CRTEXTER: web-based investigative tool for the blind

A novel approach to Web interaction is presented, aiming towards a greater degree of accessibility for blind or low vision people, hence easing the ways of gathering information for investigative purposes. This group of users is facing many and varied difficulties when trying to use Web sites, especially when dealing with hypermedia contents, which are difficult to grasp by simply using screen reader software. CRTexter provides the means to interact with the informative content of Web sites, providing both standard search mechanisms and removal of content that cannot be classified as textual. Three groups of blind and low vision users were selected to elicit requirements, verify and validate the delivered solution. The National Foundation for the Blind of Costa Rica has approved CRTexter as complying for investigative tasks within this population.