AccessLens(group: 404)

Inspiration

Many important websites can still be difficult to use, especially for older users, people with low vision, cognitive difficulties, or low digital literacy. We wanted to make websites adapt to different users instead of expecting everyone to use the same interface.

What it does

AccessLens is a Chrome extension that makes existing webpages easier to use. It includes Low Vision Mode, Cognitive Mode with simple step-by-step guidance, and Visual Comfort options such as Night Shift and Reduce White Point.

How we built it

We built AccessLens using JavaScript, HTML, CSS, Chrome Extension APIs, DOM APIs, and the Gemini API. JavaScript detects and tracks webpage elements, while Gemini simplifies complex information and explains it in easier language.

Challenges we ran into

Some websites blocked our first AI requests because of Content Security Policy, so we moved Gemini requests to a background service worker. We also had to improve how AccessLens detects different form fields and custom webpage controls.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We are proud that AccessLens does more than just summarise a webpage. Features like Show me and Guided Mode help users find the correct controls and complete complicated tasks one step at a time.

What we learned

We learned that accessibility is not only about making text bigger or increasing contrast. Helping users understand what to do, where to click, and what happens next can also make a big difference.

What's next for AccessLens(group: 404)

We want to support more types of websites, improve Guided Mode, and add options for different users such as seniors and younger users. We would also like to add multilingual support and test AccessLens with real users.