Abstract
Assistive technology enables people to achieve independence in the accomplishment of their daily tasks and enhance their quality of life. However, the development os assistive technology does not always follow user needs and expectations, comprising their usability and effectiveness. This paper discusses the design and evaluation strategies for assistive technologies applied to a blind navigation system case study. The research carried out focused on the gathering of user requirements for ensuring enhanced autonomy of blind people in their daily life. The picked requirements were used in an architecture that unifies the benefits of a redundant blind navigation system with a set of services that are provided by daily used information and communication technologies. The system combines guidance, navigation and information gathering, extending traditional aids with realtime knowledge of the surrounding environment to provide an enhanced assistive tool for autonomy of the blinds. Moreover, the developed solution fills the gap of existing solutions that require the users to carry a wide range of devices and, mostly, do not include mechanisms to ensure the autonomy of users in the event of system failure. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Abstract
This paper presents an on-going work around accessibility issues within the use of social media. With a lack of background in this field, the purpose of the study was to analyze the accessibility levels of different social media websites and aggregators. Based on W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, we have selected three automatic evaluation tools in order to realize a first set of preliminary tests. We verified that none of the websites clearly passed in the evaluation process and our sample didn't meet the adopted accessibility guidelines. The errors occurrence within the social media aggregators' tests was less than in the social media websites. Therefore, it seems to be indisputable to propose a tool that allows users to manage their own social media websites accounts in a more accessible way. Thus, this study presents a list of defined requirements to implement an accessible social media aggregator solution. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Abstract
People with visual impairments face serious challenges while moving from one place to another. This is a difficult challenge that involves obstacle avoidance, staying on street walks, finding doors, knowing the current location and keeping on track through the desired course, until the destination is reached. While assistive technology has contributed to the improvement of the quality of life of people with disabilities, people with visual impairment still face enormous limitations in terms of their mobility. There is still an enormous lack of availability of information that can be used to assist them, as well as a lack of sufficient precision in terms of the estimation of the user's location. This paper proposes an infrastructure to assist the estimation of the user's location with high precision using Radio Frequency Identification, providing seamless availability of location based services for the blind, whether indoor or outdoor. © 2013 Springer-Verlag.

Abstract

Abstract
The research team measured the enterprise web accessibility levels of the Forbes 250 largest enterprises using the fully automatic accessibility evaluation tool Sortsite, and presented the compliance of the evaluated websites to WCAG 1.0, WCAG 2.0 and Section 508 accessibility levels. Given the recent attention to organizational leaders having ethical duties towards their dedicated employees, we propose that 'societal citizenship behaviour' concerns ethical duties of organizational leaders towards society in general and in particular to those who have less means to assert their needs. In effect, we found enterprise website accessibility levels to be in need of significant improvement. An interpretation of a positive path forward to better enterprise website accessibility levels is put forth based on a focus-group interaction and using BNML-a novel Business Narrative Modelling Language.

Abstract
Currently, Virtual Worlds technology is used for educational purposes in a cross-disciplinary way. However, particularly in formal learning institutions, its widespread adoption is far from being a reality due a broad range of technological challenges. This paper addresses identity federation systems as possible solutions to some of the interoperability, security and user management problems. Our major goal is to present what systems, architectures and standards are standing out, how the research area is moving toward identity federation, and why educational institutions need to address it. We consider identity, privacy, security-assurance, and interoperability as main concerns within our analysis, in order to interconnect digital identities with physical identities, and create a unique federated identity system that can act independently from the service in use. Thus, VWs technologies will be able to scale and evolve independently without compromising user's identity.