Welcome

The Real-World Lab Accessibility is concerned with the design, development and evaluation of novel technologies and spatial configurations that can be leveraged by disabled people to lead self-determined lives. By examining the interplay between digital technology and physical space, our work also asks whether and how the presence of technology can enhance our usage and experience in space. Our aim is to build technology that facilitates equitable participation in society, that contributes to individual safety and comfort in spaces, and that facilitates access to enriching and engaging experiences. 

We work in cross-disciplinary collaboration that bridges the gap between humans, technology, and the built environment, bringing together computer science, architecture, and other relevant disciplines. We follow a participatory, user-centered research approach in which our projects are directly shaped by and evaluated with future users in real environments. In our work, we subscribe to the social model of disability, which views disability as the result of external barriers and disabling societal structures: By looking at the interactions between technology, the built environment, and the humans who live within it, we seek to understand the potential and limitations of novel technologies to help reduce barriers that disabled people experience. 

Overall, the Real-World Lab Accessibility wants to contribute new perspectives on technology and spaces and their potential to appreciate human diversity, thereby contributing to more inclusive societies. 

We work in close collaboration with ACCESS@KIT, the Center for Digital Accessibility and Assistive Technology that supports disabled students in their studies at KIT.