Beyond Accessibility: Exploring How Visually Impaired Users Develop Informational Capability in Mobile Environments

Publication Date

4-1-2026

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Library and Information Science Research

Volume

48

Issue

2–3

DOI

10.1016/j.lisr.2026.101412

Abstract

In today's digital society, visually impaired individuals constitute a vulnerable population experiencing substantial barriers to information access. Adopting a human-centered perspective revealed the informational capability of these users when interacting with smart mobile devices, emphasizing the transformative potential of information and communication technology (ICT) and assistive technologies. In-depth semi-structured interviews with 37 visually impaired participants, analyzed via constructivist grounded theory, identified mobile search behaviors and interaction patterns to develop a comprehensive model of informational capability within the mobile internet environment. Five fundamental dimensions shaped informational capability: structural factors, agency factors, contextual factors, functional activities, and information utility. These dimensions and their manifestations formed the foundation for a holistic model of informational capability for visually impaired users in the mobile internet context. The model further illuminated three distinct information behavior patterns: exploratory, basic, and avoidant. The study contributes to advancing information equity and supporting the self-actualization of visually impaired individuals.

Funding Number

72574176

Funding Sponsor

National Natural Science Foundation of China

Keywords

Human-computer interaction, Information behavior, Informational capability, Mobile internet, Visually impaired users

Department

Information

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