despite the unique interaction on the OTASCE Mapthe quantitative interaction situation and the operation requirements under screen-reading conditions remain unclear. Thereforein this studywe aimed to clarify the actual situation of route-tracing interaction on the smartphone-based map application and to derive efficiency improvement factors. At the exhibition for the visually impaired in Japan we evaluated the traceability of the route on the OTASCE Map. The result indicated that most participants could significantly trace the route and reach the destination when they did not perform release-retouch-trace (RRT) interaction. Herein we also discuss the cause of RRT interaction and how to decrease such interactions.

Several audio games have been developed for visually impaired players to enjoy only by using audio information. However, sighted persons find it challenging to play these games because they mainly use visual information. To bridge the gap between them, developing games that appropriately present multisensory modalities: To devise an auditory and tactile presentation method that allows the sighted to manipulate and identify features, enabling them to play without visual information. Therefore, we develop an inclusive game that both sighted and visually impaired people can play. Here, we developed a real-time sensory substitution method using auditory and tactile senses, including a tactile game controller (TactCon). Then, we implemented the method in a 2D side-scrolling action game and evaluated the game by either sighted or visually impaired people at a two-month exhibition: not a controlled experiment. Results show that immediate auditory and tactile presentation can be important for visually impaired and sighted gamers to play action games requiring real-time response. Furthermore, we considered how the presentation of moving objects can be understood in an inclusive action game.

Though some games for visually impaired persons have been developed, most of games that use only auditory information present challenges for sighted persons. Moreover, unfortunately, it is still difficult for visually impaired persons to play the same game with sighted persons and for sighted and visually impaired persons to share a common subject. Thus, we developed a barrier-free game that both sighted and visually impaired persons can play using their dominant senses including visual, auditory and tactile senses.