How Blind Users' Mental Models Affect Their Perceived Usability of an Unfamiliar Screen Reader

This study investigates blind users’ mental models of Windows environment and their strategies in coping with new desktops and applications. The relationship between users’ mental model and their perceived usability problems when using an unfamiliar screen reader is also reported. Blind users in this study possess a functional or structural mental model or a combination of thereof. They also have a rich and highly procedural strategy for coping with a new/unfamiliar Windows environment and application. Users’ established mental model developed from using their familiar screen readers was found to contribute to what users perceived as usability problems when using an unfamiliar screen reader that does not work in a similar way to their familiar screen readers or does not have desired features.