Accessibility in various sectors
Transforming Media Accessibility in Europe presents a multidisciplinary approach to examining accessibility in education, culture, and urban areas. Contributions from experts in various fields—including researchers, educators, and practitioners—show how physical spaces and digital media platforms can be made more accessible for people with disabilities.
The authors highlight the importance of applying research findings to real-life scenarios, especially when designing policies and urban development strategies. They aim to bridge the gap between theory and practice by offering recommendations for policymakers, city planners, and digital companies.
The book was published by Springer and is available through open access on the publisher's website
Researchers from the Eye Tracking Research Center at SWPS University contributed three chapters to the publication, focusing on accessibility in tourism and public transportation.
Inclusive tourism and accessible public transport
In the chapter "Accessibility in Tourism 5.0 Approach: Enabling Inclusive and Meaningful Tourist Experiences," Professors Krzysztof Krejtz and Izabela Krejtz of SWPS University, together with their collaborators, examine how the emerging concept of Tourism 5.0 (based on the Industry 5.0 approach—human-centered and focused on sustainability) can improve accessibility in the tourism sector. They discuss how innovative technologies and creative solutions can make travel experiences more inclusive for people with different needs and backgrounds.
Another chapter, "Gaze-Led Audio Description (GLAD). Concept and Application to Accessibility of Architectural Heritage," co-authored by Professors Krzysztof Krejtz and Izabela Krejtz, together with Professor Daria Rutkowska-Siuda of the University of Lodz, addresses the challenges of creating unbiased audio descriptions, especially in areas that require specialized knowledge, such as art and historical sites. While audio descriptions are typically created by experts with extensive knowledge of the subject matter, studies have shown that their perception and attention patterns differ from those of laypeople. The chapter introduces the GLAD method, which uses the visual attention patterns of non-experts to make audio descriptions more accessible. This work is part of the "Friendly City" project financed by the Polish National Center of Research and Development.
Additionally, in the chapter "Accessible Public Transport: A Case Study of Warsaw," the team from the Eye Tracking Research Center at SWPS University provides an overview of accessibility in the public transportation systems with a particular focus on the city of Warsaw. The authors analyze current solutions, identify barriers, and propose improvements to make public transportation more user-friendly, contributing to the broader conversation about inclusive urban infrastructure.
Driving change in media accessibility through international cooperation
The book Transforming Media Accessibility in Europe is an output of the COST Action LEAD-ME (CA19142), a European research network dedicated to advancing media accessibility across the continent. COST Actions, funded by the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST), are collaborative projects that bring together researchers, policymakers, and industry professionals from various countries to address common challenges. LEAD-ME (Leading Platform for European Citizens, Industries, Academia, and Policymakers in Media Accessibility) has focused on improving accessibility in media and technology, fostering innovation and policy development that can benefit people with disabilities.