Technology is developed to meet human needs in various platforms. The development of platforms represents a form of technological progress where design and planning are always considered to be usable by all types of users. One user group with specific needs is the visually impaired. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there are 2.2 billion visually impaired individuals worldwide in 2023 (World Health Organization, 2023). The use of technology for the visually impaired requires special attention. Using and accessing information from desktop computers, websites, and smartphone applications by disabled people is not an easy task (Shera et al., 2021). This is crucial and needs careful consideration when developing a platform that all user groups can use.

People with disabilities require unique platforms to assist them in fulfilling their daily needs. They can engage in various aspects of life through technology, such as platforms, including communication, mobility, and education. People with impairments use assistive technology to carry out their daily responsibilities and participate fully in society (Mashiata et al., 2022). The platform is a technology that helps the visually impaired perform daily activities efficiently. Information and communications technology (ICT) has played a vital role in supporting people with visual impairments to overcome their issues (Waqar et al., 2019). Without platform technology, visually impaired users would face difficulties in completing daily activities. Therefore, the development of specialized platforms for people with disabilities has many crucial essentials. Researchers have studied the development of platforms for visually impaired users in-depth and proposing solutions to usability issues for the visually impaired.

The study is a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) on the usability of platforms for visually impaired users. The literature review used in the research consists of studies conducted over the past five years, from 2019 to 2023. The study aims to help readers understand the challenges experienced by the visually impaired, the solutions proposed in existing research, the success of platform implementation as assessed by usability evaluation methods, and the evaluation approaches most commonly employed.

The study differs from previous research in that it focuses explicitly on evaluating the usability of platforms for individuals with disabilities. In a systematic literature review conducted by Al-Razgan et al. (2021) titled “A systematic literature review on the usability of mobile applications for visually impaired users,” published in PeerJ Computer Science, the researchers focused on addressing the Research Question: “What is the usability of mobile applications for visually impaired users?” The primary Research Objective was to conduct a comprehensive literature review to evaluate the usability of mobile applications designed for individuals with visual impairments. The study aimed to explore how these applications contribute to assisting visually impaired users in their daily activities. The Research findings highlighted that although mobile applications can serve as valuable tools for people with disabilities, particularly in supporting daily activities, usability evaluations revealed notable shortcomings. Visually impaired individuals experienced difficulties in operating text-related functions within these applications. In response to these findings, the researchers proposed a potential solution, suggesting the development of a prototype or a simplified system to address the identified usability challenges.

This study contributes to both researchers and the visually impaired community. The review of scientific articles is essential as they indicate and facilitate the improvement of the current state of research, in addition to providing best practices for learning and delivering new ideas (Mukhiddinov and Kim, 2021). SLR assists researchers in examining the Usability of the Visually Impaired (UVI) research across various platforms, serving as a foundation for development of future studies. For the visually impaired community, the resulting research outputs can enhance quality of life by improving ease of use and time efficiency in daily activities.

The Systematic Literature Review (SLR) uses PRISMA model to gather relevant papers in the field being analyzed. The PRISMA model can be used by authors as a guideline to ensure the completeness of studies and to minimise reporting biases when conducting and reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses Page et al. (2021). PRISMA support authors in crafting a high-quality systematic review and meta-analysis through a checklist that outlines the essential items to be included and explained. The systematic review of the analysed articles using the PRISMA model guidelines can be seen in Figure 1.

There are also several questions related to the research within the Systematic Literature Review (SLR), which will be shown in Table 1. An in-depth analysis is conducted based on numerous literature sources from the reviewed articles. Relevant questions concerning to the topic are explored, and the answers from the research findings in the reviewed articles are analyzed.

The researchers conducted a systematic literature review based on the provided articles. After completing all the stages outlined in the search strategy section, the researcher proceeded to analyze by thoroughly reading articles. The papers were distributed among the team members. Each researcher thoroughly reviewed their assigned papers and categorized them into themes based on the topics addressed. Several meetings were held to discuss and finalize the thematic classifications collaboratively. Classifications were established based on insights drawn from 49 journal articles that met the criteria outlined in the PRISMA model’s identification, screening, and inclusion phases. The classification resulted in five themes, including accessibility, daily activities, navigation, screen division layout, and audio guidance, which were derived from key concerns highlighted in the reviewed papers. The percentage classification of themes for the analyzed articles can be seen in Figure 3. Subsequently, after the classification is carried out on the analyzed articles, the results of the identified themes are presented in Figure 4. In the conducted research, each predetermined theme will be discussed and summarized to report the findings.

In this section, an analysis is conducted on the questions that have been posed. Additionally, it discusses the questions that have been raised, allowing the research objectives to be detailed.

The central inquiry of this study revolves around the success of implementing available platforms to meet the distinctive needs of visually impaired individuals. An analysis of the 49 reviewed articles indicates that platforms evaluated using the established methods exhibited high effectiveness in catering to the needs of individuals with disabilities. However, specific findings revealed areas that require further evaluation to support potential enhancements. Articles emphasizing a high level of effectiveness include Ashok (2017), Theodorou et al. (2023), Façanha (2019), and Ferreira et al. (2020). The usability evaluation results from these studies showcase positive user assessments, with analysis scores consistently indicating commendable outcomes. This suggests that the evaluated platforms exhibit a high level of effectiveness and efficiency in aiding visually impaired individuals in their daily tasks. Notably, Shera et al. (2021) achieved an impressive result of 89.21% using the SUS evaluation method, indicative of elevated user satisfaction and reduced effort for visually impaired individuals in task performance. Similar positive findings are echoed in Antona and Stephanidis (2018) and Oliveira et al. (2018), both obtaining an outstanding score of 90 through the SUS evaluation method, signaling a high level of user satisfaction.

Conversely, platforms identified for future improvements include Nahar et al. (2022), Lee et al. (2021), Power (2018), and Darin et al. (2018). The evaluation results reveal that these platforms currently exhibit lower efficiency and satisfaction levels. For instance, Nahar et al. (2022) report an average satisfaction level of only 4.53. Power (2018) highlights user preferences for more user-friendly features akin to Google, indicating an expectation for similar user experiences in future improvements.

The distinguishing aspect of these findings lies in the nuanced evaluation of both successful and potential areas for improvement among platforms catering to visually impaired individuals. While some platforms showcase high effectiveness and user satisfaction, others present opportunities for refinement to enhance their overall impact. This dual perspective contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the current state of platforms designed for the visually impaired, emphasizing the need for ongoing enhancements and innovation in this critical domain.

In exploring the landscape of platforms catering to visually impaired individuals, the focus shifts toward assessing the success of their implementation in meeting the unique needs of this user demographic. Drawing insights from an analysis of relevant research articles, this study illuminates various approaches employed to gauge the efficacy of these platforms. A closer examination of the existing literature reveals a myriad of usability evaluation methods applied to assess the effectiveness of platforms designed for visually impaired users. The exploration includes an in-depth analysis of the most frequently utilized evaluation methods, shedding light on the strengths and limitations of each.

Prominent among these evaluation methods is the System Usability Scale (SUS), recognized for its effectiveness in measuring usability within graphical user interface (GUI) environments (Zwakman et al., 2021). By employing SUS, platforms can be comprehensively evaluated, providing valuable insights into their usability levels based on a predetermined scale. Among the 49 articles analyzed, eleven platforms opted for SUS as their primary evaluation method, indicating its prevalence and relevance.

Beyond SUS, the think-aloud evaluation method emerges as the following frequently utilized approach. This method, involving participants vocalizing their cognitive processes during the interaction, allows for a direct understanding of users’ thoughts and emotions (Vanicek Vanicek and Popelka, 2023). Eight articles within the dataset employed the think-aloud method, enriching the evaluation process with user perspectives.

Additionally, Heuristic Evaluation stands out as another method employed by five authors in the analyzed articles. This method involves a small group of evaluators testing platform usability based on predefined aspects, contributing to a structured evaluative process.

In conjunction with these three primary methods, the research also highlights several other innovative usability evaluation approaches, such as semi-structured interviews, interviews combined with observations, and User-Centered Design (UCD). This comprehensive exploration aims not only to analyze the current state of platforms for visually impaired individuals but also to contribute insights that foster advancements in creating more effective and inclusive digital solutions. This research aspires to evaluate and enhance the success of available platforms in meeting the unique needs of visually impaired individuals.

Based on the categories of studies classified, platforms with the theme of Audio Guidance, through the research conducted by Choi (2022) Araújo et al. (2017), can be considered the most effective method in assisting visually impaired individuals in their daily activities. This is based on user responses, where individuals with visual impairments express that it is easier for them to interact and respond to the sounds, they hear rather than having to touch or rely on other senses while engaging in activities. While touchscreen technology allows visually impaired users to utilize touch-based interaction, challenges such as restricted screen dimensions continue to persist (Palani, 2017). Similarly, the study by Alnfiai and Sampali (2017) on Braille input methods via keyboards indicated that further design enhancements are necessary to support the ongoing development of accessible keyboards for blind users. Contrary to audio guidance, the study by Choi (2022) found that the sound-based software VTR4VI offers greater ease of use and operability than touchscreen interaction. Through the research conducted, the scientists also reveal that it would be better if every online platform is facilitated with audio guidance, whether in the form of audio games or voice reports.

The main limitation of this study is related to the methodology used, which focused on 49 articles obtained from Scopus and restricted the search to predefined keywords and strings. This may result in limitations in the number of search results, with the potential of overlooking some literature. Additionally, excluding a significant number of papers written in other languages could impact the representativeness and completeness of the research results. For future research, it is recommended to broaden the scope of SLR results by considering additional data sources or more online databases. Furthermore, further studies can be conducted to validate SLR results by delving into current usability models for the visually impaired, exploring these models more deeply, and identifying recent developments.

Considering advancements in research related to platforms dedicated to individuals with visual impairments, it would be beneficial to expand the search for studies using multiple sources, not solely relying on one source like Scopus. This would enhance the quality of the research generated. Through the steps taken, starting from searching for studies involving visually impaired users, classifying them into relevant sections, and obtaining literature sources to strengthen the study on the visually impaired using a snowballing method, structured and relevant data can be obtained. It is hoped that the positive contribution of this research to the assessment of challenges and the development of the platform usability for users with visual impairments can be further strengthened.

The increasing number of people with visual impairments worldwide has led to the development of various technologies aimed at adapting and assisting the lives of the visually impaired, including platforms. Through the existence of platforms, visually impaired individuals can significantly benefit in solving the daily lives of visually impaired users, especially when the visually impaired users do not have someone to assist them. This research focuses on the analysis of the usability evaluation of platforms. Theme classification is also conducted to facilitate in-depth analysis, identify issues, and find potential solutions. Based on the classification, there are five themes: accessibility, navigation, daily life, audio guidance, and screen division layouts. Researchers found several studies that focus on the accessibility of platforms to ensure that all platforms are accessible to all user groups. Various studies focus on the implementation of platforms that assist in the daily lives of visually impaired users. In the analyzed platforms, several categories were identified, including evaluation, experience, braille, and challenges. Additionally, researchers found studies addressing navigation to assist users in both indoor and outdoor mobility. Research focusing on how audio guidance can help visually impaired individuals complete daily activities through auditory cues was also identified. Through the analyzed articles, the researcher discovered platforms that focus on audio games for visually impaired users. Finally, the researcher found several studies addressing screen division layouts focusing on text entry and touchscreen features that facilitate users with visual impairments. Research analysis was also conducted to identify issues and propose solutions. Evaluation was performed by reviewing the usability of platforms through various selected methods. The three most popular methods include the System Usability Scale (SUS), Think-aloud, and Heuristic Evaluation. Through the paper, the researcher aims to provide a general overview of the issues and highlight the future direction of platform development for the visually impaired.