User:SparksCap95/Crossword

For the Visually Impaired
There are at least 2.2 billion people globally who have a near or distance vision impairment. Even though a market exists for crosswords for the visually impaired, there are many challenges in ensuring that a crossword puzzle is accessible, equitable, and functional.

Spatial information should be presented in non-visual ways, through methods like electronically synthesized speech, sound, static and dynamic tactile graphics, and sometimes in a combination of these modalities.

The main accessibility needs of blind users usually involve audio output, in addition to keyboard access to the application functionality. However, these two techniques are usually insufficient to be considered a crossword puzzle genuinely accessible to blind users.

There have been multiple attempts to try and improve the usability for the visually impaired. One research team, presented a preliminary version of their own accessible crossword puzzle called A-Cross. Some features included:


 * Automatic announcement of the number of letters constituting the corresponding answer, when a clue is announced.


 * Automatic announcement of the letters that have been already completed for a clue, by solving other related clues.


 * Audio feedback for the correct answer to a clue.

These features may be helpful in giving users more opportunities to incorporate their own strategies while playing.