Research at Independo
We research how digital systems can become more accessible.
Digital barriers often become visible only when we understand how people actually use technology in everyday life. Together with people with disabilities, professionals and research partners, we investigate where exclusion happens and use what we learn to develop approaches that support autonomy and digital participation.
Research that starts with everyday life.
We do not want to assess digital accessibility only from behind a desk. People who experience digital barriers bring their lived expertise directly into our research and development.
Depending on the question, we work with ethnographic research, co-design, prototyping, experimental development and testing in real-life contexts.
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Co-design
People with lived experience actively shape our research and development processes.
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Grounded in everyday life
We investigate barriers where they actually occur, in concrete situations, technologies and workflows.
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Made to be shared
Research should leave something behind that others can use: methods, prototypes, open resources — or the insight that no technical solution is needed.
Ongoing research projects
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Ongoing
Selbst.Verständlich
Understanding communication. Enabling independent action.
How can people who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) use digital services more independently, without constantly depending on other people?
- FFG Expedition Zukunft Innovation
- 2025 – 2027
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Ongoing
Walk a mile in my shoes
Changing perspective: rethinking accessibility.
How does software development change when accessibility is understood not only as a legal or technical requirement, but from the perspective of people with disabilities?
- FFG Laura Bassi 4.0
- 2026 – 2028
Completed research projects
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Completed
Independo Maps
Making navigation understandable – without relying on text.
How can maps and navigation work when reading and writing cannot be assumed?
- netidee Call 18
- 2023 – 2025
- Open source & prototypes
Sharing what we learn
Where possible and useful, we make research findings, methods, prototypes and technical outputs available to others. We add to the pages of ongoing projects as new results and resources become ready to publish.