Accessibility in conceptual modeling—A systematic literature review, a keyboard-only UML modeling tool, and a research roadmap

Abstract

The reports on Disability by the World Health Organization show that the number of people with disabilities is increasing. Consequently, accessibility should play an essential role in information systems engineering research. While there is an increasingly rich set of available web accessibility guidelines, testing frameworks, and generally accessibility features in modern web-based software systems, software development frameworks, and Integrated Development Environments, this paper shows, based on a systematic review of the literature and current modeling tools, that accessibility is, so far, only scarcely focused in conceptual modeling research. With this paper, we assess the state of the art of accessibility in conceptual modeling, we identify current research gaps, and we delineate a vision toward more accessible conceptual modeling methods and tools. As a concrete step forward toward this vision, we present a generic concept of a keyboard-only modeling tool interaction that is implemented as a new module for the Graphical Language Server Platform (GLSP) framework. We show—using a currently developed UML modeling tool—how efficiently this module allows GLSP-based tool developers to introduce accessibility features into their modeling tools, thereby engaging physically disabled users in conceptual modeling.